Sonus Faber Aida vs Magico Q5

[DaveyF]

sonrock, I agree with dafos. In your room, which I assumed was the standard UK construction, i.e. brick, I would definitely sit in the near field. I would also place the speakers on the wall that is either opposite to the fireplace, if that is possible, or on the fireplace wall.....sitting as far forward of the fireplace as possible and with the fireplace centrally spaced between the speakers. Unfortunately, you sir, have a tough room.
BTW, You might want to look into some great bass traps: The Real Traps Mondo Traps come to mind here.

 

[sonrock]

thank you for your advice Sir, but I actually cant live with that set up when placing the 2 channel system along side of the room either on the fireplace wall or the opposite where the heater is. The ridiculous thing is my fireplace is not in the central, middle of the room so it will create unbalanced sound again with reflections etc.

the bass traps 2 panels you see in my room are: http://www.advancedacoustics-uk.com...ss-Control/Corner-Sound-Trap-Panel-2ft-by-4ft

and the 2 huge bass traps sitting on the front corners are: http://www.advancedacoustics-uk.com...Control/Corner-Orbis-Acoustic-Panel--15m-Tall

 

[asiufy]

If I may offer a suggestion, I'd say you should move the speakers forward. The right side speaker should be right next to the granite step of the fireplace. Measure the distance from the speaker outer wall to the right wall, and observe the same distance with the left speaker. Keep them straight, with no toe in. Move that couch a little forward too. I believe if you keep 2 to 2,5 meters from the speaker, you'll be fine. That should also be the distance between the two speakers' tweeters.


alexandre

 

[sonrock]

thank you Sir, this doesnt work for me and my room. I am asking the manufacturer to send me 2 more thich bass traps panels to try. I am thinking to place them on the left side wall, one cover the heater and one above it. I hope they will cure the problem.

it seems my huge rel studio 3 sub which is sitting behind the left speaker helps a bit with the bass when I see its tighter in the bottom end and bass is really fast now. however in some recordings, I still hear the bass is too much. adding more bass traps...I hope.

 

[Englishaudiophile]

I love the long list of equipment being used here however I can't help but feel your always against an uphill struggle trying to tame room acoustics when a system of this scale is being used. The biggest limiting factor in regards to playback reproduction must be the room?

 

[DaveyF]

I love the long list of equipment being used here however I can't help but feel your always against an uphill struggle trying to tame room acoustics when a system of this scale is being used. The biggest limiting factor in regards to playback reproduction must be the room?

+1.
It is interesting to note how many hobbyists fall into the same trap. They build a system around gear that is well reviewed and are then sold by their dealer on this piece or that piece, with no thought to what will work in their listening room. Net result is usually frustration and an inability to truly get the performance that they have paid for. IMHO, this situation tells me that their dealer wasn't up to the task. All IMHO.

 

[sonrock]

oh, this is not my dealer friend's mistake Sir, all of my equipment bought based on my interests only, and not persuaded by anyone else. Most of my dealer friends are selling different things and they have connection with other dealers whose products I am interested in.

in the early day, I bought a pair of karan kam1200 and magico v2 speakers, used them with the same source and pre but different cables in a relatively small room. no exaggerated, most of audiophiles came to my house and after listening to the system were blown away, the bass was truly fantastic and never too much for me although there was absolutely no treatment in that room - about 3.5m x 4m

I went to London and listened to a pair of q5 driven by dartzeel pre-power + metronome kalista cdp in a quite large room about 5m x 8m. I was very very impressed by the life like presentation of the q5 and how they produced acoustical instruments, midrange was sweet and wonderful, no harsh or distortion at any volume level, but not totally convinced by the bass performance. I believe the dart 108 poweramp didnt do the job well but the owner is very happy with it, especially about the look so he sticks with this and not going up to the dart monoblocks which insanely priced here-there.

afterward I see Karan released new flagship monoblocks which are kam2000 I am using. so I decided to move on, from karan 1200 to 2000 and from magico v2 to q5. More important, I know and will definitely have a proper listening room with the size at least 5m x 7m so I see the combo will be perfectly matched there. And when I was wondering to buy the q5 - I was looking at some speakers like q3, tad ref 1, compact ref 1, tidal, etc - , my dealer friend could offer me a good deal - not really really good though - but I didnt have to pay for the full list price here in the uk at £75k or 90k euro as some european magico dealers said for a brand new pair - wait nearly 2 months for the speakers built and delivered to my place. My q5 are virtually brand new as well as I said previously so I bought them.

moving the speakers around even on wheels and carpet is not an easy task for me Sirs. I used to live in a very small flat where my listening space is just about 3.5m x 2.5m so I know about the close position and sound stage etc. but when I moved to bigger places, I see the advantages of how far the speakers away from me. I try to keep them as far as possible and now with the obstruction of the granite step, this is the closest I can get. otherwise, I will have to pull the right speaker out and sit next to the granite step, will have to do similarly with the left speaker then balance their distances to the sweet spot. In this case, they are just only 1.5m separated from each other while about 2m far away from me, and I doubt I will have a really good soundstage + bass from them .

anymore advices Sir?

