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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
rlb61
789 posts
 
B&W with Bryston is a very clinical and harsh combination. I would get a tube preamp (I love BAT), and would sell the B&Ws to get speakers with a soft-dome tweeter. I sold my B&W N804s a few years back, got speakers with a soft-dome tweeter (JA Pulsars - v1), and have been very happy with the change.
avitacom
90 posts
 
If I’m not mistaken, this is all Class AB Solid State.  IMO, your SQ will not be warm & musical until you go to tubes and/or to Class D-GAN.  Tweaking the stuff you have won’t get you there. Cables will have no influence.
mirage-71
10 posts
 
Definitely try a tubed pre amp
Primaluna Dialogue I would suggest 

Good luck!
mirage-71
10 posts
 
I would also recommend some DIY room treatments.
I would agree as above mentioned, you have bright, critical sounding gearWould you consider selling speakers?
If so I would try some Maggies  with subs.
pgaulke60
299 posts
 
Speaker Placement.  Makes all the difference in the world.
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