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Frustrated with the sound of my system

Here is my system:
Rotel RCD-965BX CD Player as transport
MSB Link 2 DAC
Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Signature preamp
Classe 10 amplifier
North Creek Audio Borealis speakers (Custom built kit speaker...something close to a Proac Response 2.5 design)
M&K V-75 sub
Kimber and Cardas interconnects
Kimber 4TC/8TC bi-wire speaker cables.

Here is my frustration:
The sound, regardless of music, sounds stringent, hard, really lacks air, and is anything but relaxed. It is fatigueing. I can listen to my Grado 60 headphones on an iPod and the sound is frustratingly more relaxed and has what I would call air.

I don't think that my system is that outstanding, but it really seems like I should be more pleased with what I am hearing.

I would be interested in your thoughts on where the most likely opportunity is. I really like the individual components of the system (OK the Rotel/MSB set up is old and just OK), but all together they seem to be underwhelming. I am thinking it is either in improving the digital front end (new player or DAC) or moving to a planar speaker to get the sound I desire. I have thought about new player like an OPPO 93 or 95, perhaps a tube based player or DAC, or else looking at something like a used pair of Maggie 12's or 1.6's. I have always enjoyed the Maggie sound.

In either case I am thinking that $2k is the absolute max I would want to spend on any solution. Thanks in advance. If there are other questions I would be glad to supply details.
stuartbmw3

Showing 6 responses by arbuckle

arbuckle
89 posts
 
I used to have th ekimber 4tc/8tc biwire. When I switched to something newer the music played and the space opened up. I thought they were good cables but only realized how poor they were when trying something new.
arbuckle
89 posts
 
I disagree with all the room comments. Yes room can make a difference, but you cant put lipstick on a pig. I would not give it that much weight for performance improvement based on what you said. The next place I would check is the amplifier. Not sure your budget, but you probably need something newer and a lot more resolving to get your "air" while at the same time being smoother on top that would not be so irritating. Try an older Musical Fidelity A3CR, Pass Aleph3 or Aleph 30 and dump those Kimbers for whatever you can afford at Morrow Audio.
arbuckle
89 posts
 
Boy oh boy, people really get upset when someone disagrees with them. If you don't like my suggestions simply ignore them. People pushing room correction devices and the like is snake oil in my opinion. It does not matter how perfect the room is, if the gear is inadequate the overall sound will be inadequate no matter what room you put it in.

This is a forum for ideas for the original poster, take these comments as such. That is the point of all of this, no?

Why not relax and provide the poster some ideas on how he can fix his problem instead of pushing a single-minded agenda?
arbuckle
89 posts
 
Shakeydeal......really? Come on, can we keep sales pitches out of the forums and provide some honest advice.
arbuckle
89 posts
 
Shakyman:

Surely you must be referring to your own post when you say stupid blanket statement. Here it is one more time:

"Your statement is ridiculous considering the room contributes maybe 75-80% of the end result."

Given your handle is "Shakeydeal" I think we can all read into your intents. Putting together a perfect room with $300 in gear should do it right? Let's dump all of our money into room tweaks and forget about what we have hooked up, hell the room is 80% of the sound right? What a moron.
arbuckle
89 posts
 
As Mike60 tried to say what I did, you people need to re-read the OPs equipment. I as well as others have attested to owning some items in his list and all of us have identified problems with somewhere on that list. Those screaming to treat the room are doing so apparently without understanding the gear. Much of that gear is very old and when it was new, at least I never got the best sound from it, despite my room. I had always been able to hear discernable changes, all for the better, when upgrading and leaving the room completely ALONE.

I again will recommend an amp and cable change as I mentioned above. The Forte from Mike60 is a Nelson Pass design and in the same veign as my recommendation for an older Aleph3 or 30.

Again, as others have said, rooms can make a difference but in my experience have always served as tweaks to refine the sound, not totally change the sound. I too have bass busters and corner busters now sitting in my closet as I found no change in the sound. I actually wonder if the OP is getting any benefit from these posts or if this is more a room vs. gear debate?

If anyone wants to buy my bass busters or corner busters send me a note. There appears to be enough room fanatics on this thread someone must need them.
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