What would you do? Klipsch Vs. Monitor Audio

[RGA]

Is the player that you are using a dedicated CD player or is it the thrown in bit in a universal machine? You say it sounds fine on SACD, movies and the like - so perhaps you may not want to shoot the messenger if it's merely telling you that the CD player portion is a hunk of junk. The speakers may in fact be better than you think.

Horns get a bum rap but they can be quite good if partnered well. Try a dedicated good quality CD player before you throw money at Monitor Audio (which have their own critics who call them bright). Doesn't seem like a good use of money until you truly find the problem. Some receivers are not the best in the brightness camp either.

[mcbr1]

Is the player that you are using a dedicated CD player or is it the thrown in bit in a universal machine? You say it sounds fine on SACD, movies and the like - so perhaps you may not want to shoot the messenger if it's merely telling you that the CD player portion is a hunk of junk. The speakers may in fact be better than you think.

Horns get a bum rap but they can be quite good if partnered well. Try a dedicated good quality CD player before you throw money at Monitor Audio (which have their own critics who call them bright). Doesn't seem like a good use of money until you truly find the problem. Some receivers are not the best in the brightness camp either.

I have an Oppo universal player and an old beast of a Kenwood DP-990SG CD player that I'm using as a transport. CDs have the same character played through either. My receiver is a Yamaha RX-V520 (80w rms 20-20). One of the things I have a problem with is complicated passages with a lot going on come through as just an irritating wall of noise that just makes me want to reach for the volume and turn the damn thing down. I recently noticed this on one of the last tracks on the new Mumford & Sons CD.

I think that one reasons that SACD and DVD concerts sound fine is that I tend to listen to them at a lower volume level, putting them more in the "sweet spot" I mentioned.

I should mention again that the only budget I have to improve my listening experience is what I can get out of selling stuff and my receiver basically has no value. The Klipschs, however, do have some value.

[bobsticks]

IOne of the things I have a problem with is complicated passages with a lot going on come through as just an irritating wall of noise that just makes me want to reach for the volume and turn the damn thing down. I recently noticed this on one of the last tracks on the new Mumford & Sons CD.

I suspect that may rule out RGA's suggestion, though the thought behind it is sound. No matter the source player, I can't imagine any Klipsch (save, perhaps, the La Scalla) playing music of any complexity well. Mumford & Sons, while not having some of the PRaT and textural demands as symphonic music for example, has some interesting instrumentation and delicacies to it. If that's your common fare I can see where the problem comes from...a case of the muddies...

Unfortunately, this may be a long term project given your budget restrictions.