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Hi,

I have just purchased some original 11Ls from Ebay and some Z2 stands for them to sit on. I have taken these as the first step in upgrading an old system consisting of Mordaunt Short MS25i speakers, Nad 3150 amp and Marantz CD-53. After a few hours listening I am unsure as to whether I like them or not. The imaging and seperation are great, the clarity of mids and highs is spot on but it seems like there is something missing. I know I am missing some of the lower frequencies of the old floorstanders but can't put my finger on what else. They just don't seem to groove like the MS25is and seem a bit clinical. 

My question is, as this was the first step in an upgrade process, can this be rectified by changes to the CDP and amp or is this just a character of the 11Ls? I can easily get the money back by selling them on if needs be.

Jespin:

Yeah that's about it, just changed to Clapton's reptile album and they sound great, just not so great with other material. They should already be run in as they're second hand so that shouldn't be a problem.

fr0g:

A large part of things 'running in' is your ears becoming adjusted to the differences.

 That's a good point, I'd never looked at it that way. I'll be interested to change back to the MS25is in a few days and then see how they compare. I'm beginning to think the 11Ls are just highlighting the weaknesses in my system, namely the CD player. 

dasherdiablo1:

I've just got a pair of 11L2's to use in our bedroom with my old denon separates, they still need running in, but they sound fantastic! Inceredibly detailed and plenty of oomfff for that environment. I also listened to them with my cyrus system and they sound excellent...all be it a too weak for the main system.

a.g.:

dasherdiablo1:

I've just got a pair of 11L2's to use in our bedroom with my old denon separates, they still need running in, but they sound fantastic! Inceredibly detailed and plenty of oomfff for that environment. I also listened to them with my cyrus system and they sound excellent...all be it a too weak for the main system.

Interesting... did you find the sound to be a bit bright? I'm considering a Cyrus CD6se to use with my Quad 12L2s. What did you dislike about the sound, if anything?

Give the speakers a few weeks to run in, they sound less "boxed in" after a while.

They are second hand - read a few posts back.

Want to learn a trick to making your speakers better? Toe them in more, and then a bit more again.

Honestly, try it.

Hughes123:

a.g.:

Give the speakers a few weeks to run in, they sound less "boxed in" after a while.

They are second hand - read a few posts back.

Want to learn a trick to making your speakers better? Toe them in more, and then a bit more again.

Honestly, try it.

a.g.:

Hughes123:

a.g.:

Give the speakers a few weeks to run in, they sound less "boxed in" after a while.

They are second hand - read a few posts back.

Want to learn a trick to making your speakers better? Toe them in more, and then a bit more again.

Honestly, try it.

It's the original poster's 11Ls that are second hand, not dasherdiablo1's 11L2s.

I have my speakers practically facing me square on. Sounds OK but I really need to spend some quality time getting the position just right.

Oh right, sorry!

Getting speaker positioning right is a fine art, yet I have found that the ideal position is having the speakers slightly closer together than the distance I am away, and with the toed in position with the tweeters just a few inches infront of me at an apex of a triangle - oh, and because my Wharfedales are ported, I stick a pair of socks in the port to calm the bass down a bit! Forget port bungs!

Jespin:

Yeah that's about it, just changed to Clapton's reptile album and they sound great, just not so great with other material. They should already be run in as they're second hand so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm thinking of changing the CD player next as it's seen better days..... any suggestions? Probably be a second hand buy again as I like to get more for my hard earned.... thinking maybe the CD73T as it may take some of the harsh edges of the sound which I guess may be down to the Marantz.

I've recently added a CD73T to my system. Been running it for about 2 weeks and I consider it to be a bargain (£200 New from ebay). Some say that arcam gear can be a bit too warm and perhaps not the last word in detail. To my ears, I would disagree. I find the 73T to be perfect with both highs and lows and a well presented mid range. I suppose it also depends what type of music you listen to. with my prog rock and heavy/thrash metal there is plenty of higfh end detail without harshness. I can now listen to my system for hours without fatigue.

I've owned Marant CD players in the past and whilst it was some time ago (my last Marantz being the CD85...1987 vintage) I found them bright but then again I was using Mission speakers at the time.

Pike900fish:

To my ears, I would disagree. I find the 73T to be perfect with both highs and lows and a well presented mid range. I suppose it also depends what type of music you listen to. with my prog rock and heavy/thrash metal there is plenty of higfh end detail without harshness. I can now listen to my system for hours without fatigue.

I'm into prog rock, and I find it just right for it! Please check out my review on it! A good example would be "Yes" "Owner Of a Lonely Heart" can usually result in bleeding ears on some players, but the CD73T seems to have a lovely roll off in treble which reduces the ear grating sound from that guitar solo, and yet it can do the immense starts and stops required to deliver the punch from the great guitar riff.

Hughes123:

a.g.:

Hughes123:

a.g.:

Give the speakers a few weeks to run in, they sound less "boxed in" after a while.

They are second hand - read a few posts back.

Want to learn a trick to making your speakers better? Toe them in more, and then a bit more again.

Honestly, try it.

It's the original poster's 11Ls that are second hand, not dasherdiablo1's 11L2s. I have my speakers practically facing me square on. Sounds OK but I really need to spend some quality time getting the position just right.

Oh right, sorry!

Getting speaker positioning right is a fine art, yet I have found that the ideal position is having the speakers slightly closer together than the distance I am away, and with the toed in position with the tweeters just a few inches infront of me at an apex of a triangle - oh, and because my Wharfedales are ported, I stick a pair of socks in the port to calm the bass down a bit! Forget port bungs!

Yeah agree, it's a mine field this speaker positioning lark. I beleive on another post there have been recommendations to have the speakers about 6ft apart and facing "flat on" to the listening position. I think someone even posted if speakers are closer together (about 4 ft) to toe them out?

Agree with you though that toeing in just in front of the sweet spot and having the speakers positioned about 3/4 of the distance to the listening position apart, is about spot on for my room and taste.