What to upgrade first?

[Akshit2111]

I was convinced on pulling the trigger on ifi audio and crown.. but due to lack of knowledge i am being a little skeptical.. as suggested by people here that crown needs to be handled with care.. so though i need sweetness then why not go simpler safer route of int amplifier. I have read ppl supplying 100 wpc to these speakers are akso quite satisfied.. provided they used int amplifier.. not AVR..

 

[tuff]

@Akshit2111 How is the AVR connected to the TV? Via TV's analog out or HDMI? It could be that the TV's DAC being the culprit.

 

[Dr.Lakshay]

I think the biggest culprit here is your source. Using YouTube and Bluetooth will never fetch you good returns. I think you should first try and play flac/wav files via a laptop to your avr. And see how the sound quality is.
Also there is a smsl Dac which just came live on classifieds. I think it should be a good start for you to see if you can get improvements by using it and feeding analog signal to your avr.
Where exactly do you reside in Delhi? May be i could swing by and help you out little bit. I live in green park.

 

[Akshit2111]

@Akshit2111 How is the AVR connected to the TV? Via TV's analog out or HDMI? It could be that the TV's DAC being the culprit.

Tv is conected to AVR through hdmi as my tv supports ARC. and even in case tv's dac was the culprit then how come the output from fire stick which is dirrctly attached to AVR hdmi port not producing clean sound.

 

[Akshit2111]

I think the biggest culprit here is your source. Using YouTube and Bluetooth will never fetch you good returns. I think you should first try and play flac/wav files via a laptop to your avr. And see how the sound quality is.
Also there is a smsl Dac which just came live on classifieds. I think it should be a good start for you to see if you can get improvements by using it and feeding analog signal to your avr.
Where exactly do you reside in Delhi? May be i could swing by and help you out little bit. I live in green park.

That'll be very sweet ! I live quite far from your place.. i live in shalimar bagh.
And please guide me about how to attach laptop.. ill check the sound that way

 

[tusharshukla1991]

This thread is very interesting!!

It turned out very complicated in between and since I am not much experienced and got to learn a lot

In the beginning of the thread I suggested Akshit to go with Norge Amp as I have seen in the forum, many FMs recommend Norge as a good Entry/Mid level Amp.
Can't he go with Norge and Schiit DAC with Polk speaker which he is having. I have heard Polk FS and they sounded pretty good to me (I heard them with Marantz Amp and Polk Subwoofer)

Also, if he can spead 60+ for now then I think he should go for Sub + Amp as sub can be used for movies as well and takes load off Amp.

 

[Dr.Lakshay]

That'll be very sweet ! I live quite far from your place.. i live in shalimar bagh.
And please guide me about how to attach laptop.. ill check the sound that way

That is indeed quite far. Will pm you.
Download some flac/wav and dsd files too. I see your avr supports dsd. Connect your laptop through hdmi and play via some player. Go through this thread for more details. https://www.hifivision.com/threads/how-to-bitstream-hd-audio-from-htpc-laptop.49996/

 

[Akshit2111]

That is indeed quite far. Will pm you.
Download some flac/wav and dsd files too. I see your avr supports dsd. Connect your laptop through hdmi and play via some player. Go through this thread for more details. https://www.hifivision.com/threads/how-to-bitstream-hd-audio-from-htpc-laptop.49996/

Downloaded flac files.. playing it through my laptop.. clarity has improved definitely.. but that thump is not there.. could not find much bassy music.. listening to AR rehman.. vocals and instruments are clearer.. but problem is that i wint be downloading flac files to listen to music.. ill be listening to music on the go..

 

[tuff]

This thread is very interesting!!

It turned out very complicated in between and since I am not much experienced and got to learn a lot

In the beginning of the thread I suggested Akshit to go with Norge Amp as I have seen in the forum, many FMs recommend Norge as a good Entry/Mid level Amp.
Can't he go with Norge and Schiit DAC with Polk speaker which he is having. I have heard Polk FS and they sounded pretty good to me (I heard them with Marantz Amp and Polk Subwoofer)

Also, if he can spead 60+ for now then I think he should go for Sub + Amp as sub can be used for movies as well and takes load off Amp.

