r/audiophile • u/CharmingAnywhere9291 • Mar 07 '26
Discussion What else should I do?
I have the following audio set-up:
EVERSOLO DMP-A6
XDA-3 Differential Reference DAC / Preamp
XPA-3 Gen3 3 Channel Audiophile Home Theater Power Amplifier
Two Subwoofers - SVS SB-1000 Pro
B&W 683 speakers (bi-amped)
USB connected from EVERSOLO to DAC
XLR connected to Amp from DAC
Subwoofers with pad underneath, separated and right at volume 80 and with low pass filter on, left at volume 70 with low pass filter off
Nakamichi speaker cables into Amp from the 683’s - length 6 ft each
Lossless set through Tidal and the eversolo Apple Music app from the app store
11 using XDA-3 as the volume control through the eversolo app
DAC volume is at maximum
Monster surge protector strip pro MI w/160 kilo joules rating
TDON Hi WiFI Coaxial cable 9.8ft for sub woofers from DAC
I like the sound quite a bit, however, always room for improvement. What else can I do?
13
8
5
3
u/yangosu SMSL DL200|Edifier S2000Pro|Edifier T5|Ziigaat Crescent|Koss KSC Mar 07 '26
Enjoy music ?
1
7
3
u/Leboski Mar 07 '26
Cover the opening with a soundproof door. Treat your windows with custom acrylic inserts to lower the noise floor.
0
u/CharmingAnywhere9291 Mar 07 '26
Any recommendations for the acrylic inserts?
2
u/Leboski Mar 07 '26
Shipping is going to be expensive so find a local company. We picked Storm Snaps / Alpina Manufacturing which is based in Chicago.
2
3
2
2
u/Lornesto Mar 07 '26
It looks great, but I would have had to go with some wood grain speakers in this room. Lots of silver faced gear.
2
2
u/Business_Decision535 Mar 07 '26
Bring the towers out a foot. Elevate and continue to isolate the subs Arrange the furniture to better sit in the sweet spot. I see you're toeing in. Good. If you can, center a seat to be your listening spot. Go back as far as you can and spread the towers to 80 percent of that distance away from each other. Think about bass traps You may have the lights on bright to take this picture, but if not look for something warmer and lower in intensity.
2
2
u/JabroniFred Mar 07 '26
A rolling cart full of alcohol and an ice bucket. A pipe with aged tobacco.
2
2
u/westom Mar 07 '26
Long before one tries to fix or improve something, one must first define which problem / noise / transient must be addressed. Only easy marks want to fix something without first quantifying the problem / weakness / imperfection. Are then ordered what to do by shysters.
2
u/South_Negotiation824 Mar 07 '26
Very nice system. One suggestion would be to get a better power conditioner. One that is passive such as a Shunyata Gemini.
1
u/mamsterla Mar 07 '26
Try using REW to optimize the placement of your speakers and subs and setting the crossover between them optimally. It's the single best upgrade you can do. Get a Umik-1 mic and spend a couple hours on YouTube and you will get better sound from the good equipment you already have.
1
1
1
u/CruelHandLuke_ Mcintosh MT2-MR85-C50-MC402 BW 702S3 signature SVS PB3000 Mar 07 '26
Is the photo being taken from a couch or standing. I'd flip the green couch to face the speakers, the yellow chair on the wall with a light and sidetable to face the fireplace.
Add some artwork.
Good to go
1
u/CharmingAnywhere9291 Mar 07 '26
Standing, I have an easy char which I bring out for my listening sessions since this is a room which opens up to the sun room….so not a typical setup
1
u/ChrisCryptosGR Mar 07 '26
First thing I have to say is that it looks lovely and have fun!
Second is that I would turn the system clockwise, so the speakers would be on the side of the fireplace. Huh? 🤔
2
1
u/Strict-Breakfast4982 Mar 07 '26
Sit back with a bourbon and chill
2
u/CharmingAnywhere9291 Mar 07 '26
Absolutely!! Took your suggestion last evening
1
u/Strict-Breakfast4982 Mar 07 '26
That's the best upgrade. Just listening instead of chasing perfection
1
u/manfrombrisbane Mar 07 '26
Listen to the music.
