Hi,
This is my first post.
To fill you in on my system.
CDS2, 52, supercap, 2x 135, Shahinian Arc.

I currently have this system on a quadraspire rack with townsend audio seismic sinks under the CDS 2, the XPS and the 52 and supercap.

I have a CAD mains block and leads.

The sound is good, but the bass is a bit thrummy and not as extended as I was hoping for. I have had the Shahinians 3 years, the CDS2 just over a year and the 52-135s just a month or so.
I had noticed the slightly clonky bass with my lesser Naim electronics and I thought that the better amps would resolve this. Help!!!!

Paul.

Hi,

I had problems with my MK1 Arcs the bass on some CDs was thumpy and you had to turn it down, but then I add more smoothing to my 135 clones I added an other 30.000uF so now I have 60.000uF per amp and that has cured it completely, I have heard my Arcs driven by a Rega Mira and that wasn't up to the job it had the same lumpy Bass as my amps used to have, but all that doesn't help you, I suggest you try moving the Arcs I have mine about 8 inches from the back wall and toed in a little. Or it might be your stands try moving things around, you might have to undo some of the things that worked before you upgraded.

pete

I second Pete's advice, play around with the set-up of the speakers - distances from rear walls, side walls etc. Also try the same with your head! I.e If you sit close to a wall, move out from it. Also, speak to your dealer, you've obviously spent a lot recently and not getting the sound you want, they should help sort it out. Alternatively, stuff it, flog the Arcs and buy some DBLs. This will de-thrum the bass, extend it and get some serious scale and pace into the bargain.... While totally trashing your bank account.

I agree with the advice so far, but it may be that a mana soundbase under the speakers might do the trick. I don't know anyone who is using them with shahinians though.
dozy

Hi,

I have made some oak plinths that sit on adjustable spikes with recesses for the feet to sit in (with blobs of blue tack)that give a more detailed sound with affecting the bass, My dealer says he has tried lots of things like spikes etc and it just kills the bass, but I havn't had any problems with my plinths.

pete

[This message was edited by Pete, Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know on THURSDAY 14 December 2000 at 11:23.]

Using plinths, spikes and stuff like that not really recommended nor really necessary for shahinian speakers. I think the suggestion above to try moving them around and especially away from the walls is a good one - they do like some space around them (if you do move them, do not make a snap initial judgement but give them a little time especially of they are on thick carpet...). . I have heard Arcs in a much "lesser" Naim system than the one you have sounding quite remarkable. You do not say so above, but I assume that you are using Naim speaker cable.. Also I would try removing the Seismic sink from under the CDS2 and see what that does.. I use quadraspire racks, and I tried a Base isolation platform once under my CDS2 and it destroyed the sound.... Finally if your dealer is any good he should help here..

If all else fails, try a pair of Hawks... I have a pair and used them initially for while in more or less your configuration and they were superb...I find there is nothing out there to touch them..

Anyway good luck.. I hope you sort it out..

Tony

Hi,

The way I look at it is if you have a hard floor or a very short pile carpet that would be the same as my plinths, Also this eliminates the settling in time needed if you have a thick carpet and when you come to move them you have no marks left by the feet, so its a win-win situation as far as I am concerned.

pete

HI all.

Thanks a lot for your advice. I have tried some of the suggested solutions. The biggest suprise I had was by taking away all the seismic sinks. Instantly there was much more weight in the sound, and the bass seems to sound less thrumy. It's not all good however,as now there is a bit less 'air' in the upper frequencies and slightly less fine detail. So I think I will have to check out some other stands. What do you recommend? I have heard good things said about mana but in those cases it apparently 'tightend' the sound which is what I don't want.

Cheers
Paul.

If you live in the UK, you should take advantage of the Mana money back scheme to see if you like what they do. They certainly give you more "air" and slam, but I don't really know what people mean by tightness.

Dozy

Paul

Depends upon your floor, as Pete was saying, but a cheap first check if stands under you 'speakers might help (especially if you have a wooden / suspended floor) is putting a couple of paving slabs under the 'speakers and seeing if they help.

Not as good as the various stands - but at a couple of quid each from a garden centre or building merchant it may give some indicative results.

Jonathan