EAR Phonobox = HORRIBLE

I just put one of these in my system. I can't believe how bad it sounds. I must be doing something wrong?? It sounds like someone put a blanket over my speaker. Sounds is recessed, muffled, rolled off, no highs, no sparkle. Dead and drab. No frequency range.

I was using the phonostage on the PS Audio Sprout which is a $700 integrated and that sounded 100 times better.

My DAC through the system knocks it out of the park. I can't believe it's supposed to sound this way. What could be going wrong????

1. Cart = Clearaudio Performer V2

2. Phonostage = EAR Phonobox

3. Preamp = PS Audio Stellar Gold Preamp

4. Amp = Carver 1.0T (heavily modified)

5. Speakers = KEF LS50

Cable Mix of Kimber/Audioquest mid level

Any thoughts????