Confused as to where to go next...looking for warmth


I hope this is the right place for this posting.  I don't ever post, but do tons of reading and "window shopping."  I have gotten myself into a little bit of analysis paralysis.  I hope that you guys can help clear up the muddy waters for me!

When listening to music, I am using a Bluesound Node 2i, an upgrade over the Apple TV that I was using.  I was using Tidal for both, and now testing a Roon core installed on an Apple computer.
My processor/receiver is an Arcam FMJ AVR 400, but I use it with an external Liberty Audio B2B-100 power amp (200wpc@4ohms), driving an older pair of Totem Forest speakers.  I also have a Totem Model 1 signature center for watching tv.  

I want to improve the 2 channel sound of the system.  My impression is that the Forests and Liberty are very revealing and clean sounding.  I don't have the audiophile vocabulary, but I will try.  I think the system is lacking something, it sounds dark, maybe on the clinical side.  I want the music to better come alive and add some warmth, without sacrificing detail and punch.  Hopefully that makes sense.

The Schiit Freya+ has my attention and I have been looking at DACs.  The Freya may add the warmth that I am looking for, and I can run it in home theater bypass for watching movies/TV.  My DAC research has confounded me, however...

The option I would probably go with, if I didn't decider to tech out to you guys, is to get the Freya+ and Gungnir DAC.  That seems like a matched system, eliminates the HT processor from 2 channel listening, and I would think would be a massive improvement.

The DAC confusion started when I started looking at all of the different options out there.  Topping D90, Tubadour, MHDT Orchid, etc.  So much that I started to doubt the Freya even...

I hope that provides enough detail for what I am trying to accomplish.  My budget can be described as towards the best bang for the buck..trying not to spend more than $2000 +/-, hopefully less than that.  Open to used.  Thanks in advance for your input! 

Andy
Dallas, TX 


andy727
Its not the speakers. Your biggest problem, bigger even than digital, is the AVR. Receivers are the worst sound quality components in all of audio, and yet a receiver is miles better than an AVR. 

Your terms are crossed up. Analytical and dark do not go together. Its one or the other. You can be warm and dark, or you can be bright and analytical, but you cannot be analytical and dark.  

I am not about to recommend components here, just point you in the right direction. The biggest, easiest, most cost-effective improvement will be to replace the AVR with a stereo integrated amp. Preferably tube, but if not then at least try and find one of the less analytical sounding SS amps. 

The next most cost-effective move will be springs under everything. Springs will allow you to tune your sound to the amount of warmth or presence you want. They're cheap. See the recent springs under turntables thread with a great discussion on this. They're not just for turntables. Your digital will benefit immensely.

Then look at your wire. Since you know you want warmth then skip everything and look for the best used Synergistic Research you can afford. They're all uniformly excellent for the money and not the least bit cold, sterile, or analytical. They're not truly warm, unless compared with a lot of others that are cold and sterile, which is the majority of what's out there. 
Thank you, millercarbon and pastorbob.  

I am using Totem speaker cables and Transparent Audio interconnects. 

Maybe cold would be a better term than dark.  The sound is very clear, but it is just lacking something..maybe the presence you mention.

Do you have an issue with the Liberty amp that I am using, or is it more that an integrated would be a more simple setup?

I will take a look at the springs thread and the wires you recommend.