2. amps-preamps
  3. 168833-156447

What is wrong with my system?

Hi everyone -

I’m posting here because individually I think my components are all good, but together my system is not making music, rather is is making bright bass less noise. Honestly, I’m thinking it’s no one component, but the matching of components that is causing this issue. I would like to get everyone’s opinion as to what I’m hearing. My components are as follows:

B&W 802D (first generation diamond)
Audioquest bi-wired Indigo speaker cables

Classe CAM-200 monoblock amplifiers
Audioquest Water XLR interconnect

Bryston BP26 preamp
Audioquest Water XLR interconnect

Mark Levinson 5100 cd player (PCM slow minimum phase)

thanks in advance.

Mark Levinson 5100 CD player


onehorsepony

Showing 5 responses by onehorsepony

onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 

New
I found something interesting. I have two cd players connected to my system now, the ML 5101 and an older Arcam cd72.

The Arcam cd72 has a fuller bass, warmer midrange sound to it. The negative is that there is not as much musical separation.

The ML 5101 has more separation but less bass. The negative is that no matter which PCM setting I use the highs are too hot, to much sizzle which sounds good for about one song, then becomes grating.

Any thoughts?
onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 
i would love to try a tube preamp. Stores will not let me audition them at home. 
onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 
i wish i could find a store that would let me audition a tube preamp at home.
onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 
i really do want to try a tube preamp, i can't find a store that will lend me one to audition at home
onehorsepony OP
30 posts
 

Update, I’ve removed the Audioquest Water interconnects from my cd player to my preamp. I still have the Water interconnects between the preamp and the monoblocks.

I replaced the interconnects from the cd player to the preamp with a pair of Audioquest Ruby cables.

I don’t know if this is a recommended move or not.

What I did find is that my system still has resolution but the brightness/sizzle at the very top is eliminated.

Can anyone explain if this move makes any sense, or are the different interconnects ‘fighting’ each other?


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