Can't get Acoustic Zen Adagios to sound smooth

Try a tube DAC or CD player. In my experience this can smooth out that CD sound.

Can't get Acoustic Zen Adagios to sound smooth
((Try a tube DAC or CD player.))
Jim spent thousands looking for magic and your solution is to to blur it up it with band aids for him.
Many folks have silver Plated cables from boutique types that impress for less but don't play with neutrality.
Borrow a pr of Cardas interconnects for your CD player
and see where that gets you.

I wish I could answer each contributor to this thread, because many have provided many good comments

But first, let me clarify something. I claimed that the speakers don't sound good on certain CD's. However, I don't buy crap recordings, even if the music justifies them. Many of these so called remastered CD are more hype than improvement. I have found the "Salvo" remasters are very good. A few Japanese pressings provide improvement over the original, but generally they are not convincing. Occasionally, there are some surprises. The re-mastered version of Hall and Oats Silver album is a definite improvement over the LP. The Salvo redo of Procul Harum's "Salty Dog" is excellent, and highlights the collective genius of these musicians. The Japanese remastered Beatles "White Album" is a wash and not worth the extra yen; The "Yes" Band remasters are generally good for Japanaese pressings, but not consistent. I have a few Chesky CD's which are very good, and Tom Jung's Flim and the BB's which are first rate.

One point that was made is that the Adagios just may not be the most current or effective speaker technology. Of course, these type of statements are open to ridicule because the design and execution of that design of speaker accomplishes everything the designer(Richard Lee)intended and then some. Remember AZ was basically a cable company whose target market is not speakers.

.....BTW, sorry Audioconnection I have little to no interest in Vandersteen products. I had a pair of 1C about 10 years ago. Nice speaker, but disagreeable owner. In addition, the Vandy 2C's are too big and bulky, as are the Adagios. I often wonder if a smaller speaker. or monitor could possibly be at this point in my broken down condition be the better choice, and possibly almost provide performance similar to the Adagios.

(I had a pair of 1C about 10 years ago. Nice speaker, but disagreeable owner.))
Jim,
Maybe you caught the man with a question that was in the owners manual hey everybody has a bad day, try and get over it. Its my observation that most brilliant people that are self driven have little tolerance with redundancy, it boils them.
My own Chiropractor is the same way yet there is no one that I trust more with my spinal chord as much as he.

((In addition, the Vandy 2C's are too big and bulky,))

If you let vanity dictate over performance your missing the boat with true performance and could be chasing your tail for another 10 years.
The latest 2 CE Sig II is a mini monitor head disappears better than a box,connected to a sophisticated full range system with clarity detail magic and smoothness few other speakers offer even at 3 times the price.
You get what you pay for.
JohnnyR

I'll agree with those who say that the quality of a CD is inconsistent and may be your problem. But I would propose rolling the preamp tubes in your Sphinx. Have you tried using NOS tubes? There are many brands such as RCA and Mullard which have a classic tube sound and would remove any "brightness" from the amp.