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
First understand that B&W Group includes Classe and Rotel. Any Store/Salesperson will be inclined to sell/pair any combination of these units regardless of performance. A more modern version of this is McIntosh paired with Sonus Faber. That Said...

The B&W 802D has a tight Frequency Response - 28Hz - 34KHz. Typically you want a speaker that can capture as much of the frequency range as possible say - assuming your budget falls within the components you purchased you should be looking for speakers that perform within 23Hz - 40KHz. The frequency response will guide you towards your final choice which will be made with your Ears.

If you are looking to extract as much performance out of your existing set up, I agree with those who have stated -

You need more power driving your Power Amps. Look at your power delivery. If you are using Stock Power Cables your Amps are probably not even operating at 50% capacity. Check out Puritan Audio Labs, Audience Adept Response for Conditioners - For cables in this assumed price range  I like the Analysis Plus Silver.  

Invest in a Substantial - Tube Pre Amp, CJ is a great build and has some solid deals, Rogue Audio, Backert Labs, BAT, Older AR - before The McIntosh Group.

Invest in better Cables - Cable Company has a Library Program which is a great resource. Other companies are Silversmith Audio - Fidelium Cables, Tempo Electric, Thales, Analysis Plus.

After making these changes, I would suggest the next Investment be in a Pair of Subs, IMHO - REL 510 will get your Frequency response down to 20Hz.

Finally your CD Player - I would look towards a Player with a VRDS Mechanism. Developed by TEAC - Esoteric Player are built around the mechanism. Philips I believed just released their version of the Mechanism within the last couple of years. 

I have always found better deals/ more bang for buck in the used market.
Good Luck
What power conditioning and noise control are you using.  Dedicated lines for your amps, pre amp and digital gear will add life.
Separate power conditioners for your pre amp and digital gear will help with noise.
Keeping all SMPS's off your AC lines for your gear is essential.
I have found PS Noise Harvesters very helpful.  I have almost a dozen.
"....If you are using Stock Power Cables your Amps are probably not even operating at 50% capacity...."

Total and complete nonsense!
We had issues with a new preamp, for quite a while,
   Switched from one preamp to a much more expensive one with a nice power supply,.
  We lost our deep bass, it seemed so average, and plain, after a while, few months, she came around, warmed up, moved speakers, added pillows behind the speakers,
   Eventually, everything came into laser focus to my ears. 
   I still use old late 80’s early 90’s audioquest cables.
only add ons were the shielded Belden from preamp to amp, and that helped a lot.

 Lots of factors , try them all, and let your ears make the decision.

  All this has been mentioned above.
I remember some 25 years ago I had a Bryston pre/power - ATC 35 combo and complained about the lack of bass. Which was ridiculous really, since on paper that combo was able to produce a thunderous bass ( just like the OP setup). I even went to the dealer, he quickly put together the same amp and speakers and it produced a monstrous bass. I felt so stupid. But in my room subjectively there was no proper bass.

I measured the freq. response, and the reason was a strong room mode around 120 Hz at the listening position even at a moderate level, which masked the deeper bass.

I couldn’t move the speakers around much, so added a TacT Room Correction box and flattened that mode. Immediately I got a flat, deep, powerful bass and as a bonus - a much more natural midrange.

You may have something similar. Start with moving the speakers a bit and walking around the room while listening to the bass. Is the upper/mid bass changing dramatically? Can you find a listening position where the deeper bass goes low and you can feel it properly?

If that’s the case, you may need some extensive room treatment, which is a lot of work, or some digital eq like Lyngdorf Room Perfect which is not cheap, or a new speakers/ amp combo that will behave differently in that region. Probably some good 2-way standmounts.

When I was starting, I had that Idea of a big speaker that will give me a big bass. The reality proved to be a bit more complicated. The subjectively flattest and deepest bass in my room, not using digital room correction, came from a relatively compact quarter-pipe standmound.