Looking to invest to make my audio better

[Diseasex]

Hi I’m looking to spend some money (upgraditis) as I have spare ~£20k - to make my audio better
I’m currently very happy with the way my audio sounds but I feel I’m lacking energy in the air - I don’t know why . If I crank the volume it feels it’s overwhelming to ears but dB are at 60-65 (peak)

Setup:
Wiim mini (tidal, pc 320kb mp3)
MiniDSP (for PEQ and 2 woofers out)
Hegel h390
Focal utopia Diablo (2011, non evo)
2x SVS-sb1000
2x GIS acoustic bass traps

My current thinking is to upgrade to ex-demo focal scalas and buy 4 woofers (pluggable to wire rather than chinch like Rel)

Any good feedback appreciated!

 

[DVDdoug]

I’m currently very happy with the way my audio sounds but I feel I’m lacking energy in the air - I don’t know why . If I crank the volume it feels it’s overwhelming to ears but dB are at 60-65 (peak)

That's tough... Once you've got great sound there's nowhere to go... And it's not a much fun as when you are upgrading from mediocre sound.

Except maybe surround sound? With regular stereo music I like to use a "hall" or "theater" on my AVR for some delayed reverb in the rear speakers (I "only" have 5.1) to approximate the sound of a bigger room. But that's hi-fi heresy since you're not listening "as intended" or as it was heard in the mixing or mastering studio.

And... You might enjoy movies more in surround sound. Or most concert DVDs have surround sound.

and buy 4 woofers

Have you measured your room? More woofers (at different locations) can help to smooth-out bass resonances, but you bass traps should already be helping with that.

 

[Tell]

You got a measurement mic for that MiniDSP? If not that's what you need to get, because the rest should be able to deliver some really good (and loud) audio!

 

[Diseasex]

That's tough... Once you've got great sound there's nowhere to go... And it's not a much fun as when you are upgrading from mediocre sound.

Except maybe surround sound? With regular stereo music I like to use a "hall" or "theater" on my AVR for some delayed reverb in the rear speakers (I "only" have 5.1) to approximate the sound of a bigger room. But that's hi-fi heresy since you're not listening "as intended" or as it was heard in the mixing or mastering studio.

And... You might enjoy movies more in surround sound. Or most concert DVDs have surround sound.

Honestly I don’t like listening to music in surround. And music is where I’m at , don’t have space for 5.1. If I can’t upgrade that would be shame!!!!

You got a measurement mic for that MiniDSP? If not that's what you need to get, because the rest should be able to deliver some really good (and loud) audio!

yes attached to the first post

 

[Tell]

yes attached to the first post

Ah that wasn't there when I posted. But yeah that looks like it could sound a bit flat and dull imo, so I'd put in a low-shelf in your MiniDSP to get some more energy in the air, something around 80hz a Q around 1 and turn it up at least 5dB or until you think it sounds thick enough. And I'd also suggest some more air in the air as well, so a high-shelf at maybe 4khz a Q of 0.3-0.4 and up that a few dB as well. You could of course play around however you want with that, but I really think that a slight V-shape to the frequency response sounds way more fun than a completely flat one

 

[Diseasex]

Ah that wasn't there when I posted. But yeah that looks like it could sound a bit flat and dull imo, so I'd put in a low-shelf in your MiniDSP to get some more energy in the air, something around 80hz a Q around 1 and turn it up at least 5dB or until you think it sounds thick enough. And I'd also suggest some more air in the air as well, so a high-shelf at maybe 4khz a Q of 0.3-0.4 and up that a few dB as well. You could of course play around however you want with that, but I really think that a slight V-shape to the frequency response sounds way more fun than a completely flat one

That sounds very low cost and in my budget heheh.
I cranked up bass since making measurement and it is better and sounds godly but as for the energy, I just want more decibels I think, and this system is unable to output them . At 70decibels the bright sounding focals are overwhelming , which I find bizarre. Maybe because they are shelf speakers and I need to upgrade to 40k scalas (saw ex demo for 18k)

 

[Tell]

That sounds very low cost and in my budget heheh.
I cranked up bass since making measurement and it is better and sounds godly but as for the energy, I just want more decibels I think, and this system is unable to output them . At 70decibels the bright sounding focals are overwhelming , which I find bizarre. Maybe because they are shelf speakers and I need to upgrade to 40k scalas (saw ex demo for 18k)

They should be able to output way more than 70dB no problem, and if you think they sound bright you could take that high-shelf filter I suggested down instead of up.

 

[Diseasex]

They should be able to output way more than 70dB no problem, and if you think they sound bright you could take that high-shelf filter I suggested down instead of up.

Yeah what’s going on, speakers are old, room acoustics ?

 

[levimax]

If you want more "energy in the air" you could try some large efficient speakers like JBL M2's or Revel Salon 2's. Bookshelf speakers, even good ones like you have, can only do so much.

