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Audio Research VT100 MK1 and LS15 HELP!!!

I recently bought this set VT100MK1 and preamp LS15 and while I was at this seller house he demonstrated the sound from his online Tidal on TV connect optical to the DAC Luxman DA - 06 then this go to the preamp LS15 and out into the VT100. This set up sounds amazing at his house. However, when I came home play CD from the Sony X1100ES Blu-ray player RCA output into the LS15 and out to the VT100 and it sound horrible - no bass at all in any type of music.  The sound sometime muffle and not clear and most importantly the bass missing tremendously. Im using a pair of KEF R900 Speakers. What is wrong here? can anyone help me correct the sounds? it is because I didn’t have the Luxman DA - 06 DAC? or it is because I don’t have those fancy hundred - thousands of dollars cable?  or the CD source is playin at 41khz /16 bit not high enough signal?  

This is my first system and I don’t know why I can’t get that high fidelity sound from the ARC equipments.  I'm waiting for the Audioengine B1 to arrive so I can stream Spotify into the LS15.   What is wrong with my set up?  Thank you in advance for helping me solve this.
kentrent
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
Where did the Gold Phantom come from? What kind of inputs does it have?

Can you repeat Jea's test but this time use the 4 ohm taps. The bass on your speakers is about 4 ohms.

bjesien
1,374 posts
 
I think you should test the tubes some more.  It doesn’t matter that they are new, they can still be broken. 
chip_2950
12 posts
 
Are the VT100 SE jumpers in or out?  

FYI.  I have had a VT100 mkiii and LS25 for years.  And, I own the Luxman DA-06.  Output is twice + that of your Sony.

May be able to help.
jc4659
572 posts
 
Aren't there those little U shaped shorting pins that go in the XLR jack if you use the RCA inputs?  Or was that only on the amp, I can't remember, been too long since I owned ARC gear
kentrent OP
71 posts
 
@lowrider57 i owned the gold phantom so i compared it to the arc and kef r900.  The gold phantom has a lot of bass streaming from my iphone.  Even when i connect the same sony to the Mac1500 amp it still has a lot better bass comparable to to the vt100.  Could it be something wrong with the vt100 and ls15?
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