Linkwitz LX521.4 speakers playing Peter Gabriel "So" album analog

Today we are showcasing a recording of Peter Gabriel's album "So" on my vinyl playback chain.
Components are: Thorens TD-124 turntable, Jelco TK-850L tonearm, ADC TRX-2 cartridge feeding a Herron Audio VTPH-2a phono stage. Phone goes through the miniDSP SHD RCA inputs and to the Hairball Audio active crossover then ATI AT528NC amps into the Linkwitz LX521.4 speakers. Dual Rythmik F15HD subs are used from the miniDSP SHD.
Album is a little bright and it shows - pretty typically '80s recording that way.
Video: GoPro Hero 7 Black, 1080P
Audio: Zoom H4n Pro, 44.1KHz, 16 bit

[@kenmcglown6642]

Sounds great!!!

[@tomb375]

Really Nice! Sounds Great. Thank you.

[@budgethometheaterandhifi]

Sounds great. Would love to hear these in person someday!

[@tomb375]

👍👍👍👍👍 Great Album!

[@cruise2023]

Great system, but finding it hard to listen to it, sounds poor. I have heard these speakers before which have sounded very good even on KZbin with the system i have. Can I had the video shot is shocking, the bright light in the background is killing it. Sorry to sound negative, just the way its coming through!

[@adamos9879]

Thanks Michael! Great album. Those speakers sound great. What phonostage / preamp / amp are uou using?

[@MichaelAmster]

Phono is a Herron VTPH-2A - preamp is miniDSP SHD and amp is ATI AT528nc

[@raymaksimavicius4902]

Sounds very echoed must be all those rear reflections bouncing around 901 different ways. Lol

[@mysock351C]

Are the active cross-overs being used in the Linkwitz speakers? I would assume yes as its stated in their description on the website. Even from the video they seem to have a bit of an upward tilt in the treble response that is noticeable. I can distinctly hear the highs are quite emphasized, and there is sibilance at times. If you have a measurement microphone, even in-room measurements can be used to get it more in line with being neutral. Since the room is fairly specular (i.e. not much carpeting and the like), the response should be more or less flat or maybe slightly tilting down in the treble region at the listening position. That will tame the brightness, which I checked a few other vids and it shows clearly there. If you can make semi-anechoic measurements that will be even better, and faster way to set up the cross-overs and DSP. If no measurements, then if you have some good headphones that comply with the Harman target, or are close to it, they can be used to make quick and dirty corrections to bring it in line. The bright and sparkly sound is seducing at first, but speakers with well-behaved characteristics should be detailed and articulate without the need to boost the treble, and I think these should fit the bill. Once done these should have a warmer and more balanced tonality if they are designed well.

[@MichaelAmster]

I think some of what is coming across is how I mic the recording. I do use the ASP, but also have Dirac room correction and a downward tilt of about 3db at 20KHz. It is not as bright in room. I do have measurements that back up that response. In general these are pretty neutral and easy to address with Dirac for small changes like you mentioned.

[@mysock351C]

@@MichaelAmster Ah ok. The microphone could have that built-in. I've seen some devices that to deliberately put tilt in the mic's response above 1k. In that case they would be neutral in person.

[@sc0or]

It sounds too bright and too boomy for me (despite it's baffleless)

[@phpn99]

Unfortunately - I discovered it when I acquired a mastering-level sound reproduction system - many iconic albums reveal themselves to have aged poorly. Overly produced albums from the 80s and early 90s are notoriously flawed in that respect. There was enough sound processing gears in studios to do damage, but not good enough to do any good. This is why albums from the 50s to the 70s usually sound better especially when recently remastered from original tapes : Minimalist tracking and mixing. Audio quality saw a gradual rise during the 90s and by 2000 there was a revival of minimalist techniques, this time with ultra-high performance analogue and digital. Today, only pop is flawed because of the so-called Loudness Wars, what make songs compressed to the max, with zero headroom. It's shocking to hear how good an old album such as Miles Davis' "Someday My Prince Will Come" can sound on a system like yours ; a handful of mikes, direct to tape - absolutely lifelike.

[@brikaf6001]

Sounds excelent, are you using active crossovers?

[@MichaelAmster]

Yes, the Linkwitz LX-521.4 is an active crossover design.

[@carlosoliveira-rc2xt]

Which amp/pre and cabling are being used? Sound is good but not great. Curious as to the combinations you've tried.

[@MichaelAmster]

Amp is ATI AT528NC and pre is miniDSP SHD

[@africabambattaa]

@@MichaelAmsterwould it be enough with one ATI AT528NC 8 channel amplifier to feed both speakers?

[@MichaelAmster]

@@africabambattaa yes. Each side uses 4 channels of amplification