2. amps-preamps
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What is wrong with my system?

Hi everyone -

I’m posting here because individually I think my components are all good, but together my system is not making music, rather is is making bright bass less noise. Honestly, I’m thinking it’s no one component, but the matching of components that is causing this issue. I would like to get everyone’s opinion as to what I’m hearing. My components are as follows:

B&W 802D (first generation diamond)
Audioquest bi-wired Indigo speaker cables

Classe CAM-200 monoblock amplifiers
Audioquest Water XLR interconnect

Bryston BP26 preamp
Audioquest Water XLR interconnect

Mark Levinson 5100 cd player (PCM slow minimum phase)

thanks in advance.

Mark Levinson 5100 CD player


onehorsepony
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,895 posts
 
yep, he nailed it. Get a tube preamp; ARC LS-17 or highers, Quicksilver, or Aesthetix, BAT, VTL…..

Your cables are pretty neutral, and as said everything else leans to analytical etched leading edge.

re bass - how far out from back and side walls are the speakers…and your listening chair ? does bass improve if you move off the chair ?
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Any room treatment?  Tube preamp + acoustic treatment might be the ticket.
celtic66
1,648 posts
 
Sugden LA-4 Class A preamp and different cabling.  Just my humble opinion.  The Sugden preamp is less bright and really really fast.

Not a fan of Audioquest and yes I've owned plenty.  Wire World Silver hybrid is more my taste.  Hope you find your sound because it is a challenge.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
onehorsepony
Mark Levinson 5100 cd player
There is no record of this anywhere?? sure you got the make/model right???
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,104 posts
 
Old B& W are bright , I have helped others start by upgrading the 
capacitors , there are several good ones Thst come to mind ,depending on budget a minimum of $1k in parts 
also a vacuum tube preamplifier, for a budget the$899 
From Schiit audio would be a noticeable gain in fidelity and warmth.
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