Description

Currently have Thiel CS 2.3s driven by Krell KAV-300iL with Audioquest CV-8 speaker cables.  Front end is Oppo BDP-103 used as transport, PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC and Bridge II, working on converting cds to NAS, running Roon and Tidal.  PS Audio UPC-200 for power, AC cord for Krell is an Audioquest NRG 3 with 20 amp plug, converted to IES with Black Voodoo converter.  Silnote Morpheus XLR cables.  Room is 11.5' x 22' x 8.5', no treatments yet.

Loving this system so far, have greatly enjoyed each improvement.  However, I am looking to improve highs which sometimes lack crystal clear clarity, especially when the music gets complex.  Also would like to improve the vocal/midranges, make these warmer and deeper.  What should my next upgrade be? I am thinking that a significant improvement is going to cost $2000-$3000, in the meantime I was going to try some DIY room treatments. 

Background - dove into two channel hifi at the beginning of 2018, goal was to put together a decent sounding system in a dedicated listening room using used, discounted, even vintage equipment, all for less than $5000.  Geoff Poor at Glenn Poor's Audio and Video in Champaign IL demonstrated the magic of time and phase aligned speakers and after some research I Ianded on the CS 2.3s.  I had been using my brother's old Maggies and had already purchased a Krell integrated amp for these along with Audioquest cables, also had an Oppo universal player from an old HT set-up, so that's where I started.

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Room Details

Dimensions: 22’ × 12’  Medium
Ceiling: 9’


Components Toggle details

    • Thiel Audio CS-2.3
    • PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC w/ Bridge II
    • Krell KAV-300iL
    • OPPO BDP-103
    Universal disc player
    • Audioquest CV-8
    Speaker cables
    • Silnote Audio Morpheus
    XLR Cables
    • Audioquest NRG-3
    AC Power cable for Krell KAV-300iL

Comments 12

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Owner
Thanks last_lemming - I started with the speakers further apart, but when I was researching how to improve room acoustics, I came across an article by cardas covering speaker placement, golden rectangles etc. I followed those directions and voila!  Instant improvement, one of the more dramatic improvements I have heard in my first year in this hobby.  They are about 6.5 feet apart, leaving 2.5 ft to the sidewall.  I sit about 7.5 feet away.  I think I have some serious room challenges so maybe that’s why it made such a huge difference.

thosb

Owner
FR - actually, that's what I tried first and it didn't work as well, neither for sound nor for comfort.  If I had another 1-2 feet I think it would work beautifully.  So room treatments are a must, work in progress, but thanks!  1-2x per week I do scoot everything forward for more of a nearfield sound which is fun, but not conducive to anything else.

thosb

Owner
Thanks for the kind comments and ideas!  amvm73 - I am putting room treatments on the asap list; I have a daughter studying design who might get a commission or two out of this.  Pierre, I appreciate the comments on the DAC as well, I honestly never did much in the way of listening tests for this component, just dove right in with PS Audio.

thosb