Opinions on why this system is uninvolving


I have just upgraded my system in a number of ways from Snell Type A/IIs to Revel Studios; from Audible Illusions Modulus 2 to Hovland HP-1; and from the earliest EADs to Metronome Technology DAC and transport. I find the system uninvolving much of the time. I also find it lacking in dimensionality, find it sometimes hard sounding and I notice image wander. Here's the whole system:

Revel Studios
Hovland HP-1
MFA 200C mono amps
Metronome DAC and Transport
Shunyata Hydra on amps
Power Wedge I on other components
Various high end cords incl. Top Gun, Shunyata Mamba and EMI whales
Tara Prime (or perhaps 1800) speaker cables (bi-wiring)
Audioquest Ruby interconnects between amps and pre amp (about 30-foot run)
Hovland interconnct between DAC and preamp
Siecor optical AT&T between DAC and transport

Any thoughts on how to arrest these problems would be greatly appreciated. I was thinking about trying solid state amps like the Pass 250 or 350, the McCormack DNA line, Proceed or Rowland, but I'm not really sure that will make a sginficiant difference. I know it could change the sound signficantly, but not necessrily for the better (which I realize is completely subjective anyway).
znak_m
BbTuna - the EAD is hard to find. As I stated in the post above, I cannot find one myself. I think the reason why the EAD T7000 is so good is that it was completely overbuilt since it was a first generation Laser Disk Player. Newer models are crap by comparison and have none of the sonic virtues of the old T7000. EAD will try to convince you otherwise but they are flat out lieing.

Given the EAD-T7000's performance (when it works) is so far superior to other more expensive transports, I'd have to say it would fit most anyones listening preference when paired with the right DAC.

As for Audiomeca/Audio Note, I like 'em both but my taste is pretty expensive on the AudioNote side. Every step up the ladder gives you a tremendous increase in performance. The 3.1x Audio Note is what *I'd* shoot for as a starter but the 2's and 1's are not bad.

The Enkianthus by Audiomeca is outstanding as well but isn't everyones cup-of tea. Its a very, relaxed sound with less dynamics than say an Electrocompaniet or Audio Aero based machine. The Audiomeca astonishes you with seduction while the others seem to get similar results with a slap in the face (EC). Perhaps I am being a little too harsh saying the EC is a slap in the face but I wanted to paint the contrast between the two DAC's.

Even with a Krell HTS (home theater processor) used as a DAC, the EAD sounds at par with ANY one box player.

As for speakers, a close friend of mine is a Dynaudio Maniac. He has owned all the Confidence series speakers (earlier C3 and C5's) but has upgraded to the Consequence. This is truly an amazing speaker and I am sure (having not listened to the C2 or C4's yet) that they try very hard to reproduce what the Consequence does. In the grand scale of things, if you can afford big amps to power the Dyn's, it would be a revelation for you to bypass the newer C2's and C4's and jump back in time to a pair of Consequence - which was the Dynaudio flagship prior to the 90K Evidence.
if the old EAD T7000 isn't reliable and isn't available, what then?

The new C2 and C4 don't require the same kind of power...that is one of the new characteristics of the new line. As I said I heard them first on a $1000 intergrated 30w EL34s...marvelous.

cd
Hi I wonder if you are starting to get audio hyper sensitivity. This usually happens when we change our equipt.a lot. We start to try to hear from pocket to ear and you are now in the area of huge dollars compaired to the returns. If you do anything with your system start with better quality cables. Start putting in cables that treat the thing you dislike the most. Eg. to thin sounding or to fat or over analitical. If you look at your system with the attidude of my [SPEAKERS] either like what I add or dont you won't go too far wrong. Start with one piece at a time and please let it break in first. Also if you have a local person that cooks cables get that done first.
Cables are one of the best known cures for audiophilia nervosa, they act directly on the mind of the listener, usually without affecting in any way, shape or form the signal that passes through them. A significant achievement in sound reproduction, right up there with the invention of the phonograph by Berliner. Now if those same cables get cooked or better yet cryoed, well my oh my you are in for the psychoactive treat of a lifetime. Stop dwelling on imaginary faults with systems and buy records to enjoy them. Remember what the dormouse said, feed your head, feed your head.
I know this thread is very old, butI also had some studios that I bought as store demos. They had hundreds of hours on them. I tried MANY amps, MANY pre amps, and even ran a Cary 306/200 direct to the amp. I tried a Levinson 383 integrated, TERRIBLE. COld, thin, fatigue. I tried a pass labs pre, 300watt powergouse amps and nothing helped. I then bought Acoustic Zen cables, still did nothing. I had $20k in the system and it sounded like CRAP. I then hooked up a Cary V12i tube amp and they came alive, but still not enough for me to keep them. I never did like the Studios and believe me I TRIED! I ende dup with a pair of Avantgarde Unos whihc I loved for a year, then just sold those for some Sonus Faber Guarneris.

BTW, I recently heard some Studios with Mcintosh. (352 amp, 2200 pre) and it was awesome. Nice full sound. Pucnchy, dynamic and not thin and brittle.

BUT My little Sonus faber Signums (used $1400) smoked the revel Studios with imaging, soundstage, midrange naturalness...everything but bass. BUT the little Signums fill my 3 car garage room with bass anyway. Just not deep pounding bass.

The Guarneris are a lifetime "keeper" speaker, andthose can be found occasionaly for $5k

The Studios just did not really do it for me. They look cool, and have a very clear accurate sound. Just not very musical to my ears!