Disappointed with a new Denon PMA-720AE amplifier and Tanny Revolution DC6 speakers

ajgoodfellow

ajgoodfellow

ajgoodfellow

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Hi there,

I've just purchased a Denon PMA-720AE amplifier and Tannoy Revolution DC6 speakers as an upgrade to my old Cambridge Audio A5 amp and Tanny Mercury MX2 speakers

Unfortunately the sound is very bright and lacking in bass. Switching on the loudness control improves the bass but it is rather indistinct

The speakers are biwired using Cambridge Audio Symphony 400 cabling with a length of four metres from the amp to the speakers

Is it a case of letting the amp and speakers bed in?

This isn't what I was expecting after reading the reviews, and to be honest, I currently prefer the old setup

The sound is similar when using different inputs on the back and different sources such as the TV, phone and CD player

Thanking you all in advance!
 
Thanks for the replies

I did buy them without a demo - I bought them from Richer Sounds in Birmingham in their sales. I phoned the store this morning and they said something similar - allow the speakers to bed in and check that the phase is correct (I checked and it is thankfully!)

I'll give them another week to see if they bed in - I must admit that I like a bassy sound but one that is clear and defined

I am considering returning the amp and getting the Marantz PM6005 instead. This was on my original list but it's currently £100 more than the Denon
 
Thanks for the advice GoRedwings19 and lucid

This is definitely a lesson learnt! I only biwired it as my old setup was biwired and I thought that it would always improve the sound - another example of my inexperience!

Looks like I should take the amp back as the pairing doesn't suit my tastes

I was wondering if I should get the Cambridge Audio Azur 351A instead? It's not reviewed on What Hi-Fi though but I wonder if it's a better match than the Marantz PM6005 to the Tannoys (What Hi-Fi says that the Marantz could be a little punchier)

Thanks again
 
Thanks for the replies

Unfortunately my old amp doesn't work any more (it went pop just before Christmas) and I don't trust my old speakers as when I wired up my Dad's old A1 amp they popped one speaker channel!

I do appreciate your advice - I'll definitely have to have a good listen. Oddly today it sounded better to me but this might just be the fact that I'm getting used to it myself!
 
Thanks kidloco

I've called the shop and they're happy to accept an exchange with no restocking fees or similar for another week. I've booked myself in for a listen on Sunday next week

Buying blind wasn't the right decision this time and I don't think I'll do it again in the future!

I must admit then when I was listening last night it did sound better - it could just be that the speakers are also taking some time to run in
 
Wow - what a bargain! The Birmingham store is where I bought the kit actually and they've been great on the phone

They actually suggested for me to have a demo and that if I wasn't happy then to come back and try a different amp

I do have some stands thanks :-) Cheap Gale ones but probably better then none!
 
No problem - I was thinking of the Marantz :-)

Thanks for the updates - the Dali Zensor speakers get good reviews but are also £100 more than the Tannoys. Could be worth spending the money though

The PM6005 is in my new budget. I have realised that I'm not going to get what I wanted for sub £150 so I'm now looking at more expensive amps such as the £200 351A or £250 PM6005. I was even wondering about going for the £300 651A. It might be double what I had originally wanted to spend but I can just about stretch to it and it's better to have something that I'm happy with for a long time
 
Thanks for the continued replies

To give Richer Sounds credit they're very helpful on the phone and are happy to take the kit back (amp and speakers) as I'm not happy

I've arranged a demo on Sunday of the Cambridge Audio 351A, Cambridge Audio 651A and Marantz PM6005 amplifiers with the Tannoy Precision DC6 and DC6T speakers. I can then see which I prefer when mixing and matching this much

GoRedwings19's last comment resonates with me - this is exactly what I did and I got myself in a right old mess!
 
Hi GoRedwings19

My apologies - that wasn't meant as a response to you at all :) It felt just like you were explaining my experiences

I'm sorry to hear about your problems! Thankfully my mistake of just reading What Hi Fi and grabbing a system blind hasn't cost me as they'll take the system back so I can get something that I like (and have listened to!)
 
Thanks

I focussed on the Cambridge Audio Azur 651A and Marantz PM6005 amplifiers

I tried the following speakers:
Dali Zensor 3
Monitor Audio MR4
Monitor Audio MR6
Tannoy Revolution DC6T

I quickly discounted the Dali speakers as even though they are good speakers I personally found that their mid range response was not as good as the other speakers

It was a more difficult decision between the Marantz and Cambridge Audio amplifiers. I was very happy with both but found that the Marantz offered a more relaxed listen and had clearer treble definition. It also featured optical and coaxial inputs (so I could connect my XBox One via the optical input and my CD player via the coaxial input) and it was £100 cheaper as it was on offer

The speakers were more difficult to decide between. I spent an awful lot of time agonising between the Tannoy DC6Ts and the Monitor Audio MR4s. The definition and clarity of the treble on the Tannoys was outstanding. Muse absolutely came alive even at very high volumes. The Monitor Audio MR4s just couldn't match this - the treble sounded confused and indistinct.

When I played some house, dance and techno music my findings were completely reversed. The Monitor Audio MR4s came alive - lovely, punchy, heavy but tight and controlled bass. Even with heavy drum and bass tracks they excelled. The Tannoys on the other hand sounded loose and soft in comparison.

The MR6s sounded just like the MR4s but with more bass - not necessarily something they needed

I spent about an hour at a café in Birmingham discussing this with the other half as we tried to decided between the two. We ultimately decided on the Monitor Audio speakers as the difference was prounced at higher volumes which is what we'll be playing the house music at rather than Muse (house parties!)

When I went back to purchase the MR4s I noticed that the BX5s were on offer. These are the next model up in Monitor Audio's range. They were more expensive though and I didn't have time to demo (the shop was about to close at this point). The salesman said that they offer the taught bass of the MR4s but the clarity of the DC6Ts (which sounded perfect!)

He offered a 14 day no quibble exchange on the BX5s so I took the plunge. I'm thrilled I did. Even though I have only been listening to them for a few hours (so neither are run in) they sound amazing. Lovely bass with clear defined trebles
 
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