[refarkas]

Perhaps this is a beginner's question since this is my first post to AudioCircle. I've been using a Carver HTR-880 AV receiver from 1997  (very highly reviewed for its stereo sound) for my second system, but after an hour or so, I've wanted to stop listening and have some piece and quiet. Yesterday I took it out and put in my old Onkyo TX-DS595 AV receiver from 2001 and hooked it up. Now I just want to listen to music and not shut it off. I don't know if it's being able to hook my NAD 502 CD player and my Sony MDS-JB920 mini disc deck digitally, but the music through my Paradigm Atom speakers seems to have come alive. Is it normal to be having so much fun? If not, don't tell me. I'm enjoying this too much!
Bob

[JohnR]

Sounds normal to me... and that's what it's all about  Welcome to AC!

[tomwhite]

Once you get into Hi-fi, you cant stop. I understand how you feel.
Don't worry too much, just enjoy!

[Ericus Rex]

The Carver is giving you 'listener fatigue.'

[Wayner]

I have a pair of Paradigm Atoms, and while they are a best buy for the price, they are "hot" on the high end. I would reconsider the worthiness of the Carver receiver, as I think it is a good piece, but perhaps not a match for the Atoms. In many cases it is the combination of a certain speaker with electronics that can be foul or fantastic, and you have found a better synergy with the Onkyo and the Atom.

I had an old Marantz 2220B paired up with the Atoms and it was a perfect fit, because the Atoms were very efficient and the Marantz was of smaller wattage (20 RMS) and they loved each other.

Wayner

[lonewolfny42]

refarkas...Welcome to Audio Circle..

As the above posts point out..."synergy" is the name of the game...matching your components increased your listening enjoyment...nice - enjoy !!

[refarkas]

Thanks for your comments. I am enjoying this more and more. Music is coming alive, and that's great!
Bob

[Noseyears]

We all have some addiction to music/sound...

Welcome to AC!

[Matty_J]

Music and good sound are etched into everyone's genes since man first started creating it thousands of years ago.  I couldn't imagine living without it.  Music has been the only constant and normal thing in my life.  I'm sure many of you could agree...

[e.man]

I have a pair of Paradigm Atoms, and while they are a best buy for the price, they are "hot" on the high end.

I had an old Marantz 2220B paired up with the Atoms and it was a perfect fit, because the Atoms were very efficient and the Marantz was of smaller wattage (20 RMS) and they loved each other.

Wayner

That is interesting.  First time i've heard that.

From my 'System' details you can see i am running Atoms with more wattage than the 20 RMS you found "perfect".  I have the old Phantoms providing bottom end.
Sometimes i think i could do with trying to smooth the top end a bit.  Could this be cos of the Atoms being "hot" ?
What would be the cheapest way to try this ?

thanks

[Elizabeth]

Agree the problem is 'listener fatigue' with the Carver.
Something about it is annoying you. And you want relief.
The worst cases of this is not recognizing what the problem is, and stopping listening to music all together.
That sort of happened to me long ago.

I traded in a nice Hafler Dh110 preamplifier i built from a kit, for a new at the time, first Sony digital processing preamp. Well it took about a month for the fun factor to wear off, and I just stopped listening. It took awhile to recognize the problem was not music, but the Sony.
So i finally sold it, and am careful to not sell my old stuff until I am CERTAIN the new stuff is really better!

[Ericus Rex]

From my 'System' details you can see i am running Atoms with more wattage than the 20 RMS you found "perfect".  I have the old Phantoms providing bottom end.
Sometimes i think i could do with trying to smooth the top end a bit.  Could this be cos of the Atoms being "hot" ?
What would be the cheapest way to try this ?

The cheapest solution may be to buy another pair of speakers, unfortunately.  Your NAD amps are not hot in the treble and I doubt a cabling change will make enough of a difference.

[e.man]

OK , Thanks.

I can't afford anything retail and i live in the country so not much here otherwise.

I have been on the trail of a pair of Infinity 6b from an unreliable friend.  He was just about giving them away but he's disappeared again at the moment.
How would these differ from my current speaker setup in sound ?

[e.man]

Thanks Matt mate,

but i'm in Australia.  hahaha.

i added that to my profile now.

anybody else about how Infinity 6b compare to my Paradigm Atom + Phantom (1980s) setup. ?

[e.man]

The cheapest solution may be to buy another pair of speakers, unfortunately.  Your NAD amps are not hot in the treble and I doubt a cabling change will make enough of a difference.

Just an update note here.

This was the right move to make.  Infinity RS6 are now providing improved sound.

[Ericus Rex]

 

[JLM]

Fatiguing factors for me over the past 40 years include:  vinyl surface noise, metal tweeters, zingy highs, boomy bass, muddy bass, thin/midrange emphasized sound, excessive detail, extremely forward presentation, unbalanced frequency playback, huge diffused sound image.

I'm set enough in my old fart ways now that at audiofests I often walk out as fast as I walked in as I find one of the above fatigue factors and have no patience for systems I couldn't live with (and typically cost more than my main rig).

Note that zingy highs and boomy bass are purposely designed into many entry level speakers to initially impress the inexperienced.