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Frustrated with the sound of my system

Here is my system:
Rotel RCD-965BX CD Player as transport
MSB Link 2 DAC
Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Signature preamp
Classe 10 amplifier
North Creek Audio Borealis speakers (Custom built kit speaker...something close to a Proac Response 2.5 design)
M&K V-75 sub
Kimber and Cardas interconnects
Kimber 4TC/8TC bi-wire speaker cables.

Here is my frustration:
The sound, regardless of music, sounds stringent, hard, really lacks air, and is anything but relaxed. It is fatigueing. I can listen to my Grado 60 headphones on an iPod and the sound is frustratingly more relaxed and has what I would call air.

I don't think that my system is that outstanding, but it really seems like I should be more pleased with what I am hearing.

I would be interested in your thoughts on where the most likely opportunity is. I really like the individual components of the system (OK the Rotel/MSB set up is old and just OK), but all together they seem to be underwhelming. I am thinking it is either in improving the digital front end (new player or DAC) or moving to a planar speaker to get the sound I desire. I have thought about new player like an OPPO 93 or 95, perhaps a tube based player or DAC, or else looking at something like a used pair of Maggie 12's or 1.6's. I have always enjoyed the Maggie sound.

In either case I am thinking that $2k is the absolute max I would want to spend on any solution. Thanks in advance. If there are other questions I would be glad to supply details.
stuartbmw3
arbuckle
89 posts
 
Boy oh boy, people really get upset when someone disagrees with them. If you don't like my suggestions simply ignore them. People pushing room correction devices and the like is snake oil in my opinion. It does not matter how perfect the room is, if the gear is inadequate the overall sound will be inadequate no matter what room you put it in.

This is a forum for ideas for the original poster, take these comments as such. That is the point of all of this, no?

Why not relax and provide the poster some ideas on how he can fix his problem instead of pushing a single-minded agenda?
arbuckle
89 posts
 
Shakeydeal......really? Come on, can we keep sales pitches out of the forums and provide some honest advice.
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
"People pushing room correction devices and the like is snake oil in my opinion."

Another stupid blanket statement. I do not sell or manufacture anything audio related or otherwise. I am NO fan of digital room correction, but I still stand by my statement that the room is by far the most important component. Ever go to an audio show and hear six figure systems sound like crap? Throwing money at the problem, especially when it's the wrong problem, isn't always the answer.

Get the room and placement right, then work on what might be wrong with everything else.

Shakey
arbuckle
89 posts
 
Shakyman:

Surely you must be referring to your own post when you say stupid blanket statement. Here it is one more time:

"Your statement is ridiculous considering the room contributes maybe 75-80% of the end result."

Given your handle is "Shakeydeal" I think we can all read into your intents. Putting together a perfect room with $300 in gear should do it right? Let's dump all of our money into room tweaks and forget about what we have hooked up, hell the room is 80% of the sound right? What a moron.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
You guys are crackin' me up. There are times when room treatment is obviously needed like when the listening position is backed up to a wall. Treating the wall behind you is a must to eliminate reflections off that wall. However, lately it seems whenever someone is not satisfied with the sound of their system room treatment becomes the hot topic. Honestly, looking at the OP's system I would rather have a CJ preamp than Sonic Frontiers with Classe any day and maybe that would be a good place to start.
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