 

[DannyBoyNYC]

Take the 20k and invest it in tickets to live music venues. Plenty of energy there!

 

[Tell]

Yeah what’s going on, speakers are old, room acoustics ?

Room acoustics could mess some stuff up sure, but not THAT much. Of course if you don't have anything apart from the bass traps you could always do with some absorbtions for the early reflections point, so on the sides and behind the speakers to clear up the sound a bit.
But my bet is still that you should play around a bit more with the frequency response

If you want more "energy in the air" you could try some large efficient speakers like JBL M2's or Revel Salon 2's. Bookshelf speakers, even good ones like you have, can only do so much.

Bookshelfs paired with a pair of 12" subs can do quite a lot. I have a pair of bookshelves that fills room plenty when paired with subs (and even quite a lot without subs as well).

 

[Mart68]

That sounds very low cost and in my budget heheh.
I cranked up bass since making measurement and it is better and sounds godly but as for the energy, I just want more decibels I think, and this system is unable to output them . At 70decibels the bright sounding focals are overwhelming , which I find bizarre. Maybe because they are shelf speakers and I need to upgrade to 40k scalas (saw ex demo for 18k)

Take your FR down a few notches from 1KHz and up, it looks too flat to me and that's going to sound bright and overwhelming when you crank it up.

if that doesn't work then think about spending 20 grand!

 

[IAtaman]

I think you what you need upgrading is your speakers. I am not sure how large is your room, and I am sure Focal's are great but they are bookshelf speakers after all and might be drowned by the subs a bit maybe? Sounds like you are in the UK - if I were you, I'd get myself a measurement mic, and for speakers I'd look into Kef Referece 5 Meta.

 

[Diseasex]

Yeah , buying scalas when I find a deal

I think you what you need upgrading is your speakers. I am not sure how large is your room, and I am sure Focal's are great but they are bookshelf speakers after all and might be drowned by the subs a bit maybe? Sounds like you are in the UK - if I were you, I'd get myself a measurement mic, and for speakers I'd look into Kef Referece 5 Meta.

i listened to kef reference 5 last week. Didn’t blow me away but were quite accurate.
My budget is higher than those though … so blades maybe .
Didn’t listen to them though and didn’t see shop that had them

 

[Sokel]

All in speakers if I were you.
Nice,big 3-ways.The energy your looking for is in the mid-bass area,that can not be fixed with EQ or subs.

 

[ZolaIII]

Equal loudness compensation to SPL A done properly and a hearing test. Eventually rework the setup to 2.2 and put crossover differently - higher. Low self at 100~105 Hz Q 0.71 filter will be enough to about 60 dB SPL and under that you will also need a bit of the boost in highs.
I have a dejavu feeling about this.

 

[Diseasex]

Equal loudness compensation to SPL A done properly and a hearing test. Eventually rework the setup to 2.2 and put crossover differently - higher. Low self at 100~105 Hz Q 0.71 filter will be enough to about 60 dB SPL and under that you will also need a bit of the boost in highs.
I have a dejavu feeling about this.

Im afraid of messing with the PEQ, we’ve gone through this. It’s perfect. Problem isn’t the sound signature, but inability to make „disco” . It’s only low volume enjoyment. I crank volume up on amp and all it does is make my ears ring and hurt after a while , dB being 70 tops

Taking about it makes me realise I need bigger speakers simply

 

[er|κzvio1in]

Im afraid of messing with the PEQ, we’ve gone through this. It’s perfect. Problem isn’t the sound signature, but inability to make „disco” . It’s only low volume enjoyment. I crank volume up on amp and all it does is make my ears ring and hurt after a while , dB being 70 tops

Taking about it makes me realise I need bigger speakers simply

I think what you're looking for is a Harman curve or other type of equal loudness contour compensation.

 

[ZolaIII]

Im afraid of messing with the PEQ, we’ve gone through this. It’s perfect. Problem isn’t the sound signature, but inability to make „disco” . It’s only low volume enjoyment. I crank volume up on amp and all it does is make my ears ring and hurt after a while , dB being 70 tops

Taking about it makes me realise I need bigger speakers simply

Come on now it's a single PEQ filter which you adjust +dB to listening volume A weight shown measured in REW SPL meter with UMIK-1. The graph is OK, perhaps bit bright but for 86~88 dB SPL. You need to adjust perceived loudness in bass region and I told you simplest way to do it. For 70 dB SPL add +4 and for 60 +5 dB to low self filter.

 

[Diseasex]

Come on now it's a single PEQ filter which you adjust +dB to listening volume A weight shown measured in REW SPL meter with UMIK-1. The graph is OK, perhaps bit bright but for 86~88 dB SPL. You need to adjust perceived loudness in bass region and I told you simplest way to do it. For 70 dB SPL add +4 and for 60 +5 dB to low self filter.

Ok I’ll get back to it soon, I need to do measurements because I changed the room layout