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Why do my new Transparent cables make my system sound muffled?

My system is a Rotel 1590 amp, B&W 804S speakers, a Marantz SR8500 AV receiver used solely as a pre-amp in pure direct mode, and an Integra dbs 50.3 Blue Ray/CD player.  My speaker cables are QED XT40s, and I use two sets for each speaker to biwire the B&Ws using the dual speaker connecting posts of the Rotel amp, one cable set going to the bottom and one to the top connections for each speaker. 

Based on all the reviews I have read, and I admit, reputation, I bought some Transparent Musiclink Plus cables to replace my Audioquest Evergreen and fairly high-end Monster cables. Before I installed the Transparent cables, my system had incredible mid-range and highs, and tight, deep, fast bass. The 350 watts per channel of the Rotel amp really make the 804s work, I think the way they are meant to. (Frankly, anything I tried in the 200 watt range just did not seem to really drive the 804s.)  But, the system had just a tinge of harshness or distortion when multiple voices were laid over. For example, Lorde’s Melodrama, which is a great CD for testing, I think, sounded amazing, but for just a few places where I could hear a little fuzziness when her voice tracks were laid over each other. All else, especially the piano and bass, sounded simply perfect, to my ears. After installing the Transparent cables, I could definitely hear each individual voice in multiple-track voice sections, with no more of that distortion or fuzziness. But, the bass became muddy, warm, less punchy, and seemed to spill over into the mid-range. And, the mid-range became less clear, present, and realistic sounding. The voices, which were more "in your face" before, now seem more in the background with more accentuation in the lower mid-range than before also.

Honestly, I am disappointed. I would appreciate any advice I can be given on whether this may be how the Transparent cables are interacting with my system, or whether I should just sell them and try different cables. Yes, the Rotel sound is a bit "brighter" than some. I actually really like that about it. But, I don’t want any harshness either. The Transparent cables did not just remove the brightness; they seem to have made the whole system sound muddy, for lack of a better description.

In a few days, my new Rotel RC-1580 stereo pre-amp arrives. I am hoping that will open things up again. But, I have a hard time imagining it will completely undo the muffled sound I am getting right now with these cables. I have the Transparent cables connecting the Blue Ray/CD player to the pre-amp and the pre-amp to the amp.  Once I get the new pre-amp going well, I plan to get back into Vinyl.  Damn my ex-wife for dumping my old record collection.  It would be worth many thousands now.  Thanks.
kumakahn
kumakahn OP
48 posts
 
Thanks, Johnny. I will probably end up with all one maker. Right now I have QED XT40 speaker cables that impress me quit a bit for the money. They beat the comparably priced Type 4 AQ cables in one review. Super strong and fast bass with clear highs with lots of definition. So far, they do not seem like the limiting factor. But I think I still have some experimenting to do before I settle on one brand and type. It is expensive to experiment, but I am looking for the right sound for me within a small budget. The Rotel do make a great pair and also seem a ways from limiting. Right now, it is the interconnects.
   It’s funny how a system that would blow some people’s minds still has flaws to me. Today I just turned off my system ears and listened to Melony Gordot’s Live in Europe cd. It blew me away how good it sounded.  Great cd.
kumakahn OP
48 posts
 
The Rotel 1580 amp is quite a step up in SQ from the 1075 it replaced, by the way, not just in power, which it certainly has with 350 watts per channel, but in speed and range as well. I am not sure why, but it is a higher quality amp, not that the 1075 was bad. Bi-amped to my 804S speakers, the 1075 was pretty amazing sounding. Without bi-amping, it was flat.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Good Lord, listening to Lorde is hardly justification for rejecting an interconnect!  Try playing some real music for more than a few hours and then decide.  Everything matters in the chain...power, power cords, outlets, room placement etc... 
kumakahn OP
48 posts
 
Yes, thank you. I have tried everything I could. I am sure on a different system the Transparents would be perfect. But, my Mackenzies came today, and on my system, they sound vastly better in every way. I have really varied music tastes. Yesterday it was Daft Punk, Miles Davis, St. Vincent, and Foal. Today it is Neil Young, Pavarotti, Father Thomas, and Led Zeppilin.  Lorde has some pieces that are challenging for my system. So, i use her music sometimes to listen for flaws, among others, and I like some of her songs. I ignore the artist’s personality most of the time and just listen to what makes me feel something I like. But, I must admit that I think I would really enjoy a long road trip with Neil Young. Seems like such an interesting person.
bigamp
219 posts
 
I had a similar experience with TA.  Muddy bass and lesser resolution until you move into the higher-priced models (XL or higher Gen5).  I find it fundamentally wrong when a mfr requires you to spend $10K+ on a single cable to get the same resolution and tight bass that other mfrs provide for much less.  Lots of posts here where people say "but if you move up the line it gets better."  So TA couldn't get it right for under $10k?  Another example of high-end audio gouging IMHO.
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