First, for the supply and the speakers themselves. Friday for 350, the Black Friday - ordered and delivered Wednesday. The speakers have arrived without any blemish in me and look very high. Perfectly processed to detect any impropriety. The Cantons look natural again an entire track, thanks to its high-quality real wood veneer, which is beyond any doubt. So why the exchange?
Well, I had formerly much larger "Music Room" and since then I have heard a smaller room for music, I was no longer happy with the Cantons. They were easy to present in the treble range and even at low volumes, it was only shrill and was too much to bear. No matter what I've tried to additional losses, countless settings, it was not going to get away.
So I wanted new speaker. From the Listening Opportunities in today's electronic markets, I do not think highly and devil I have eight weeks money back guarantee, what do I do wrong in the big amount?
The boxes So, at first connected and consulted about the old calibration of the Cantons. As an amplifier Marantz SR6008 is, as a player, a Marantz CD 5004, a Marantz UD 5007 and a WD My Cloud, which I now preferred hear because sound differences are here with the best will no longer be determined. Additional elements of the whole thing to a Canton Sub 10 and a Samsung UE50H6900. On cable, plug and other sound I do not think, as cable is a dirt cheap mass cable that looks just as good. Also bi-wiring or bi-amping is not an option for me. and Direct or Pure Direct settings I want nothing more to do since I understood the Audyssey room analysis system.
What stands out first is the poorer efficiency, the devils are quiet a lot and I have the volume control by more than 6 decibels untwist more to come in the same volume. But this will no longer manifest themselves later. But the sound itself was already a lot better. The shrill heights were gone, but the bass was much unclean as with the Cantons. Well, I've been waiting for my Ultima 20 and the Ultima Center perform a complete calibration. In the meantime, I have run it as long as possible to them record a little.
A few days ago it was time. And from here I would like to share my experiences. Maybe that helps even one or the other to be able to deal better with such a system. Who already knows all this and knows, may stop reading here and jump right to the conclusion. And I can only speak for the Audyssey system here. This is true for Marantz as for Denon receiver, I had a Denon 1912, who had the same settings.
Now what does the room analysis system at all? First, at the first measurement, the speaker distances and the volume to be measured. The volume level is adjusted to the theater reference level of 105 decibels at the hearing space. This means that the speaker can be corrected in the overall volume as far down that on the volume scale this 105 decibels can be achieved when it reaches 0. Now the devils are again identical as the Cantons, because they have been less easily reduced by only 6 decibels. At the same time the frequency response are corrected as far as in the measurements that a linear frequency response as possible to the listening space arrives (at least during the Audyssey Flat).
Who now thinks that it was the wrong and will experience a bitter disappointment. The result is a swirling completely überdickter bass mash, which is too much to bear. Here most are resigned to make Pure Direct back and turn their backs on the room analysis system and so dispense with a really brilliant sound.
There are four Audyssey settings:
Audyssey - a whatever kind of frequency response, which was defined by Audyssey so.
Audyssey Bypass L / R - the same frequency response, only to bypass the front speakers here, so they practically run back to Direct.
Audyssey Flat - a linear frequency response as possible and the only right for stereo music.
Manual - to be able to use a typical limited equalizer without the possibility Dynamic EQ.
It is important Dynamic EQ switch that corresponds to about the loudness function which had been previously. Man listening now time for quieter Laustärken always less deep and high tones. Dynamic EQ is technically but much more complicated to work as loudness,
I have a picture attached, that the results of the determined frequency response correction displays. At approximately 100 Hz a significant reduction can be seen. This reduction was equally present in the Cantons. Here is an artificial exaggeration of the room, a room mode. Whoever hears Direct will always hear this space mode. You get used to something and is disappointed at first when that is no longer there. However different at the upper end of the frequency response. Here came in the Cantons Audyssey its limits and has lowered the upper range mercilessly by 12 decibels. A clear proof that the Cantons are matched very bright.
With Audyssey Flat the whole will be a little better, but it's still a bass mush. This is the reference level. Audyssey provides everything a reference to the movie level, also the Dynamic EQ. The is for music but totally inappropriate. There are then four settings:
0 - Film - Dynamic EQ aligned to 105 decibels
5 - Classical - Dynamic EQ lowered by 5 decibels
10 - Jazz - Dynamic EQ lowered to 10 decibels
Dynamic EQ lowered to 15 decibels - 15 Rock / Pop
I hear only rock and metal and have taken the attitude 15 and slowly it is light. That sounds ever good. Below rum it sounds but still to unclean. And that's a weakness of Teufel speakers. Here they're just playing not as clean as I was previously used with the Cantons. But also because there is a remedy.
There are two ways, the front speakers to large and bass on LFE + Main, or the front speakers to Small and the bass just LFE. As a result, it stays the same. Standing loudspeaker on small, all bass frequencies below the frequency separation be given automatically to the speaker. Are you on big, then the only if bass on LFE + Main are set.
I have it set to large and the crossover frequency 60Hz. Now the subwoofer takes over everything below 60Hz and plays much cleaner as the devil and comes mainly down significantly further. Anyone who has heard this completely frequency response all the way down, do not want to miss it.
A tip here is to place the subwoofer. Not wearing the subwoofer around the room and try all possible positions. No, place the subwoofer in the listening space and determine the point with the best bass in the room, because he has to go. Contrary to the statement of hell is the place just is not a flat rate between the front speakers.
Another tip for the preparation of the devil, with room analysis system is also close to the wall without any major problems, but they should be decoupled from the ground. I have to shock absorber of Oehlbach. Whether that are now better than the supplied adhesive-feet is sometimes undecided. Look better they do in any case.
And now it is there, the brilliant sound I've ever heard. Real deep bass (Herbert Grönemeyer; human) are so powerful pushed into the room, that it is a real pleasure. Not to compare with an artificially inflated "low-end" to 40Hz. Kick drums (God Dethroned, Hating) cut a in the stomach.
Voices are clear and natural, and above reproach and sound much more natural than with the Cantons. For example, was the singer's voice with those of Eloy disagree ertragen.Die heights are silky and soft and no longer as shrill and annoying as ever. Only the most high Laustärken, but no man can stand, they are a little pointy. The music dissolves incredibly nice from the speakers and with a good live recording (Grobschnitt; Solar Music Live) one has the feeling of being right in the middle. Has never been so nice to hear music.
Conclusion: The Ultima 40 have a really good value for money. The fabric is clean, high-quality appearance. Long stretches of very very good sound. The low-end, due to its supposedly you can do without a subwoofer, you buy with an unclean spongy elevation in the area around the 40 / 50Hz. But this has nothing to do with real deep bass. But my opinion is tolerated in this price range. On "thump thump" I can do without. My Cantons, however, I do not miss one second and the statement that good speakers should cost as much as the electronics at least twice has probably now no longer necessarily valid.
