I just fired up my turntable and was listening to some vinyl after a long time away. Listening to my FE167e in a MLTL did not sound too good IMO. I was pretty happy with CDs as my source but listening to vinyl left me fustrated to say the least. The speakers did not have the fullness of sound especially at mid to low bottom end. The singers sounded nasally and not very clear. Granted, it could be my turntable/cartridge combo but I don't think so.
I have another set of old school speakers (Snell Type JII) and gave them a whirl. Wow, what a difference! So full bodied and vintage sounding! I liked that.
So my question is, how does your analog system with FR speakers sound? Is it just me and my system not being compatible with each other? Maybe... What is my weak link here?
FYI, analog system is an AR/XA with Shure 97xe cartridge, homemade phone pre-amp, P-P el84.
I have another set of old school speakers (Snell Type JII) and gave them a whirl. Wow, what a difference! So full bodied and vintage sounding! I liked that.
So my question is, how does your analog system with FR speakers sound? Is it just me and my system not being compatible with each other? Maybe... What is my weak link here?
FYI, analog system is an AR/XA with Shure 97xe cartridge, homemade phone pre-amp, P-P el84.
Okay, so CD's sounded good but vinyl sounded worse?
One simple possibility is that the homemade phono pre is not flat (what is?) and needs a little help in the form of EQ. For example, are you fairly certain that the signal is flat after whatever you used for RIAA?
If so, then perhaps flat is the problem. Every component has a "tone" (non-flat curve) and it can take a long time to match the components to each other in a flattering way. Also, CD's are often over-compressed and perhaps the CD's as source material are actually -inferior- in terms of hifi, but sound better because the speakers are lacking the appropriate touch of EQ (e.g. BSC) to perform well with a flatter source.
In answer to your question, I love wideband a.k.a. fullrange speakers regardless of source and amp. It did take me a long time to find the combination of wideband + amp which really works for me, but I've heard many systems which sounded objectively -excellent- (whether digital, analog, tube vs. sand etc.) but subjectively, what moves me is wideband + sub + S.E.T. (with the source being digital for convenience rather than superiority).
One simple possibility is that the homemade phono pre is not flat (what is?) and needs a little help in the form of EQ. For example, are you fairly certain that the signal is flat after whatever you used for RIAA?
If so, then perhaps flat is the problem. Every component has a "tone" (non-flat curve) and it can take a long time to match the components to each other in a flattering way. Also, CD's are often over-compressed and perhaps the CD's as source material are actually -inferior- in terms of hifi, but sound better because the speakers are lacking the appropriate touch of EQ (e.g. BSC) to perform well with a flatter source.
In answer to your question, I love wideband a.k.a. fullrange speakers regardless of source and amp. It did take me a long time to find the combination of wideband + amp which really works for me, but I've heard many systems which sounded objectively -excellent- (whether digital, analog, tube vs. sand etc.) but subjectively, what moves me is wideband + sub + S.E.T. (with the source being digital for convenience rather than superiority).
Analog vs digital input should make zip difference in SQ. As noted, if the eq in your phono stage is screwed up, then there will be a difference, but if the EQ is correct, then any difference will be in the recording mix, not the medium.
Bob
Bob
Just swapping speakers, things sound great, so I am doubting my phono-pre is the problem. But I do have a HK sand receiver to swap in to see if the phone section could be at fault. Will try that...
I wouldn't blame your phono pre per se, just the combination of the whole system. All the strengths and weaknesses in the various components sum to the result.
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