System Upgrade


Leben CS600; Harbeth Plus 5s; PS Audio with Bridge II linked via Blue Heaven USB; Chord Clearway interconnects and speaker cables (not bi-wired).

Sounds good but "flat" and I find myself having to turn up the volume almost halfway to get any "presence".

What am I missing, if anything?

Than you.
mdmdwyer
What tubes do you use with the  Leben CS600? Its first iterations used EL-34 or 6L6 tubes with a selector switch between eiher type.
Have you tried EL-34 tubes? Though, indeed, 32W is not a perfect match for Harbeths, with EL-34 tubes you would get a warmer and mellower sound.
Thank you All for your help. 

Re. Impedance it has always been running at 6. 

The Leben is the first iteration and I have not switched between the two options.

The Room is about 6 meters by 6 meters.

The PS Audio is the Directstream.

Listen moderately loud.

It seems like my only options are to change the amp or the speakers. I will also try the other modifs. Suggested and see what that brings.

Thanks again to All. 
I agree I have totally different gear. Nonetheless, the most obvious problem that any of us can diagnose on the internet is that his amp is underpowered for his speakers. You need a solid 80 watts for the SHL5+, 150 for larger rooms. As someone else suggested upthread, this can be easily tested without much cost or effort (order a 30 day trial or borrow an amp).

I suppose room placement is another easy and free thing to investigate, but whatever the case, the amp is underpowered. Speculating about warm voicings and such seems to me like medical diagnosis by text message.
No its not just power if  you follow that for these speakers you should be able to get

86db  1w 1m
89db  2w 
92db  4w
95db  8w
98db  16w
101db 32w 

You might start to soft clip but unless you are not able to get a decent volume level the issue is not power.

When you have to raise the volume to hear detail and get any drive you have a lack of resolution.

This is not to say these are not all excellent components tbey are all voiced on the richer side of things.

Borrow a set of Nordost cables,  between the dac and a set of  Nordost speaker cables and then see how the system sounds. 

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