What can I improve in my audio system for better s


I have lossless FLAC music ripped from cd's and music I purchased from HD tracks, I am using Macintosh MX 121 processor, Krell S1500 7 channel power amp, 7.1 SYSTEM, B&W 802D speakers for front and center, Monitor Audio for side and rare channels, Crystal and Audio Quest for interconnect and Tara Lab for Speaker cables. I am using JRiver to play this music from my computer, which resides on Lenovo Q180 small foot print PC with build in HDMI which is connected to my processor via this HDMI. I don't know why but I feel that this PC is the least expensive equipment I have, and is the weakest link in my entire system. There is nothing wrong with the system. But, it always bugs me that I can improve this weak link. I like the fact that while playing music I can see the album cover and track information on the monitor. But still I am curious to know, if possible, how I can improve the sound quality. Since I have a McIntosh processor with built in DAC, I don't want to add another DAC (by the way I tried using Moon DAC, it was no-ware close to McIntosh MX121, ended up selling it on eBay). I am not even sure, while using HDMI port does better sound card matters? Or can I enhance anything in my system to improve the sound quality or am I looking for unrealistic Magic? When I purchased this system, my friends were so surprised from the money I spent, there first question to me was "Does singer comes out of these speakers to sing for you?" I guess that's what I am expecting; I believe I am missing those emotions that we get from live performance.

Need a professional advice, please help.
trcns

Showing 2 responses by ctsooner

I'm in shock that you have spent so much, but are using different speakers. I've personally never heard any system sound great without having the same voiced speakers all the way around. It will smear transients etc... I also won't use different cables, but that's me. I like to keep everything the same and if you get the components you like, then you don't need to 'tune' things with cables or tweaks. Just get what sounds best to you up front. Personally, I think I'd get the same speakers all the way around and go from there. That's just me but if you ask speaker designers, they'd tell you the same thing even if you weren't using their speakers.
I personally think that it's going to be tough to find what you are looking for with what you have. I have started all over a few times in order to get products that work together to sound the best they can. It's not difficult to do in all the price ranges. Do you have to have surround? If so, it will cost you a TON of money to do it properly for music. You may think about two separate systems. I personally just went with all new 2 channel audio as the TV sounds great compared to surround systems I've heard under 20k. or more.