2. amps-preamps
  3. 1440359669

Would adding a pre back into the system eliminate

some extreme glare?
I recently switched from a tube pre to just using a Bel Canto 2.5 straight to the amp. It has more detail but is very revealing as far as terrible sounding cd's. I have also lost the robustness that it had. I have to turn it up quite a ways to get on top but by that time it is too loud. I think I am going to need another pre to take care of that. I still have some mid range glare though that is excruciating. Mostly voices. I am including a list of my setup. I don't know if it is my speaker cables, or lack of pre. I should have good sound with the BC 2.5 and amp I think, but with out purchasing individual components and seeing I don't know. I would appreciate any thoughts. Normal living room, carpet, drapes, pictures, etc.
McCormack UDP-1 love it, plays dvd audio and good cd's with excellent sound.
Silnote Poseidon Sig digital to BC 2.5 huge upgrade from what I had
Harmonic Tech Magic Link II xlr to amp maybe even more so than above
PBN Custom amp dual mono 160w/ch class A/B
DH Labs Silver Sonic Q 10 speaker cables
NHT 3.3 speakers.... plenty capable,they sound great.
jerryaudio
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Would adding a pre back into the system eliminate some extreme glare? Jerryaudio

No but it could mask it, and if it masks it, it will no doubt mask other things as well such as your new found detail.
Your experiment was a good one going direct from your Bel Canto 2.5 into your amp, as you say you have more detail, but what that's also unveiled is the hardness that something else has. This could be the amp, speakers or a even very live room. This is where you should look to cure the problem, not just throw a preamp into it that may mask it and the detail as well.

Cheers George
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,306 posts
 
Jerry - I'm wondering if a Cardas 300B Microtwin IC in place of the Harmonic Tech Magic Link would help. Can often be found used and much less expensive to explore than a new pre-amp. I found this cable very musical and good for taking the edge off a very resolving but sometimes harsh CDP. After settling in, it did not seem slow or congested to my ear. I'm trying a Cardas Parsec IC now but am not yet sure I prefer it to the Microtwin. I'm still fighting too much gain but that's another issue.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I agree with Georgelofi above.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,783 posts
 
I've seen passives exhibit glare in the past- usually some sort of interaction with something else in the system. Passives are very sensitive to cables- much more so than preamps; as others have suggested it appears that you answered your own question.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
No but it could mask it, and if it masks it, it will no doubt mask other things as well such as your new found detail.
Your experiment was a good one going direct from your Bel Canto 2.5 into your amp, as you say you have more detail, but what that's also unveiled is the hardness that something else has. This could be the amp, speakers or a even very live room. This is where you should look to cure the problem, not just throw a preamp into it that may mask it and the detail as well.
Why not just buy a boom box? If a boom box has poor SQ, getting an amp, speakers, cables ... is not MASKING a problem but ONLY adding a preamp is?
More to discover