440 vs. 220 Disappointing?

[parkerswede]

I recently made the jump from an Expert Pro 220 to two Expert Pro 440s. I was prepared to be blown away but quite the contrary. To my ears, there is a loss of detail and sharpness with the 440s compared to my 220. When setting up new equipment, I always listen to about 15 songs that I am intimately familiar with. Just seems something is missing. The soundstage is a little bigger but things seem a little more homogenized. Anyone else have this experience? Thanks. dj

[ada]

Wow, that’s quite different from my experience. Could it be that you're dealing with a ground loop? Or are you sure you're using the correct cable connections for the speakers? On the amp, you're only using the red connectors, right? The red terminal near the XLR ports is the positive (+), while the other red one is actually negative.

I’d also double-check the configuration—something seems off based on what you're describing.

[Delija]

Something is VERY wrong...

[parkerswede]

Yes, I have the correct connections for the cables. Only red connectors. Red connector is closest to the XLR, black is farther away. I did have a lot of trouble with the remote control not switching sources. Finally erased everything off the Master SD card and downloaded a new file. Fixed the problem. Can you feed the raw speaker cable end through the bottom of the connector in the back and just tighten it up? Right now, I am using a clamp-on end with an RCA connector.

[ada]

Glad to hear that you are having a better experience.

Ensure also you use companion config on companion sd card and the master on the master one. They shouldn't have the same configs. Your amps should show 440Pro logo not 220Pro with Master and Companion text under the logos. Ensure these are happening.

If your question is about the speaker connectors, yes, there are two ways to connect cables, one through the gap below another is through the hole on the back. Both ways are fine and will work. Pick the best option that will have the best contact surface.

[Pim]

One thing to keep in mind is that now you have a lot more power, it's easy to listen too loud. Your room will give you more reflections and that can lead to listener fatigue.

In case you're having trouble with configuration: https://devialetchat.com/Thread-How-to-c...l-s-method

What does the rest of the system consist of?

[Axel]

Yes, I have the correct connections for the cables. Only red connectors. Red connector is closest to the XLR, black is farther away. I did have a lot of trouble with the remote control not switching sources. Finally erased everything off the Master SD card and downloaded a new file. Fixed the problem. Can you feed the raw speaker cable end through the bottom of the connector in the back and just tighten it up? Right now, I am using a clamp-on end with an RCA connector.

You probably know this already but: Please be careful if you are using bare wires. Make sure that they can’t short out anywhere; no stray strands etc. I used to clamp the wire down then trim the wire back to the post. Hope you are now noticing a bigger difference between 220 vs 440.

[Gerronwithit]

I recently made the jump from an Expert Pro 220 to two Expert Pro 440s. I was prepared to be blown away but quite the contrary. To my ears, there is a loss of detail and sharpness with the 440s compared to my 220. When setting up new equipment, I always listen to about 15 songs that I am intimately familiar with. Just seems something is missing. The soundstage is a little bigger but things seem a little more homogenized. Anyone else have this experience? Thanks. dj

When I jumped from the 250 to the 1000 the difference was huge in all aspects of the sound. However, I recently front ended the system with a “cheap” WiiM streamer, primarily as an experiment but the results were again quite remarkable. It has opened up the soundstage, sharpened and separated the lyrics and instruments as well. I had the system working at about -25 dB without the WiiM but had to reduce it to -30 dB.

[ada]

I recently made the jump from an Expert Pro 220 to two Expert Pro 440s. I was prepared to be blown away but quite the contrary. To my ears, there is a loss of detail and sharpness with the 440s compared to my 220. When setting up new equipment, I always listen to about 15 songs that I am intimately familiar with. Just seems something is missing. The soundstage is a little bigger but things seem a little more homogenized. Anyone else have this experience? Thanks. dj

When I jumped from the 250 to the 1000 the difference was huge in all aspects of the sound. However, I recently front ended the system with a “cheap” WiiM streamer, primarily as an experiment but the results were again quite remarkable. It has opened up the soundstage, sharpened and separated the lyrics and instruments as well. I had the system working at about -25 dB without the WiiM but had to reduce it to -30 dB.

I don't want to shift the conversation but I would like to understand why did you need to decrease the voice? Was the highs become harsh?

[parkerswede]

Right now I am running a simple two-channel CD-based system. I am using an Oppo 105D player as a reader going through an SPDIF Kimber silver interconnect into the Master 440 amp. The speakers are of my own design and construction that I have lived with the last 25 years or so. They are based on Dynaudio drivers (back when you could buy them), have outboard crossovers and are mounted on super-heavy stands made of XXXL wall rectangular tubing, 1/2" plate base and top plate and filled with lead shot and dried sand. Crossovers are custom built using handmade matched film and foil capacitors with design help from Charles Avery of Avalon Acoustics. Solid beryllium copper connectors and 5 nines copper wire. I built one other pair years ago for a friend and he likes the better than his Wilson WATTs. Kimber speaker wire also. Still working on sorting it all out.