 

[JackD201]

I once had to make do with a room too small for my speakers. It took about 3 years before I moved but the wait was worth it. If you can now, move since you're planning too anyway. In the meantime, you might want to try digital room correction measures. You would be out a lot more money if you temporarily downsized. That's the only advice I can give.

 

[Steve williams]

I once had to make do with a room too small for my speakers. It took about 3 years before I moved but the wait was worth it. If you can now, move since you're planning too anyway. In the meantime, you might want to try digital room correction measures. You would be out a lot more money if you temporarily downsized. That's the only advice I can give.

gosh Jack you sound like me when we moved to our new house and I was realizing that I might not be able to build a dedicated room so 6 weeks after we moved in I was already looking to move

 

[mep]

I was amazed that you bought the house in the first place knowing you had no room for your stereo. It all worked out in the end thank goodness.

 

[sonrock]

thank you Sir, yes, thats what I am thinking the same, so I am trying to live with the system in my room until the listening room is built. I dont think I will downsize my system , I will only move up, haha. There are several speakers which are the same price and league to the q5 which I want to try in the future - in a new room of course - are tad ref1 or evolution acoustics mm3. I'd like to try the rockport altair 2 as well but the price here in the uk is ridiculous. I will travel to the south and listen to them one day, but I do like the altair 1 performing through...you tube.

have any of you Sirs listened to the q5 driven by soulution 700 monoblocks? I'd like to move up here but my dealer friend said they dont really outperform the karan 2000 while I have to spend a lots more to get them. I am also looking at the new Gryphon Mephisto monoblocks - price similar to the soution 700 I think - but 2 options and amps weigh like hell, over 100kg per mono (my karan 2000 weighs only 80kg per mono)

 

[Steve williams]

Hi sonrock

All good questions you ask and you certainly have a challenging room based on dimensions and layout. Rather than thinking if an amplifier change you should stay focused on the room. I would spend some money initially consulting with an acoustician for best recommendations.

 

[sonrock]

no no Sir, you misunderstand me, what I asked is for the future and new room Sir, haha, not now. I wont change my amps and speakers Sir, if yes, maybe changing my karan 2000 to gryphon mephisto stereo then add another later when I have a new room to play as monoblocks.

as I said, the manufacturer is too busy and what he asks is buying his software of room measurement then diy with the panels and position Sir, so not help in this case. I will ask someone else to help with this Sir when he has time.

 

[Steve williams]

don't buy his software as I feel you'll get more mileage with your money if you work with an acoustician (this room and definitely your new one when you move)

BTW, there is plenty of information here and online as to room measurements and how to use them to improve your room

 

[sonrock]

thank you for your advice Sir, I will do when I am less busy

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

I can safely say that the equipment isnt the problem, but the room (obviously). For what it's worth, I know an audiophile changing his Soulution monos for Karan KA M2000 recently. More music, much less hifi IMHO. If you want to change equipment badly for whatever reason, the only thing that might be a step in the right direction are smaller and less powerful speakers which are easier to integrate and doesn't overload the room. Keep your Q5s in storage in the meantime until you get a larger and more suitable room.

 

[sonrock]

Marcus, your comment shocks me, someone changed from soulution monos to karan 2000 monos. and I dont want to keep the q5 in storage , just live with them. honestly, I have too much bass in some recordings only, not all of my collection so this is not really end of the world. bass are still awesome with tight and punchy. even your futura are still too big for my room, so I am happy to stick with the q5 until I can move on with the new room.

 

[Bruce B]

Marcus, your comment shocks me, someone changed from soulution monos to karan 2000 monos. and I dont want to keep the q5 in storage , just live with them. honestly, I have too much bass in some recordings only, not all of my collection so this is not really end of the world. bass are still awesome with tight and punchy. even your futura are still too big for my room, so I am happy to stick with the q5 until I can move on with the new room.

You can always do what "rockitman" did and use an EQ where you can tailor the sound to taste with each album.

 

[rockitman]

You can always do what "rockitman" did and use an EQ where you can tailor the sound to taste with each album.

That might be a good solution to tame the bass. Shelf cut at 54 hz. I don't want to give the wrong impression, but I rarely listen to the signal eq'd. Only for live recordings that may have one issue or another or a thin and dull sounding record which is pretty rare. 95% of my listening is flat, w/o eq.

 

[asiufy]

I try to keep them as far as possible and now with the obstruction of the granite step, this is the closest I can get. otherwise, I will have to pull the right speaker out and sit next to the granite step, will have to do similarly with the left speaker then balance their distances to the sweet spot. In this case, they are just only 1.5m separated from each other while about 2m far away from me, and I doubt I will have a really good soundstage + bass from them .

anymore advices Sir?

This is precisely what I suggested you to do
1,5m between speakrs and 2,0 to listening position isn't bad. If you keep the speakers straight, with no toe in, you shouldn't get much beaming from the tweeter, and you should get a very nice soundstage, and, of course, bass.
Please do give this a try, I think it's worth it.


alexandre