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How to warm up cold-sounding Rotel/B&W system?

I recently purchased Rotel 1062 Integrated, Rotel 1072 CD player and B&W 703 speakers. Perhaps system will settle in over time, but at this point it sounds very cold and clinical to me. Highs on many cd's are downright painfully harsh and generally the sound is fatiguing. "Warm and musical" it ain't. I tried the CD player with my old set-up: Nakamichi RE-1 receiver and B&W P5's, and this coldness was not apparent. I also tried substituting the P5's for the 703's with both Rotel pieces and the sound was still pretty chilly, though not quite as bad. Any suggestions? Maybe it's the amp? I have Transparent "the wall" speaker wire and whatever the cheapest Transparent interconnects are. I've heard people call Transparent stuff "cloudy" but never "chilly". Any suggestions?
stuartk

Showing 1 response by distortion

distortion
571 posts
 
I suggest leaving your CD player going all day at low volumes. Just set the "repeat" function and head off to work. At least a hundred hours to break in that tweeter and woofer. Or maybe more.

I recommend Harmonic Technology Truthlinks as your interconnect.

If your previous equipment sounded fine in the same room then, it's unlikely thats your problem. But... Toeing in the speakers can help.

Ultimately Tvad is right. B & W's arent characterized as warm. They are a revealing speaker and generally appeal to those who like that sort of thing.
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