Danny in San Diego

---------------- On 8/11/2004 11:47:57 AM dbflash wrote: Danny, Welcome. I have a couple questions for you: 1. How big is your room? 2. What type of music do you listen to? 3. Do you want seperates or an integrated. 4. If seperates what will you be using for a preamp? 5. Albums, CD's or both. You have killer speakers. I am also using Cornwalls. Just reading this post I wouldn't know what to buy. I don't think your question has really been answered. Danny ---------------- Here are my answers: 1. My room is really an enclosed patio and it is huge at 37ft x 25ft. The speakers are in the corners (toed in) on the long side. I might try placing them in the corners of the shorter side, perhaps the stereo soundfield might be a little better, although they don't sound bad where they are. The layout of my furniture makes it better for the current placement. Ideally, one day I'll add another pair of Cornwalls and have one in every corner. The ceiling is low at 7ft 3" and covered with popcorn. 2. I listen to many types of music, including lots of jazz, r&b, rock, reggae, world. I like to crank the volume when people come over. 3. Re: integrated or separate, I'm open. I really just want the best sound. 4. If a preamp, I would like suggestions. 5. I mainly listen to cd's, though I have lots of old vinyl that I'd love to rediscover with my Cornwalls. I've been switching between my Yamaha and my Jolida. The Yamaha sounds as though the sound is coming only from the speakers. The Jolida really opens up the soundstage and the tone across most of the frequency range is definitely superior....except for that darned bass! The Yamaha has tons of low end and I really don't want to be without it (I'm a bass player, maybe I'm biased). If I could just keep all the positive qualities of the Jolida and add more low end, I'd be happy. I'm going to send my Jolida to Craig for evaluation. What do you use with your Cornwalls? Danny

Michael, Thanks for the welcome. I can see I'm in the company of enthusiasts, and that's never a bad place to be. All the replies have opened many doors of possibility. I'll be back to share some conclusions. Though, of course, the quest for the perfect tone can be a long journey. Danny

Thanks for all your replies. I tried the Yamaha both flat and with bass and treble added and I generally prefer the latter. Re: being ready for tubes, I'm already sold on them. I appreciate the difference in the soundstage, presence, tone, warmth and all the other things that tubes provide. I have an old Curtis Mathes console radio which has tubes and it has more than enough low end. I also have a 1941 Silvertone which still sounds wonderful. So I'm trying to avoid a return to solid state on the basis of one criteria alone. There's just something about that Jolida. It is great in everything except the bass. I wonder if I just got a bad one?

No more than $1,500, preferably less.

The Jolida is also a little thin with my other speakers, which are Polk Audio LSI 15's.

I just got a pair of Cornwall IIs on e bay and I'd like some suggestions on an amp. I have a Jolida 801A which has many nice qualities about it but has nowhere near enough low end. I then hooked my Cornwalls to my old Yamaha natural sound solid state. Much more bass and power but loss of mid and upper tone and soudstage. I can hear the potential in the Cornwalls but I need the right match. I love the mid and upper range qualities of tubes but I also need plenty of low end. Could I just replace my standard Jolida tubes and get more bottom? Or do I need to go in another direction altogether? Any suggestions?