The Two Channel Advice Thread

@Colgin one more option, if you like the Sonos, is the Sonos Amp. It's small, uses HDMI input and I'm pretty sure it can be controlled through CEC so you can just change the volume with your TV remote. Also gives you some flexibility to add surrounds wirelessly if that's something you'd consider.

I doubt it's as good of an amp as the others you mentioned but it covers the non-audio issues you have.

 

@Colgin I faced similar issues, though not quite under the same aesthetic constraints, more around simple and reliable operation for my family.

The solution was to add an Apple TV and a Sonos Arc soundbar to my LG TV, and have the audio system dedicated to listening (which is basically only used by me). Apple TV has a great remote and integrates 99% perfectly with the TV and soundbar via CEC. And honestly, dialogue is more intelligible now than it was with the sound running through my quite decent 2ch setup. Even watching musical stuff (youtube) with the soundbar is satisfying because of the mental distraction provided by the video.

Best of luck in your search.

EDIT: forgot to mention the Apple remote uses bluetooth and does not require line of sight. It is also rechargeable and a single charge lasts a couple of months.

 

So weird as I see it now in two different browsers, one on my computer and one on my phone. Before I did not but now I do. Anyway ….

 

You’re definitely on the right track thinking you’re going to need some EQ here. I can’t see the picture, but I believe I have a similar setup below my TV (although maybe not as wide as yours) and have owned the Special Forty’s previously- those speakers put out a lot of bass considering their size (and have the typical mid bass boost for bookshelf speakers) which will bloat the bass very quickly once they’re put close to a wall boundary. Personally, I think this should be a critical feature on your list. You might be able to get away with something like a Loki in the chain and adjust the low bass adjustment, but a digital or room EQ solution would likely have a much better and more precise outcome.

 

Originally I could see the one pic on icloud if I directly linked to it but otherwise you're trying to link directly into your outlook/hotmail account or something and that just isn't going to work. Is it that terrible to put the marantz avr on top of the console and possibly pull it out a couple inches if the wires from the back are a problem? I don't get why everything must be inside the cabinet and hidden. You've already got the bookshelf speakers on there... I don't think it would look that terrible having a black box under the black tv between the speakers.

 

@Colgin the Rega Brio (current model) is 13 3/4" deep including the volume knob, and even right-angle connectors will add a bit more - so I'm not sure even that one would make it inside your skinny cabinet.

I'm in a similar situation, but worse as I also have a turntable, so both that and the Brio have to go on top of the cabinet. If an amp is the only component that would have to to go there (can't see your pictures - either drag & drop, use an imgur direct link, or paste a URL), my advice would be to make it a feature and live with it. That'll open up loads more possibilities.

BTW, I have the Brio with Dynaudio Audience 52SEs, an older model similar to but a bit shorter and shallower than the Special 40s, with a very similar impedance profile and the same claimed sensitivity, and I like the combo. Smallish space and I don't play loud though.

 

Ok. I'm a furniture collector, so I totally get that.

I still can't see the photo; is the front wall an interior wall? Perhaps consider cutting a hole and putting all your A/V hardware in a suitably-sized rack or cabinet in whatever room is on the other side, with an IR repeater to control it. I've used these grommets for that sort of thing: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Legrand...g-Brackets-and-Hole-Saw-Black-CCA6B/312969607

 

I can't see the picture either, but think your best options involve:

1. Sucking it up and putting an aesthetically pleasing integrated amp on top of the stand under the TV and between the speakers. You already have speakers there, so what's one more box?
2. If you are unable to fit a desired amplifier in the cabinet and ensuring it doesn't overheat, getting a tiny integrated that will underpower your speakers, like a PS Sprout, and using an IR repeater.
3. Getting rid of the Dynaudios and going for either (a) a nice soundbar (like the $2,500 Sennheiser unit or similar) plus sub or (b) active stereo speakers like the LS50 Wireless II or similar, plus sub.

Whatever speakers/bar you put on the cabinet, make sure you have isolated them from the cabinet and moved it as far forward as family will permit (especially if you go a soundbar route). Ideal position for soundbar is flush with the front of the stand. Herbie's fat dots or similar could work for isolating the speakers from the cabinet and not raise them up as much as Isoacoustics products would.

 

I tried to upload directly from my phone. If this doesn't work I give up. I do pull the speakers up more and the left one gets moved to the right as well when in use.

 

Maybe you'll have a fight on your hands about the aesthetics - but putting the speakers on short (12" or so) stands would be good to get them off the reflective cabinet top and up around ear level.

And yeah - put the amp up top.

 

Any recommendations for a new SS preamp below $1500? Or should I save my money and grab a Freya S?.

Dark and rich tonality with great macrodynamics is what I need.

 

Freya-S has a slight bit of color but it won't make it darker ime.

 

Maybe the kind of stand the JBL L100 uses (either official or the less obtrusive wooden kinds you see on etsy) to angle the tweeters up towards listening position? Those wouldnt stick out as much and with etsy sourced stuff you can usually order something sized to fit your speakers. I wouldn’t think an aesthetically pleasing integrated amp with hidden wires wouldn’t look too out of place with the general vibe going on there.

 

Can you say a bit more about the nature of the coloration? I've considered the Freya S for my own system.

 

To my ears there was some fake warmth/glare to the midrange and a bit of steeliness. Slight and not a lot but enough to annoy me. This was a couple of years ago with the first run and an Yggdrasil A1. Looking back i think it was just not a great combination when paired with my neutral and revealing speakers.
Am much happier with A2 and Freya+ now.

 

I’m thinking of using Freya+ prior to my headphone amp to control the level of multiple sources. Does Freya remember previous volume levels when switching between inputs?

 

No it doesn’t, you need to adjust the level for each input.

 

Thanks! I should have been more specific. Let’s say I set input 1 at 50% and input 2 at 75%. If I switch back and forth between input 1 and input 2, does Freya keep input 1 at 50% and input 2 at 75%?

 

Freya’s volume works functionally the same as an analog pot. The only memory it has is the position of the dial.

 

Yep I understood what you meant. Like @Riotvan says, the volume pot has no memory or automatic control. Just manual control on the unit and the remote. Therefore when you change inputs the volume pot stays in the same position.