Finally found the right setup

[gregure]

I've been living in my current place for nearly a year, but I've never really been able to take the time to find the right setup for my Rti 10's for two-channel listening. Finally, tonight I sat down with a crapload of music and found the elusive spot for my right speaker to finally get the imaging I wanted. It was a lot of fun. It just goes to show how speakers can sound when you give them the right tender, loving care. After upgrading to a B&K 507, Audioquest CV-8 cable, and Panamax 5500 EX line conditioner, I finally have the best sound I can afford, until I can save up enough to welcome Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Baby Grands into my home.

Even though I work around Sonus Faber, Vienna Acoustics, Martin Logan, and M&K speakers all day, I'm still impressed with the results I can get from the Polks at home. The sound truly came alive tonight, and the speakers finally disappeared to give me a great soundstage. Here's a sample of what I listened to with the new setup:

The Animals
-House of the Rising Sun (new SACD remaster)
Credence Clearwater Revival
-I Put a Spell On You
-Long As I Can See The Light
Blue Oyster Cult
-Don't Fear the Reaper
Fleetwood Mac-The Dance
-The Chain
-Silver Springs
and for a bit of opera
Strauss
-Salome
-Elektra
(Final Scenes)

Vocals were superb, coming right from the center and sounding very present and clear, and overall detail was very good.
Obviously I'm not comparing the Polks to Vienna/Sonus Faber or anything, but I'm really happy with what I can achieve at home with what I have. Thought I'd share my experiences.
My next upgrade: A Marantz SA8260 CD/SACD player (I can get it for 60% off).

[Frank Z]

Obviously I'm not comparing the Polks to Vienna/Sonus Faber or anything, but I'm really happy with what I can achieve at home with what I have. Thought I'd share my experiences.

Thats what its all about!

[reeltrouble1]

Good deal its always chilling when you connect with the tunes. The bass line in The Chain always does it for me and Silver Springs is some of Stevie at her best. If I remember right Silver Springs did not make the vinyl addition of Rumours.

RT1

[madmax]

If I remember right Silver Springs did not make the vinyl addition of Rumours.

RT1

Did you have to remind me?? :(

madmax

[gregure]

Silver Springs is definitely one of my favorites.
I really like the live version on The Dance, which is what I listened to, as the recording is excellent, and I really like all of the little percussion details.
The other recorded version I have is from the 2-disc best of set, which is another good recording done in the 80's. Really great song.

[PolknPepsi]

Gregure,

Few days ago I seperated my speakers another 18" or so and they started imaging well again. The voices and sounds are coming for between the speakers not from the cabinets themselves.

Totally cool... ...on being able to get big discounts on audio equipment. :D

[polkatese]

That's very cool, gregure. Curious, since you are surrounded by nice selection of speakers everyday, how do you come to the decision of selecting Vienna Beethoven to be your speaker of choice?

[gregure]

Polkatese,

I've spent a lot of time with the speakers at the store, and I've found the Vienna Acoustics just really have the sound that I'm looking for. I love the imaging, I love how they sound with all of the types of music I listen to, and their impact for movies is wonderful. They are a great all-around speaker. Plus, they're just damn beautiful.

Don't get me wrong, I like Sonus Faber, but they're a bit out of my price range, and I would not want to build a home theater around them. If ever I can afford a separate two channel system, I'd probably get some Grand Pianos with a nice integrated amp, but for now the Viennas are my speaker of choice for my current setup. I'll most likely have to settle for doubling my mains for two channel listening as I do now, and Vienna is a much better match for B&K than Sonus. I'll most likely get a separate amp (Primare A30.2) down the line, but the B&K will run the Beethovens just fine for the time being.

There are a few reasons I'd like to go for the Baby Grands: 1. I like how they sound, a very nice blend, without any one element being overemphasized (they have the same driver array as the Rti 10). 2. Cost. They aren't quite as expensive as the Concert Grands. 3. Size. I really love that speakers this small can produce the large sound they do. They don't take up too much space at all. 4. Since I already have a great sub (perhaps an even better one in the not too distant future), I really don't see the need to spring for the Concert Grand Beethovens, which really only add more bass. The soundstage is already superb with the smaller ones.

So, there's my reasoning. If I could afford a separate two channel system with Cremonas like you, I would go for it. But I like watching movies far too much to devote all my funds to a music only setup until my movie setup is where I want it.

[polkatese]

thanks for your reasoning, gregure! I spent some time a couple years ago, when Tweeter used to carry SF GP and VA B, and had several intense auditions comparing the two. I found both lines to be comparable, with VA to shine better on classical music, and since my taste is mainly jazz, I can relate better with SF.

VA is a very nice line, regardless of price, and it's all about how one feels about the speakers.

[gregure]

I also really love to watch those little Vienna Spider cones go when the bass gets going. That's just so much fun. The Sonus drivers are kind of weird. They don't seem to move with the bass the way Vienna ones do. It's almost as if they move out of phase with what you're hearing. Just something I noticed when listening to the Concertos recently. The woofers on the REL Britannia series are the same way-they don't seem to be moving with the bass that you're hearing.
When listening to Also Sprach Zarathustra on the Beethoven BG's, the little woofers just started sputtering in and out very quickly in response to the low organ pedal. Really cool!