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I was a Desperate Audiophile -- in need of Getting Better Sound.
Fortunately, last week, I was able to convince Jim Smith to drive up to Nashville and lend a hand.
Arriving after dark with two suitcases of gear and a charged dac, the first step was to listen and diagnose. The diagnosis was grim. He went to his hotel, and later told me, called his wife to tell her he didn't think he could help me. She told him something like: "Jim, you always figure something out."
The problem was a big dip at 40hz which was throwing off the spectral balance. The first job was to correct the dip. The problem was how, as there was no location in the room without this dip. However, in pretty short order, Jim began to fiddle with the Subs while watching his frequency analyser. Amazingly, with raising the sub's crossover and changing phase, the bass smoothed out and made the sound coherent. Big, big change.
All that was left was to move the speakers 1 foot forward into the room, center and refine the toe in.
This all seemed to go pretty smoothly-- the result of Jim's decades of experience.
I used to have a problem listening closer than 14'. The big Avantgarde horns just seemed too aggressive-- like twin cyborgs shouting at me. I now can sit blissfully at 11'6"-- the AG's transformed into music making friends.
Jim speaks of "un-locking the music" and "musical involvement." This is what this system now gives me to a far higher degree. Thanks, Jim! Very grateful.
Fortunately, last week, I was able to convince Jim Smith to drive up to Nashville and lend a hand.
Arriving after dark with two suitcases of gear and a charged dac, the first step was to listen and diagnose. The diagnosis was grim. He went to his hotel, and later told me, called his wife to tell her he didn't think he could help me. She told him something like: "Jim, you always figure something out."
The problem was a big dip at 40hz which was throwing off the spectral balance. The first job was to correct the dip. The problem was how, as there was no location in the room without this dip. However, in pretty short order, Jim began to fiddle with the Subs while watching his frequency analyser. Amazingly, with raising the sub's crossover and changing phase, the bass smoothed out and made the sound coherent. Big, big change.
All that was left was to move the speakers 1 foot forward into the room, center and refine the toe in.
This all seemed to go pretty smoothly-- the result of Jim's decades of experience.
I used to have a problem listening closer than 14'. The big Avantgarde horns just seemed too aggressive-- like twin cyborgs shouting at me. I now can sit blissfully at 11'6"-- the AG's transformed into music making friends.
Jim speaks of "un-locking the music" and "musical involvement." This is what this system now gives me to a far higher degree. Thanks, Jim! Very grateful.
