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Post by dwaindibly on Mar 16, 2023 20:11:31 GMT
Just had the mirror out again but this time I used a torch I aimed from the centre of the speaker pointed at the mirror and got some very interesting results on the reflections lets just say I've put the tiles in the wrong places 🫤🤔
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Post by dwaindibly on Apr 16, 2023 6:56:55 GMT
Hi all I've been away for a while on my hollibobs After extensive research and trying 2 richer shops and 2 best buy shops in the US I couldn't find any of the speakers on my shortlist to listen to so I've pulled the trigger a bought the q acustics 3030i and I'm very impressed they have that richness I was looking for and sound very smooth and slightly warm the bass is plentiful and tight and goes quite low much more detail in the mids and highs too just need to run them in a bit and start saving for a new amp now   |
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Post by lurch on Apr 16, 2023 8:07:42 GMT
Great stuff Geoff.
QA are a great brand and as you've now found, offer great performance and vfm. The 3030s are capable of supporting some serious electronics so you shouldn't need to upgrade for a very long time.
Marantz 6xxx - 8xxx series, Rotel, Yamaha and Denon amps would be a good match for the 30s or possibly a valve integrated like the Puresound A30.
If I remember correctly your running a FiiO Taishan or similar matchbox DAC with the Wiim? If so and you've not already done it, a cheap upgrade whilst your saving for the amp would be getting Alen/Oli to build you a 5v LPS (twin output or use a 1:2 usb port) to run them. Swapping the smps wallwarts to LPS would render improvements way beyond the cost.
If you want to try this out before you invest, PM me your address and I will send you my spare Chifi LPS to experiment with.
In the meantime just sit back and enjoy.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 16, 2023 8:50:17 GMT
Hi all I've been away for a while on my hollibobs After extensive research and trying 2 richer shops and 2 best buy shops in the US I couldn't find any of the speakers on my shortlist to listen to so I've pulled the trigger a bought the q acustics 3030i and I'm very impressed they have that richness I was looking for and sound very smooth and slightly warm the bass is plentiful and tight and goes quite low much more detail in the mids and highs too just need to run them in a bit and start saving for a new amp now They look really tidy! Well done |
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Post by macca on Apr 16, 2023 11:43:37 GMT
good small speaker those, if I were you I would put more treatment on the ceiling, especially the area close to the speakers.
They are an easy load so there's no benefit to be had by changing the amplifier unless you can hear it clipping on peaks.
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Post by robbiegong on Apr 16, 2023 12:36:45 GMT
good small speaker those, if I were you I would put more treatment on the ceiling, especially the area close to the speakers. They are an easy load so there's no benefit to be had by changing the amplifier unless you can hear it clipping on peaks. Why is there no benefit to changing amp? surely an amp is not just about an easy load. Having changed amps a number of times, with easy loads, there are benefits, obviously not all amps are equal/the same. |
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Post by macca on Apr 16, 2023 13:44:25 GMT
good small speaker those, if I were you I would put more treatment on the ceiling, especially the area close to the speakers. They are an easy load so there's no benefit to be had by changing the amplifier unless you can hear it clipping on peaks. Why is there no benefit to changing amp? surely an amp is not just about an easy load. Having changed amps a number of times, with easy loads, there are benefits, obviously not all amps are equal/the same. Sorry Robbie can't answer your question, some snowflakes getting upset over all the technical talk. Yeah. Happy trails mate. |
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Post by dwaindibly on Apr 16, 2023 15:52:56 GMT
good small speaker those, if I were you I would put more treatment on the ceiling, especially the area close to the speakers. They are an easy load so there's no benefit to be had by changing the amplifier unless you can hear it clipping on peaks. I've had to turn the amp down a few notches so there definitely easier to drive!! I started with reflection points on the ceiling with the tiles but I might buy another pack just to even things up a bit but there not cheap !! They sound awesome tho. I'm just saving up any spare cash I get so might treat myself to a new amp for my crimbo pressie |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 16, 2023 20:37:33 GMT
good small speaker those, if I were you I would put more treatment on the ceiling, especially the area close to the speakers. They are an easy load so there's no benefit to be had by changing the amplifier unless you can hear it clipping on peaks. I've had to turn the amp down a few notches so there definitely easier to drive!! I started with reflection points on the ceiling with the tiles but I might buy another pack just to even things up a bit but there not cheap !! They sound awesome tho. I'm just saving up any spare cash I get so might treat myself to a new amp for my crimbo pressie There can be some bargains around Christmas, but the market slows down a fair bit. |
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Post by dwaindibly on Apr 18, 2023 14:38:06 GMT
Doh!! wifey has back to back meetings all day. her office is in our spare back bedroom so no listening in the loft den ☹️ but I've found a use for my little missions. as fronts for my 5.1 system in the lounge they sound pretty good with the sub 😁😁🤪  |
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Post by dwaindibly on Apr 23, 2023 21:58:37 GMT
So I've knocked up some new tops for my speaker stands as the new speakers are a lot deeper I have made them so the rubber feet on the speakers sit on top of them with holes to match the bolts holes in the speakers then bolted them to the top but having now watched a vid on someone building the original q acustics stands the speakers actually sit directly on the plate as the plates are a smaller footprint than the feet surely using the rubber feet is better isolation than the whole bottom of the speaker sat on it ?
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Post by bencat on May 1, 2023 9:25:11 GMT
Only one way to know for sure is to try it both ways and see how each set up sounds . Then go with the one you like best .b
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Post by lurch on May 16, 2023 16:49:52 GMT
Come on Geoff, hows it going with the QAs now you've got a good few hours on them?
