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
ord-avg-guy
9 posts
 
Can you demo a Bryston amplifer? Three years ago I replaced my Classe CA-201 with a Bryston 4B3 and was was quite surprised at the all around  improved sound the Bryston added to my system. Rest of system is Bryston BP25, Teac PD-H600 cd player and Canton Vento 890.2 DC Speakers. Blue Jeans in between. I have no desire to change anything.
onehorsepony OP
55 posts
 

New
I found something interesting. I have two cd players connected to my system now, the ML 5101 and an older Arcam cd72.

The Arcam cd72 has a fuller bass, warmer midrange sound to it. The negative is that there is not as much musical separation.

The ML 5101 has more separation but less bass. The negative is that no matter which PCM setting I use the highs are too hot, to much sizzle which sounds good for about one song, then becomes grating.

Any thoughts?
onehorsepony OP
55 posts
 
i would love to try a tube preamp. Stores will not let me audition them at home. 
onehorsepony OP
55 posts
 
i wish i could find a store that would let me audition a tube preamp at home.
emergingsoul
1,322 posts
 
Get some accoustic panels, absorption, to remove reverbs in room.  Tends to calm noisy sounds, much quieter too. 
Very simple.

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