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Frustrated with the sound of my system

Here is my system:
Rotel RCD-965BX CD Player as transport
MSB Link 2 DAC
Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Signature preamp
Classe 10 amplifier
North Creek Audio Borealis speakers (Custom built kit speaker...something close to a Proac Response 2.5 design)
M&K V-75 sub
Kimber and Cardas interconnects
Kimber 4TC/8TC bi-wire speaker cables.

Here is my frustration:
The sound, regardless of music, sounds stringent, hard, really lacks air, and is anything but relaxed. It is fatigueing. I can listen to my Grado 60 headphones on an iPod and the sound is frustratingly more relaxed and has what I would call air.

I don't think that my system is that outstanding, but it really seems like I should be more pleased with what I am hearing.

I would be interested in your thoughts on where the most likely opportunity is. I really like the individual components of the system (OK the Rotel/MSB set up is old and just OK), but all together they seem to be underwhelming. I am thinking it is either in improving the digital front end (new player or DAC) or moving to a planar speaker to get the sound I desire. I have thought about new player like an OPPO 93 or 95, perhaps a tube based player or DAC, or else looking at something like a used pair of Maggie 12's or 1.6's. I have always enjoyed the Maggie sound.

In either case I am thinking that $2k is the absolute max I would want to spend on any solution. Thanks in advance. If there are other questions I would be glad to supply details.
stuartbmw3
rrog
1,958 posts
 
You have quite a conglomeration of components and cables going on there. The fact that you are unhappy with the sound is a perfect example of buying recommended components without knowing how they will work together. This is why, when in doubt, it is better to stay with like brands of various components since they are designed to work together. Your SFL-1 is known to be on the forward/thin side and I have no idea how it mates with the Classe, but the Classe amps I have heard after the DR series sounded less then full bodied to me.

For starters I recommend trimming your system down to locate the problem. Take the subwoofer and DAC out of the system and just work with the basic system. Try a warmer tube in your preamp and experiment with different cables before changing components.

Without knowing a single thing about the room or how the system is set up in the room a recommendation for room treatment is absolutely rediculous.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Arbuckle, Is lipstick on a pig like earrings on a monkey?
inna
7,865 posts
 
Earrings on a monkey could look quite nice, I can imagine. But earrings on a pig..no, no good, better lipstick.
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
I think Rrog makes a good point to simplify your system.

Also, the only time I heard Classe I did not care for it, it really lacked micro dynamics compared with Rowland gear that we were comparing it to.
photon46
1,089 posts
 
I don't believe anyone has recommended that the OP treat his room without first ascertaining if it's going to help. Testing a room's response simply allows one to have a baseline of understanding as to what degree the room is contributing to or inhibiting good sound. As to the "lipstick on a pig" comment, I know in the past I've never been able to get anything resembling great sound out of an untreated bad room. The room IS an integral component in the audio chain and the most overlooked IMO. I'm lucky enough to have a good room in my present residence and adding minimal room treatments was every bit the equal of upgrading components and it positively affected the sorts of problems the OP mentions. Again, I'm not saying the room IS the problem. However, spending less than $100 on the test meter and test cd will quickly allow one to have objective knowledge about the possible causes of the problem. It is admittedly sometimes difficult to know how to interpret and act upon the insight such testing gives without knowledge of acoustics. At the very least, it allows one to see whether or not moving speakers this way and that is smoothing out or exacerbating room nodes.
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