Best system to get the best from the speakers
Posted by: Mike Sullivan on 07 October 2018
I wondering how to get the best out of my speakers. My old system is now in the media room - UC2/NAP100/Totem Hawks. My new system is a Nova and Totem Signature Forests. I'm picking both speakers will take more up front, but I'm not sure of the best pathway. I'm not wanting to get into a convoluted and expensive cycle of upgrades and discarding great components. For example, do the Hawks need more amplification then the NAP100 and do I start there, or improve the pre-amp stage from the UC2? I love the Nova and Totem Signature Forest combination, plenty of SQ and power. But the Nova would drive the Hawks and I could go 2 box with the Forest? Probably overthinking it and should just enjoy two great systems but still pondering if there are some simple steps to "up the game"over a few years without going silly.
Usually the most significant way of obtaining the best form a pair of speakers is to pay attention to their positioning and to the acoustics of the room.
Mike Sullivan posted:... the Nova would drive the Hawks and I could go 2 box with the Forest?
I'd be looking for more than the NAP 100 to power Hawks. Nova on Hawks would be my bet in your situation. The Sigs are actually probably easier to drive than the Hawks and may do better with the NAP 100. In any case , I'd get a bigger amp than the 100 to power either speaker. Despite their minimum power ratings, Totems need quite a bit more amplification to truly sing.
joerand posted:Mike Sullivan posted:... the Nova would drive the Hawks and I could go 2 box with the Forest?
I'd be looking for more than the NAP 100 to power Hawks. Nova on Hawks would be my bet in your situation. The Sigs are actually probably easier to drive than the Hawks and may do better with the NAP 100. In any case , I'd get a bigger amp than the 100 to power either speaker. Despite their minimum power ratings, Totems need quite a bit more amplification to truly sing.
Yes, I think long term, moving the Nova to the media room with the Hawks makes sense. For the lounge and Forests Sigs, I had though of the 272/250DR as an option, but really want the new streamer and the reviews place that system as close to the Nova, which leaves me with an option of the NDX2 and SN2 as a low box count. What I’m not sure, is how that would compare for driving the Forest as the SN2 and Nova are both 80W. Otherwise it’s a big jump to more amplication. Would more amplification with the UC2 work, or would that expose the preamp to much?
I used a UQ with a 150 and then a 200 as streamer pre and then with 122x/150 and 202/200 as just a source but it never sounded better than when I used it alone but that was with Q Acoustics Concept 20 and Q Acoustics Sub. I would perhaps think about stand mounted speakers and a sub with the Qute or if you really like the Totems then perhaps try a Uniti 2 or SuperUniti with them.
Bob the Builder posted:I used a UQ with a 150 and then a 200 as streamer pre and then with 122x/150 and 202/200 as just a source but it never sounded better than when I used it alone but that was with Q Acoustics Concept 20 and Q Acoustics Sub. I would perhaps think about stand mounted speakers and a sub with the Qute or if you really like the Totems then perhaps try a Uniti 2 or SuperUniti with them.
Thanks [@mention:49154750588625888], I’m running a UC2/NAP100 with the Hawks, but hadn’t though of a used SuperUniti as a possible option. Ideally, moving the Nova to the Hawks make sense, but I need to decide if I want to invest in a brtter system then for the Forest. I do have old Aucoustic Research 22BX sandmounts from 30 odd years ago, but they were no match for the Totems, hence where I am now.
SN2 is more than enough for the Forest Sigs. Should be a great combo with NDX 2 assuming you like the SN2 sound.
spurrier sucks posted:SN2 is more than enough for the Forest Sigs. Should be a great combo with NDX 2 assuming you like the SN2 sound.
Thanks. Do you think the SN2 would drive the Fores Sigs with better SQ than than the Nova given they are both 80W. I find the amp ratings a bit confusing as they don’t increase much as you go up the range. Also, if I wanted to take a 2 step upgrade, can you run then SN2 with the UC2 as a source to have an interim upgrade to the Hawks? End system would be Nova with Hawks, SN2/NDX2 with Forest Sigs.
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Long answer: best front end and middle bits you can afford.
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Mike Sullivan posted:spurrier sucks posted:SN2 is more than enough for the Forest Sigs. Should be a great combo with NDX 2 assuming you like the SN2 sound.
Thanks. Do you think the SN2 would drive the Fores Sigs with better SQ than than the Nova given they are both 80W. I find the amp ratings a bit confusing as they don’t increase much as you go up the range. Also, if I wanted to take a 2 step upgrade, can you run then SN2 with the UC2 as a source to have an interim upgrade to the Hawks? End system would be Nova with Hawks, SN2/NDX2 with Forest Sigs.
My guess is the SN2 has the more powerful amp even though the watts are the same. At least the SN2 has the better amp compared to the SU. Yes you can use the Qute as source into the SN2. I used my Qute into a SN1 for a bit. Opted to sell the SN and keep the Qute to use on its on.
Starting to think that a NAIT XS2 with the UC2 and Hawks may be a cost effective option and leave the Nova and Forest Sigs as they are. I’ve heard the NDX2 with components and though the Nova and Forest Sigs was pretty close in performance and the increase in investment want worth it for me. But running the NAIT XS2 on the second system in place of NAP100 would give me the power for the Hawks and retain the functionality of the UC2, plus the XS2 has the highly rated headphone - which is quite appealing as I use headphones a lot and the UC2 doesn’t drive my HD800s very well.