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Post by dwaindibly on May 21, 2023 15:51:04 GMT
Come on Geoff, hows it going with the QAs now you've got a good few hours on them? Sorry guys been a bit busy lately the Q's are bloody awesome?!! So I'll try my best at a review🤪 no need for a sub me thinks as the bottom end goes quite low 46Hz or more and the bass sounds tight and clean and there's plenty of it There on the warm side smooth and creamy with lots of detail !! The sound stage is a lot better to left and right and the phantom centre is fantastic they would probably benefit with more space to either side for a wider sound stage but they sound well in my loft they are also easier to drive as I've had to turn down my 25w amp a few notches they sound good at lower volume too . there a massive improvement on my little missions and I'm very pleased with the sound can't beat em for the price either 😁 |
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Post by dwaindibly on Jun 6, 2023 13:37:32 GMT
So I'm due a bonus from work and I'm gonna treat myself to a new amp
My budget is £300 here's the list of used ones I've seen so far any good?
And any suggestions welcome
Arcam A75
Creek 4040
Pioneer A-40AE*
Cambridge audio azur 650a
Rega brio r £345 but it's supposed to be fantastic
NAD C 316BEE V2
Marantz PM6007
Yamaha AS501
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Post by lurch on Jun 6, 2023 15:00:15 GMT
The Arcam and Creek especially are a bit long in the tooth now and would probably benefit from a service.
I would say get your ears around the NAD & Rega, they're new so you should be able that get a demo and dealer will probably also carry your QAs so it would be a meaningful audition.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 6, 2023 15:13:08 GMT
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Post by lurch on Jun 6, 2023 15:19:59 GMT
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Post by antonio on Jun 6, 2023 15:37:54 GMT
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Post by dwaindibly on Jun 6, 2023 18:02:50 GMT
Just added a couple more to the list both new. I could do with one with a remote as I'm always tweaking it due to different playback levels but it's not a deal breaker not bothered about bling just want the best sound and reliability
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 6, 2023 18:14:02 GMT
Marantz PM7200
Tons on eBay.
Remote
Tone controls
Option between class A and A/B. 25w in the former 90w in the latter.
For under £300 I've not heard better with remote. It is very VERY handy if you're adjusting levels constantly.
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Post by dwaindibly on Jun 10, 2023 7:39:55 GMT
The pm 7200 is a whopper and a serious contender !! How much would it cost to get one serviced ? If I was to get a new one would it be the Marantz PM6007 or the Yamaha AS501
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 13, 2023 11:01:58 GMT
The pm 7200 is a whopper and a serious contender !! How much would it cost to get one serviced ? If I was to get a new one would it be the Marantz PM6007 or the Yamaha AS501 For a check over I'd imagine a tech would be able to do it for under £100 and replacing a few caps (if necessary) shouldn't push that up much more. Buying new is less of a risk but in my opinion these amps push anything up to £500 or so well out of the way (I've had 3 or 4). The powerful Class A setting is very impressive. You can also bypass the tone controls for another rise in SQ, but the tone controls might be useful all the same. Sometimes you can find a freshly serviced one for sale for around the same price as the non serviced ones but I never had a single problem with any of mine, I'm still wondering if I should get one again one day for the lounge setup actually. |
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Post by dwaindibly on Nov 10, 2023 22:47:37 GMT
Bit of an update!! the Q's are sounding awesome even more so now as I've been able to tweek the sound a bit more now thanks to the parametric EQ on the wiim mini and after months of waiting and reading reviews and a final cash boost I've pulled the trigger on a marantz pm 6007 it has everything I want built in dac, remote and a sub out so I can upgrade from the taishan dac I have now and add a sub later at some point
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Post by lurch on Nov 11, 2023 6:40:34 GMT
It lives! 😂😂
Well done Geoff, looks like, your now set for many more years of chilling out to your choons. Just stay well away from hifi mags, shows and shops so you don't catch a dose of upgraditus, unlike most of us nutters.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 11, 2023 7:58:36 GMT
Bit of an update!! the Q's are sounding awesome even more so now as I've been able to tweek the sound a bit more now thanks to the parametric EQ on the wiim mini and after months of waiting and reading reviews and a final cash boost I've pulled the trigger on a marantz pm 6007 it has everything I want built in dac, remote and a sub out so I can upgrade from the taishan dac I have now and add a sub later at some point Nice choice there. Enjoy! |
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Post by dwaindibly on Nov 11, 2023 16:05:49 GMT
And just to finish things off I got the black n wrecker out and made a centre piece acoustic panel front using Spotify code can you guess the song ? Just needs some more sanding and a coat of stain 😁  |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 11, 2023 16:59:35 GMT
And just to finish things off I got the black n wrecker out and made a centre piece acoustic panel front using Spotify code can you guess the song ? Just needs some more sanding and a coat of stain 😁 I love that, and to put Britney Spears on there is comedy genius...bravo 😉 |
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Post by dwaindibly on Nov 11, 2023 18:12:56 GMT
I had to put 3 extra lines in at the start and 4 at the end to make it look right so god knows what it comes up with if it scans the actual code I used is for yellow by Coldplay
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Nov 11, 2023 19:33:28 GMT
I had to put 3 extra lines in at the start and 4 at the end to make it look right so god knows what it comes up with if it scans the actual code I used is for yellow by Coldplay Hahaha, brilliant. |
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