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Why can't I get clear sound?

I have a simple setup just to get me started in high-quality audio, which consists of a NAD C350 and Axiom M22ti's. The interconnects I'm using are cheap monster cables that I had lying around.

Now my problem is that I can't get clear sound from my audio sources. I have the speakers setup on my computer desk and I use the computer's output to play mp3's into the amp. I have many high quality rips from CDs but they sound muffled, playing a CD in the CD-Rom drive sounds muffled, downloaded songs sound muffled along with everythig else. I have even plugged in a portable CD player into the amp, my iPod and my Rio Car deck but they all produce a similar muffled and muddy sound that just doesn't sound right at all.

The only way I have been able to lessen this problem is by using a plugin for Winamp called the "Wow! Thing". When I turn this plugin on it sounds like a blanket has been lifted off of the speakers because everything sounds clear, the highs are more striking, and the bass is actually present!

I have a feeling that maybe all of the sound sources I have used are crap compared to any real good CD players. I have a better CD player, a Sony 5-disc changer, but I haven't had a change to hook that up yet, and I don't even know if it'll be any better than a portable cd player.

I just wish I could get sound the way it was meant to be heard out of my amp and speakers. For me, being still a kid and in school, the $700 I spent for the amp and speakers is quite a bit, but I'm willing to do a lot more if I can just get clear sound without having to use stupid winamp plugins and equalizers.
jcdem
hueske
124 posts
 
What sound card are you using? If the same D/A output is causing the sound to be muffled, I'd be willing to bet that an inferior sound card is the problem. Try the Turtle or an upper level Creative Labs, and see what happens. But, in the long run, you can't expect much otu of MP3's. Cheers!

Brian
jcdem OP
15 posts
 
I'm currently using an onboard audio chipset, but before this I was using a Soundblaster AWE 64 and it sounded a little worse than what it currently is. I'll try hooking up the Sony deck tonight and see how it sounds. I'll also be sure to try moving the speakers away from a wall a couple of feet, and I'll check the phase as well.

Thanks for the responses.
jcdem OP
15 posts
 
Ok I tried everything I said in my previous post. The Sony CD changer sounded marginally better than my portable CD player, and still muffled. I did try hooking up some nice headphones into the amp though, and it sounded perfect. Not muffled at all, and the music seemed to have real depth, whereas when I turned my speakers back on they were muffled and a bit hollow. I figure that now the only things that could be the problem would be the speaker placement or the speaker wires. They are only cheap Monster Cables afterall, but shouldn't make the sound so much more drasticly worse. I moved the speakers about 2 feet away from the wall and spread then farther apart and I didn't notice much of a change. I even put them on the floor and didn't notice much of a change.

Arrrgggg!
fpeel
455 posts
 
Just a shot in the dark, but what app are you playing the MP3 through? I'm assuming it's Winamp based on the original post. Does Winamp have a built in equalizer or tone controls? If so, how are they set?

How are the tone controls set in Windows? They're buried a few layers deep in the audio control panel. Getting to them takes hitting two "Advanced" buttons.
stuartbranson
183 posts
 
Unless I'm wrong, it seems that if the headphones worked well then the problem must be after the amp. I'm a believer in better cables so I'd try that. Try borrowing some.
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