Happy i got it fixed
I replaced my Arcam AVR400 with a dedicated stereo amp after getting a great deal on a showroom model with a full warranty for only €600.
Strangely enough, after replacing the amp, my DALI Spektor 2s—which had always sounded remarkably good for their size—suddenly seemed to be lacking something.
Then I got a great deal on a pair of DALI Rubicon 2s. I thought it was a no-brainer: audio heaven, here I come.
Well... not quite.
Once I installed them, the mid-highs seemed recessed and the whole presentation sounded flatter than before. At one point, I was seriously considering trading them for a pair of Audiovector QR1s plus some cash. Luckily, I listened to the QR1s first. To my ears, they sounded like PC speakers, so that idea disappeared pretty quickly.
Instead, I decided to work on the room and setup.
I was hearing quite a bit of ringing, so I experimented with the DAC filters on the Arcam and built some acoustic panels using Rockwool. That helped. Then I started experimenting with speaker positioning, the air gap between the panels and the wall, and the distance between the speakers and the rear wall. After all, no room is perfect—you just try to make the most of what you have.
Then I noticed that my speakers were leaning slightly backwards. I adjusted the stands to get them perfectly level, and the improvement was immediately noticeable. Still, those mid-high notes remained slightly recessed, and overall I couldn't honestly say that the system sounded better than my old setup.
I was almost ready to accept my fate, while still looking for a way out. Should I replace the amp? The speakers? I even started shopping for a Hegel amp.
Then I had one last thought: what if I filled the speaker stands?
I bought some silver sand, dried it thoroughly, and filled one stand about two-thirds of the way. Before doing the other one, I did an A/B comparison.
Wow. This actually seemed to work.
I filled the second stand as well, and suddenly the soundstage changed completely. I pulled the speakers slightly further forward and...
Bingo.
I'm genuinely happy with the system now. I'm not selling anything. This is going to be my forever setup—or at least my "forever for the next five years" setup. ;)
I can't overstate how much I'm enjoying music now. Nothing feels missing anymore.
And perhaps that's the best sign of all:
I've stopped analysing the system and started listening to the music.
I wanted to share this to make the point that good gear can be bad with inproper placement and you should look into getting the most out of your gear itll give you even more joy when you fix it, also im just so happy 😂
Now i only can find a new house im never leaving home again btw the panels are hanging from a thread until i know for sure on what hight to place them and drill holes in the wall
Arcam sa20
Dali rubicon2
Bluesound node i130