Entry level amps aren't capable to drive Proac Studio 110

If you haven't repaced the jumpers with Chord Epic links, you should try it.

 

Ahh cool.. Never seen these before may just do that as I never plan on running bi-wire cheers.. £40 not too bad really.. Do you use jumpers on your Refs? Got quite a few things to try in the next few months  Looking forward to hearing a valve pre the most.. Have you seen the new Icon LA4 mkiii for 2013? Looks very pretty with improvements and same price as mk11

IMO. The first thing to do with a good pair of speakers (if bi/tri-wirable), is replace the standard jumpers with decent ones...it "can" make quite a difference.

In my case, the Cardas GC came in Bi or Tri-wire format....and I got a deal, which it meant it was cheaper getting the Tri-wire, than buying the Cardas links (which I otherwise would have done).

Let me know what difference it makes.

The speakers have tuneful bass and are not stomach moving gut wrenchers. Speakers which have concert ready bass are Wilson Audio.

Last thing I would consider to tune the system is jumpers. Cause I studied physics at university. Sorry but thats naive to believe that 2cm of copper can have any audible influence on the sound.

 

Today I carried out another experiment. I brought my speakers to my old friend's house and connected to his stereo system. I used his vintage 100wpc Sony amp and his cables and his stands and all. Well, something changed, mostly because of the different room acoustics, but so familiar speakers' signature remained. I could still hear those flying highs with pretty beautiful Proac's stereo image and no slam in the low end. Whenever I expected a drum bass kick there was literally just a relaxed clap in the background. If you say that speakers of their size are not supposed to meet my requests, I would kindly recommend you to listen to Genelecs or Adams with 6.5" woofer. Well, maybe they are all hyped in the low end, but thats what sound engineers listen to when making our favourite recordings.

 

I think I will stop on that and save some money for another pair of active studio monitors. Maybe Focal or Genelec.

No need to be sorry.

I mentioned it, because surprising as it may seem, I've often found it makes a difference....BigColz will probably try it, so it will be interesting to see if he hears a difference.  

 

I personally think that's a wise decision.  If they are in budget I'd urge you to try the Event Opals, they're epic and you will not be disappointed by the bass.

Give them a spin with the Genelecs you have in mind.  The 8040s are around £1100 I think, bass was not an issue...!

I said ages ago that I didn't think you were going to get the sound you want from those speakers in your listening environment, and I still agree that changing them is the best idea yet.  But I do have to ask, why did you buy them in the first place?

 

That's not what the FR curves show. The Adams has a bass hump - it's not as flat as the ProAc. Neither response looks anything like a lab FR sweep test of even a sub £100 decent speakers, let alone a pair of this pedigree - check the manufacturers own specs which will quote the FR at +/- 3dB limits.

However, apologies, Pedant mode <OFF> I agree the issue is the speakers - the curves match what he is hearing, so as I said, it's his ears, i.e. hi personal preference!

The best advice is to perhaps chuck away the mic and curves, and go with what YOU prefer, anything else is completely irrelevant.

Steve, my personal preference is and has always been - to hear what is actually recordered. Did you hear how the real drum kick sounds? Did you hear a real double bass sound? Give it a try when you have a chance. Then we gonna talk about personal preference.

Lee Alexander would be really upset to know that Proacs removed him from the Norah Jones grammy winning debute album even though they broke up.

 

MajorFubar, unfortunately for me I bought them without audutioning relying on the internet opinions. That was my mistake, I acknowledge that.

 

 

 

Dimitry's measurements do not show a bass hump in the Adams. They show a dip at 150hz. The bass at about 80hz is at a similar level to the midrange at about 1khz. Also, as already mentioned, in a large well furnished room the frequency response will be leaner than at the 1m measuring distance. Plus we don't know how well the mic is calibrated across the frequency spectrum. It's possible that the Adams are a bit on the lean side at the listening position, but significactly less lean - as in 4dbs less lean - than the Proacs.

 

Some manufacturers quote +/- 3db figures for their frequency responses. Some use +/- 6dbs. Some don't say what +/- db figure they're using. Also some manufacturers use anechoic measurements, some in room. With some manufacturers it seems that the measurements they quote are for a speaker placed on the floor, right in the corner with a +/- 9 or 12db measurement.

 

Agree this is a wise decision.

From WhatHiFi review of Proac Studio 110:

 

"With the right system, these speakers are nothing less than spectacular"

 

"A great all-round performer with no sonic weaknesses"

 

"..when it comes to music, the Studio 110s set massively high standards"

 

"Scale is impressive, as is authority – due to a surprisingly solid bass performance.."

 

 

 

Don't worry I've done the same in the past, including with my current speakers which to be honest wouldn't be my number one choice if I had the chance to spend the same money again.