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Accuphase E-204 + Rega Kytes?


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Hi all, 

 

Long-time reader, first time poster! I've only really just started personally exploring the world of better quality audio, and could use some advice re troubleshooting a problem I'm hearing. Apologies if I've placed this in the wrong section but it feels like a beginner's query! 

 

Some background - all of my gear is second hand, and at this point I'm happy enough to piece together as good as system as I can with the gear I can pick up for affordable prices. 

 

Up until recently I've been listening to music from CD (via Technics SLP-555 CD) or vinyl (Teac PX-500 tt with Ortofon Red cart/stylus) with a Technics SU-8055 Amp and a pair of Rega Kyte speakers. 

 

For a cheap and cheerful setup this was actually pretty good! Particularly the bass felt well-defined, fast and punchy. 

 

I have just obtained an (unrestored) Accuphase E-204 amplifier, which is obviously streets ahead of my previous amp, and on paper it should sound miles better right? And it does in the higher frequencies, and overall - but the bass is notably more indistinct and, I guess I'd call it muddier, or even slightly distorted. 

 

I've been reading about the symptoms of failing caps, DC offset etc and none of these seem to account for quite what I'm hearing. My gut feeling is that maybe the speakers aren't quite handling the frequencies the amp is putting out - even at carefully low volume levels - but is that a realistic scenario? Or is it more likely to be a function of the amp being a bit out of sorts? Sadly I don't have access to a better/bigger pair of speakers to test my "theory", although if the amp checks out ok I'll definitely be pursuing a pair. 

 

One other thing - when listening through the amp's headphone output, everything sounds pretty rich and full with none of the (admittedly mild) lower frequency lack of definition mentioned above. 

 

Any advice welcome! 

 

Thanks,

Emsworth

 

 

 

 

 

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Try turning down the bass with the tone Controls first. The Kytes don't have a lot of bass for a start but from what I remember they are pretty quik and controlled down there. Could be speaker placement.

This prob is on both CD and TT? Make sure the loudness is off. And it does have a Tone Control bypass if need be.

What stands are the Kytes on?

Edited by Wimbo
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Many thanks for the advice Wimbo - I generally do have the loudness on, it's true - but I had the loudness on my old Technics amp and the bass from that sounded pretty good on the Kytes! When I switch it out it feels like the bass disappears, at least relative to what I'm hoping for/expecting. 

 

There is a tone bypass on the Accuphase which I have turned off at this point. 

 

Kytes are on (vintage) Apollo Hi Fi branded shot-filled pedestal stands. The room isn't ideally set up for listening but the old Technics amp seemed to work pretty happily with the Kytes - as this is the case I guess the crux of my question is whether the problem is likely with the amplifier, or the matching between speakers/amp. 

 

 

Edited by Emsworth
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The Bass you have been listening to more colour then accurate. Keep the loudness off and move the speakers closer to the rear wall if they are out into the room. Otherwise.just use the Tone controls to gauge whats wrong.

I rekon the Accuphase could be showing up a few limitations in your system wheras the Technics was masking them. 

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17 minutes ago, Wimbo said:

The Bass you have been listening to more colour then accurate. Keep the loudness off and move the speakers closer to the rear wall if they are out into the room. Otherwise.just use the Tone controls to gauge whats wrong.

I rekon the Accuphase could be showing up a few limitations in your system wheras the Technics was masking them. 

 

Thanks Wimbo, that kind of seasoned perspective is very helpful. I'll do as you suggest and spend a few days with the Accuphase to see how things feel when I've stopped comparing. Could be the Technics amp gets swapped back in and the Accuphase benched until I can find a source and speakers it deserves! 

 

16 minutes ago, jrhill said:

You've got a couple of top line tech up in Sydney and suggest you get it checked out fully - unless something is drastically wrong, it's well worth it

 

Cheers jrhill, I'm definitely keen to get it looked at in the not too distant future - I can tell it is a lovely amp, even though my system probably isn't allowing it to realise its potential! It's a beautifully built piece of kit, and - save for this slight dissatisfaction with the low end - it does sound really great, especially on vocals. 

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Guest rogerthat

I ran Kytes with a Cyrus DAC 8. It was a great combo with punchy bass. Very fun sounding system. Great speakers.

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Hey, just wanted to say thanks for this advice - 

 

18 hours ago, Wimbo said:

 Keep the loudness off

 

I think this was the key - I was totally used to the loudness "on" with my old amp, and in my defense on the Technics it actually does add a bottom end boost that flatters my Kytes. But I can also see now that I was pursuing a particular brash, boomy sound. The loudness button(s) on the Accuphase don't play as nicely with my speakers (and are presumably calibrated differently) leading to that distortion I was hearing. 

 

Current plan is to listen to the Technics with the loudness turned off for a couple of days to get used to the less inflected presentation, and then swap back to the Accuphase to make a fairer assessment of the sound. I started this morning and even within the space of one album I started off thinking it all sounded thin & tinny and then got used to the flatter sound. 

 

I still really love - and covet - strong and rich bass, but I think if that's what I'm after I should probably look into some floorstanding speakers. It's an ongoing process this lark isn't it. 

 

Thanks again. 

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22 hours ago, gt1482 said:

Doesn't the Accuphase also have bass/treble control knobs which allow you to tune the bass in finer steps?

 

Yep it does. Having turned off the loudness means I am much better able to judge what the tone controls are doing - I'm trying to get used to a flat presentation first but I do think I will end up taking the bass up a notch or two and likewise pulling back the treble. I don't know how much is CD harshness and how much is my ears being stuffed after 20+ years of gig-going - but certain frequencies I find really horrible to listen to, probably leading to a preference for a bass-heavy sound. 

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  • 1 month later...

Hey  @JukKluk2 - it's sounding good thanks! I've been going through my CD collection because I'm enjoying hearing everything with the new presentation and there have been some real revelations along the way, which I suppose is what this game is all about.

 

(There have also been a few times when a poorly-mastered CD has really revealed itself, which I suppose is an occupational hazard). 

 

I did upgrade to a Denon DVD-2910 which (at least subjectively) made a difference source-wise compared to the old 80s Technics CDP I had previously. 

 

Currently nosing around for a meatier pair of speakers! The bass is there, and it is well-defined, but I'd probably like a bit more... just have to find the right pair. 

 

 

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