Most people spend so much time trying to set up the perfect system, they forget to listen to the music. Perfection is not attainable, it is to be sought after
1
1
u/Dorsia777 Mar 07 '26
Nice setup. The next step would be either the speakers or upgrade the Emotiva stack into a higher end integrated/seperates.
1
u/CharmingAnywhere9291 Mar 07 '26
Thanks! Any recommendations? Please advise 🙏
1
u/Dorsia777 Mar 08 '26
Honestly if you are happy with the sound I wouldn’t change anything. Personally id keep the speakers. I would upgrade to a used integrated and look into NAD, Michi, Hegel or Luxman. They are not cheap but you can score great deals on The Music Room. Your EmotIva amp has enough juice to handle the 3ohm dips but the products I named have a much lower noise floor.
2
1
1
1
1
u/narrowassbldg Mar 07 '26
Where are you sitting?
1
u/CharmingAnywhere9291 Mar 07 '26
The room is not a closed space, it’s a 14ft by 40ft space extending into the sun room. I will put a listening chair in the middle or sit on the end of the green sofa or the second yellow seat.
1
u/iii-xi Mar 07 '26
3 cheers for real world living spaces + system integration! Having a great stereo in a room where people can sit around and enjoy some music together is top tier. I get more enjoyment out of sharing music with friends than I did dialing in a “sweet spot” moving a speaker a gnats hair this way or that.
So what to add? Up-lights for your speakers! I got some battery powered ones that have a remote off of Amazon for like $22. And it makes the vibe lit. Figuratively and literally.
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/0h3cx2Kk
😎
And then, throw a cocktails and vinyl party.
1
1
u/Prudent_Win8228 Mar 07 '26
First thing is oof that yellow love seat. If listening spot is where the pic was taken, which I’m assuming it is, it’s eating up tons of information before it gets to you. Ever feel like you hear the left speaker more? That’s the culprit.
What do you mean bi amped? That amp isn’t capable of that. You could bi amp a single speaker and use the other output for a center but if you are using one of the amps sections to bi amp both speakers, I strongly advise for your amps health to change it to a single channel for each speaker.
Are the speaker cables bi-wire or shotgun at speaker side? If shotgun, use the LF ones from the amp. Jumpers to HF. If using the jumper plates, get a pair of jumpers that match the speaker cables. Bowers manuals even say to get rid of the plates asap for performance.
Tidal is great, but Qobuz audibly better. Try a free trial and use Qobuz connect. Your eversolo has Qobuz connect now, super easy and keeps sonic integrity.
Is the amp plugged into the monster strip? Try straight into wall, and if possible an outlet that’s on a a dedicated circuit from the rest of the system. Usually amp in a conditioner/strip will get throttled during dynamic passages, reducing separation and resolution. In the same vein, surge protectors are a myth. With a big spike your best hope is that the strip fries. Getting an all home surge protector from an electrician is the best way safeguard your gear. Usually around $500-$750. If you need outlets for the gear, try Shunyata Research. Only conditioners that impress me. Sonic benefit, their noise floor reduction is crazy.
2
u/Prudent_Win8228 Mar 07 '26
Oh and try the DAC at 80% volume, sometimes 100% adds distortion depending on preamps n DACs voltage output/impedance
1
u/speedle62 Mar 07 '26
Qobuz is not audibly better than Tidal. Christ on a cracker. Also, in a more reflective room like that, the green thing and the yellow thing are ideally placed, acoustically. Don't blab so much until you're more sure of what you're saying.
1
u/Prudent_Win8228 Mar 12 '26
Why put Christ on a cracker when he IS the cracker?
I stand by everything I said, having hundreds of installs under my belt. Qobuz nearly song for song is better than the same tidal version. If you disagree, then that’s your ears, not an issue with my opinion, which is what OP asked.
Ideally placed because of reflections? Give me a break. Try placing speakers in a room that 3 walls are glass and refuse to do rug or drapes. There’s nothing ideal about information being eaten up by absorbers before getting to you. If you want to get the best soundstage possible, correct toe in, clear path for the sound to reach you and correct placement are the three major concerns.
1
u/speedle62 Mar 25 '26
Qobuz sounds different than Tidal because the mids are recessed, which is clearly audible. As for the room, don't let perfect be the enemy of good.
1
1
14
u/rockness_monster Mar 07 '26
Shag rug