Reminds of the song " Jaate the japan, Pahuch gaye Chin samajh gaye naa".
IMO DSD sounds great IF you have the songs you like on DSD available. I think the best @Akshit2111 can do is get a sub to augment the missing bass. Easier to do in his setup than adding pre-power combo or a DAC.

 

[Akshit2111]

Reminds of the song " Jaate the japan, Pahuch gaye Chin samajh gaye naa".
IMO DSD sounds great IF you have the songs you like on DSD available. I think the best @Akshit2111 can do is get a sub to augment the missing bass. Easier to do in his setup than adding pre-power combo or a DAC.

What about the missing clarity?

 

[tuff]

What about the missing clarity?

You need to tweak the EQ in your avr. One thing happens when you add a sub is it takes the load of your AVR and does not have to struggle to produce low frequencies.

 

[Akshit2111]

You need to tweak the EQ in your avr. One thing happens when you add a sub is it takes the load of your AVR and does not have to struggle to produce low frequencies.

I have tweaked my avr setting alot.. had ran a thread earlier as well.. i guess the music coming out is the best possible from this AVR. now playing these flac files the music clarity has definitely improved infact stereo imaging tremendously.. i can feel the separation.. so finally we taking the sub route.. i think my floorstanders can go really low the frequency range.. and i know a sub wud take the load off them but i think the sweetness thingbwud still persist..

 

[tuff]

Can you post snapshots of your avr's EQ settings?

 

[Akshit2111]

Connected laptop to my AVR.. played flac files.. files played really crisp and clear but i guess they lack the power coz i had to crank up the volume to -4db.. then played some online music in hd quality.. loudness was there but as soon as i took the volume to -14db the sound seemed a little muffled definitely lacked the sweetness.. dont knw whether it is due to not having a sub or subpar dac in my AVR.

 

[tuff]

It could be the DAC. but can not assume anything unless you try it. That tends to be a tricky situation.

 

[Akshit2111]

Sharing some settings with u.. the mcacc eq is set to off coz when it was on the sound was literally garbage

 

[Akshit2111]

Some other settings

 

[Mi_10]

Connected laptop to my AVR.. played flac files.. files played really crisp and clear but i guess they lack the power coz i had to crank up the volume to -4db.. then played some online music in hd quality.. loudness was there but as soon as i took the volume to -14db the sound seemed a little muffled definitely lacked the sweetness.. dont knw whether it is due to not having a sub or subpar dac in my AVR.

If the dynamic ratio of the track is really good, then it really pushes one to pump the volume higher and higher ...the catch is great systems remain clean to throughout the volume range ...any constraints at lower or higher volume indicates a system constraint.
Am using the word system since it is not dependent on any one component or equipment . Careful and tasteful system matching is an art by itself. One need not sell their kidneys’ for great sounding setup, just need to think, spend time and trust their own ears more.

 

[tuff]

Well. coming back the Crown amp, I see your speakers are bi-ampable. Which means You can use the Crown for mid and low frequencies and let the Pioneer handle highs. That should easily take care of the thump and lack of sweetness. The crown amp has an amazing midrange . I would suggest trying to reach out to forum members in delhi and see if any one would be sport enough to try a different amp in your setup, preferably a stereo amp. I think we need to really pinpoint what it is that you are looking for. If a stereo amp gives you the desired results, then you are set.

 

[Akshit2111]

https://www.amazon.in/Yamaha-MusicC...scsubtag=a9e44dd5-5c90-4db6-b226-30deaf6a9d13

Suggested by a fellow member.. this yamaha serves as a pre amplifier cum music streaming device and that too with remote.. can i use this setup.. ill take the pre outs and attacg it to crown? Will this pre amo be compatible with crown xls 1502.. since this has bt Wi-Fi.. things wud be alot easier.. please let me know your thiughts on this one.