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https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl AUDIO FORUMS >> Member's Systems Picture Gallery >> High Sensitivity Setup... https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1597666118 Message started by mastertrash on 08/17/20 at 13:08:38 |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by ArtMan on 08/17/20 at 15:14:04 I am confused. You already have an older Zen amp and know how loud it plays your speakers. Aren't you already the expert on whether this plays loud enough for you? The amp that will make you happiest is the 25th anniversary edition. It is the best sounding Decware amplifier. |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by Lon on 08/17/20 at 15:26:52 The Zen amp he has is a borrowed older model. I agree that if there's enough headroom with that amp the 25th Anniversary amp is the best pick. Unless you want to get just a little more power, in which case you could use the SE84UFO3 Monoblocks, with the 25th Anniversary Mods. I have these and they ended my amp envy, and give me the headroom I need with less efficient speakers (Decware/Turning Point Audio HR-1). |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by Geno on 08/17/20 at 16:09:44 I hate to change the subject, but the biggest thing you can do (If you aren't covering them during a listening session) is to address the need for room treatment concerning the windows. You will not believe how much better it will sound with the windows covered. With open baffles, diffusers are needed behind. Any kind of absorption will take away from the bass. You have all that really nice equipment, but the room is degrading the sound tremendously. |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by mastertrash on 08/17/20 at 16:26:28 Thanks for the welcome and thoughts guys. A couple quick responses... (1) I know that covering the glass would change the setup significantly. I've had other rooms in the past where I found this to be true. I will say that the need for it (and quick experimentation with my old PSB Synchrony Ones) showed that the need was less in this space given how damped the rest of the room is, but with OB's I know I'm in another world here. Will try that out again. (2) On the power situation, I'm a little afraid to drive the amp into clipping and am not sure I've used all of what it has yet. It is a friend's older amp. It does seem like it would be enough MOST of the time, but I'm not sure how happy I would be with that in the long run. Thanks for confirming what I already guessed about the 25th anniversary triode being the best sounding amplifier. I'll have to experiment more and see what I think about the power conundrum... |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by Lon on 08/17/20 at 17:54:06 Re: (2) One thing to consider is that the 25th Anniversary power supply mods make a fuller sounding, bigger sounding amp--my experience is that they sound louder and you don't push the amp as hard. I still am amazed at how loud my 3 watt monoblocks are and how much headroom I have unused. |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by busterfree on 08/18/20 at 01:37:13 I would not be too worried about pushing the 2 watt amp too hard. You may want to clip it so that you know what you are working with since you like to listen loud at times. You are not going to hurt the amp. Any idea on the age of tubes in amp? I would put it through its paces while you have it. You cannot go wrong with any of the two watt amps IMO. Yet, I wonder what it would be like to own a ZMA so that I do not have worry (as much) about what type of speaker to use. |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by Lin on 08/18/20 at 03:34:08 mastertrash, No harm in trying diffusers behind the speakers, but I disagree with stating you need them with OB/dipole speakers. If your speakers are 5 1/2 ft or more out the reflection is delayed enough to add add spaciousness to the sound without the harmful early reflections. See here (scroll down to early/late arrival section): https://jamesromeyn.com/audiokinesis-speaker-design/#acoustics |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by busterfree on 08/19/20 at 01:38:48 From the SE84UFO manual: Quote:
Your test amp is an older model, but I think this still holds true. I think it will get uncomfortably loud before you notice much clipping. I do not think I have clipped my amps. I think clipping indication would be hard, unpleasant distorted, and/or compressed sound. You could start with amp volume at half way point. Maximize preamp volume. Then slowing raise amp volume. I do not know if your preamp has adjustable gain controls besides the volume knob. |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by busterfree on 08/19/20 at 01:45:55 It looks like the Calypso does have an internal gain adjustment (0 dB or -12 dB) with internal jumpers. |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by mastertrash on 08/19/20 at 12:46:22 Thanks! I might try. You know, I forgot all about those jumpers in the Calypso. I'll check out where it's set currently. It's also true that they say it's a "high gain linestage" preamplifier and will exceed unity gain. They say that 71 (of 100) is unity gain when the jumpers are set to -12db, but I frequently run it at higher levels than this (it goes to 100). |
Title: Re: High Sensitivity Setup... Post by GroovySauce on 08/19/20 at 19:51:49 Sweet setup and a late welcome to the forums. I was considering the Pure Audio Project speakers, ended up trying the DIY route. (on going project that is on hold now) Glad you experimented with the room acoustics with positive results. I my experience glass is nasty business for acoustics. Spin the volume knob and see what happens, your ears will tell you when to stop and back off. ;D |
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