Hi,

I recently bought these components:

Denon DRA-395 80 watt AMP - $315
Denon DCM280 5-disc CD Changer - $180
Paradigm Titans - $200/pair
Speaker Stands - $65/pair

The problem is, I am ambivalent (read: concerned) about the sound. I am also unsure of the proper settings to make b/c I listen to piano/classical as well as hard rock/metal and everything in between. Some settings are good for classical but create to much bass when playing metal, and I don't want to have to change the settings everytime I change music style.

The Denon amp has bass/treble controls from -12db, 0, +12db in 2db increments. Also, there is a loudness button, which according to the manual is to equalize sound when playing at low volume (in my opinion, playing heavy metal at high volume with the loudness setting "on" really drives the speakers well, but not for other types of music.)

I have always thought the Titans have too much bass, and have been fiddling with the different settings to correct it. Do you guys even set bass/treble on your amp, or listen to the "natural sound".

Maybe I should buy different speakers. Funny thing is when I was auditioning the speakers (Atoms actually) they were hooked up wrong at the store. The left speaker was the Paradigm Atom but the right speaker was an NHT (of same size, model I do not know). I thought: "these Atoms sound good, but only from the right side!" However, the NHT's were out of my price range and the salesmen told me they were power hungry, so I forgot about them. After deciding the Atoms were too small I sprang for the Titans (both speakers which I was not totally impressed with at the store, but I thought once I bring them home they will sound better ). Or maybe it is my amp that is not performing?

Sorry for the long post; any comments, suggestions. I would like a speaker (less than 600?) that really fills the (small) room with sound and hits hard when I turn up the volume for some Zeppelin or Damageplan, yet, plays piano (and other classical) music distinctly.

regards
Nadeem