How to improve the sound quality from a Yamaha R-N803 Amp ?

[Calor]

Hello,
I'm looking here for an advice.

I'm the happy owner of a R-N803D amplifier since 2019, which I mainly use for online music services (Tidal/Deezer Premium), it's a reliable, easy to use all-in-one amp.
During these 5 years I improved the setup testing few pairs of speakers (B&W603, Elipson P4), subs (Moscade titan 7.4, Jamo), cables, arrangement in the room.
An now today in use with 100w speakers Davis Mani Mk2 + Audience Sub A12HP 450w which seems to me to be the best combination for my ears.

On the other hand I have a 2nd set in my office with a 250USD setup : Fosi BT30D amp + 2 ways speakers and 100w passive sub, linked to my pc in analog RCA.
I think you see now the question coming..... :

I found the sound in my 2nd setup more detailed and attractive than my Yam R-N803D, timbres are more beautiful, the voices come out better, less muffled, punchy.
As I found some infos here about the R-N803D I think its weak point is the streamer/pre-amp section not the amp.

I'm wondering if a specific streamer like Eversolo or Wiim Pro/ultra will improve the global result ? (because they are newer, with EQ or DSP).
Edit : Other option could be by a replacement of the RN803D by a Audiophonics DAW-S250NC (Class D amp, like the Fosi).
Thanks for your personal feedback and advice.

 

[Count Arthur]

Have you tried the speakers and sub connected to your Fosi amp with your Yamaha amp?

If you read around the forum, you'll see that differences between electronics, amps, preamps, DACs, etc.. are often vanishingly small, with the possible exception of some outliers, and are unlikely to be the source significant changes to the final sound of a set-up. Whereas the differences between speakers can be significant and very apparent.

You will also have to factor in position of the speakers and the room characteristics, which will also have a far greater influence on the final sound than two different amplifiers.

Are your rooms significantly different? A set of speakers will sound very different in a room with lots of hard, reflective surfaces, bare walls, large windows, bare or tiled floors, etc., than in a room with lots of absorption, either from soft furnishing, or acoustic panels, rugs, etc.. The overall size, or volume, of the room will also have a significant effect.

Also, where you are in relation to the speakers will have a significant effect on the sound. Sitting near or mid field, less than about 2 metres, from the speakers means that the direct sound from the speakers dominates. Whereas, as you sit further away from the speakers, the influence of room has an increasing effect on the sound.

 

[Calor]

Have you tried the speakers and sub connected to your Fosi amp with your Yamaha amp?

If you read around the forum, you'll see that differences between electronics, amps, preamps, DACs, etc.. are often vanishingly small, with the possible exception of some outliers, and are unlikely to be the source significant changes to the final sound of a set-up. Whereas the differences between speakers can be significant and very apparent.

You will also have to factor in position of the speakers and the room characteristics, which will also have a far greater influence on the final sound than two different amplifiers.

Are your rooms significantly different? A set of speakers will sound very different in a room with lots of hard, reflective surfaces, bare walls, large windows, bare or tiled floors, etc., than in a room with lots of absorption, either from soft furnishing, or acoustic panels, rugs, etc.. The overall size, or volume, of the room will also have a significant effect.

Also, where you are in relation to the speakers will have a significant effect on the sound. Sitting near or mid field, less than about 2 metres, from the speakers means that the direct sound from the speakers dominates. Whereas, as you sit further away from the speakers, the influence of room has an increasing effect on the sound.

Hello Arthur,
Sure, but sadly the little Fosi amp is not strong enough to drive correctly these speakers (2x 6.5" / 17cm + tweeter per speaker, 8 Ohms, 92db), but at low level I noticed the same crystal clear sound like in my office.
Of course my two rooms are different, 12 sqm for the office and 26-28 sqm for the living room. I already move every components, put the sub in a corner, do many room acoustic measures/corrections with the YPAO system, spacing the speakers with some sound improvement as result. I know this point.But I feel like I'm reaching the limits with the devices.

Ps: Last year I had the opportunity to test a Sonos Play 5 system in my living room few days and it then made me look sadly my Yamaha amp (with Sonos the sound filled the room well with lot of details in the low/mid/high freq. without any adjustment, it's pretty sad for me given its size and price comparison).

 

[Count Arthur]

You say there's a lack of "clear sound". Have you tried altering the tone controls on the Yamaha amp?

If I borrow the diagram from Solderdude's site: https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/:

You can see that 1-3kHz region is where "clarity" is perceived. If you can boost this region a little via EQ or the tone controls, you may find that it resolves your issue.

 

[Calor]

Hello,
Yes I have 2 tone buttons (bass/treble) but they do not act on the frequency band that interests me (medium) to clearer the voice, best setting is at 3pm like the image below.
Since last week there was a big change.... I finally bought a new amp to compare (Audiophonics Ncore Class D type), voices are much better audible, sound is globally perfect (price and size too).
The downside is that there are no adjustments in this device (no LFE Out or any settings about the sub, no balance, no tone controls, no loudness etc...) : However this allowed me to highlight that the sound of the Yamaha is flat and really less detailed than I thinked.
As your last post suggests it, I'm now looking for a streamer with a good EQ or DSP onboard, probably a Wiim Pro/ultra, to connect my sub with all the necessary settings and that will be perfect.
Thanks again for your help, topic can now be closed.

 

[antcollinet]

Stop looking at the electronics, there will be little or nothing to find there in terms of sound quality.

You need to be looking at speakers, and most importantly how they interact with the room. you need to be thinking about room treatment, and/or room equalisation.

As a test you could try your yamaha amp in your office setup. You probably won't hear any difference between that and your FOSI set up when used with the same speakers in the same portion, in the same room. If you do hear a difference, it will most likely be bias effects - and you may need to set up a properly controlled (accurately level matched) and blind test in order to be certain.