Hi Walter, that sounds like a great set up. A well-controlled sub can sound amazing. I have a Linn Sismik with an Arcam amplifier in my living room but I didn't know Arcam do a DAC for a PC. I think I might look into a set up like that myself.
Thanks for sharing. John -----Original Message----- From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Walter Ramage Sent: 24 November 2014 20:27 To: 'PC Audio Discussion List' Subject: The difference a subwoofer can make Hi folks. I've been auditioning at home the B & W PV1d subwoofer. Most people will assume that subwoofers are all about bass and nothing else. Maybe I should describe my set up before going on. My Source is a custom built tower PC. I'm using an Arcam R-pack DAC with a Chord USB interconnect going from the PC to the Dac. The Phonos going from the Dac to the amplifier which is an Arcam Solo Neo are Chord Chameleon interconnects. My Speaker cable is also Chord cables and the Speakers are the B & W CM5s plus the B & W PV1D subwoofer. OK, Before installing the subwoofer the sound from my system was very good indeed but since the use of the PV1 there has been a profound difference. The CM5s are extremely effective despite being stand mount and their bass response is very good also. However, with the PV1 the sound has a completely different quality and the sound stage has changed out of all recognition. It is a very warm and solid sound and very large. Bass is deep but very well controlled. On Saturday evening I was sitting listening to a few tracks and was playing at a reasonably high level but it sounded powerful but not "loud." The thing though that really caught my attention was how wide and high the sound was, it filled the whole wall, in fact it appeared the sound was larger than the room I was in and in truth, although I have good spacial awareness I was unsure where the speakers were placed as the sound was very much forward of the speakers and had great depth. I could tell the vocalist was right in front of me but the drums were behind him and other instruments could be placed accurately. It is very hard to describe to others what I heard but for those of you who have or have had some site, it is kinda like sitting down in front of a 42 inch TV but when you turn it on, the picture looks like a 65 inch screen. The subwoofer has filled out a great more than just an improved bass line but the whole picture has been dramatically altered. When I listen to a radio drama it almost sounds as if the actors are giving me a private show and are acting out right in front of me. I've got to say, I'm mightily impressed with this sub and for those who can afford a good sub, I would heartily recommend it. There is one fly in the ointment though; The sub being digital has a number of settings one can adjust to suit your needs whether it be to match a different set of speakers, if it is for music listening or movie or gaming etc, these settings are not accessible to the blind. However when they are set they are fixed until you wish to change them and even if you turn off the sub and turn it back on, these settings remain. The off and on switch is also digital so you don't really know it is on or off, unless you can hear it but it automatically senses the lack of a signal and turns itself off. It also has an auto switch off facility which I have set to 30 minutes so when I go to bed and turn the amp off, if after 30 minutes it doesn't sense a signal it switches off and switches on again when you turn on the amp in the morning. There is a "on the fly" volume control but again, it is digital and not accessible but there is a work around. I'm so impressed that I will most likely buy a PV1 provided the dealer can get me a good price which he says he can but even if he couldn't, I'd still get one as I'm so truly impressed. I'm sitting here almost giggling at my confusion when I was listening, I heard sounds from about 3 or 4 feet to the left and right of where my speakers are placed but there is a cupboard on one side and a wall on the other and my brain was telling me, it isn't possible because there is a cupboard there and a wall over there, but my ears are saying, it doesn't matter, we are hearing it come from that location, a bit of most enjoyable confusion. I thought I would give you all the benefit of what I've experienced here Oh!! one final thought, it makes mp3 files sound so very good despite the compression. Walter. --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com
