Fatigue reducing interconnect?

Try TMC white label interconnects. If those won't fix it, try another amp. I've never heard an A5, but I just recently bought an MF A300, and it's quite fatigueing, for me, and none of my cables fixed it. It's just sitting, unused, in the garage, for now.

I've always found "listener fatigue" to come more from components, and not cables. Cables can either mask problems, or pass them through.

Chances are, you'll never totally cure your problem with just IC's. You'll probably be able to mask it, to a point, but most likely only for certain recordings.

Good luck.

Glad to hear you are making progress.

I have listened to these electronics in systems with slightly warm to boarder line bright speakers for hours without fatigue. I agree with Rooski about the impact of wires in general to a point, but I have also used wires to tame systems that had certain strengths and other weaknesses to play more to the former. Furthermore, I would not exactly call the Energy speakers "warm", so there may be a synergy at work with your gear that you will have to work at to overcome.

Three suggestions, one already made by me one new one, and adding to the chorus of others.

First the new one: what are you using for power cables for the amp and CDP? I have found this can have a big impact on sound, affecting clarity and for lack of a better word, the flow of the music, relaxing the overall presentation. Especially if you are going from the stock cord to a larger gauge and well made aftermarket wire. You can get cheap and well made power cables from Internet dealers like Zebra Cable, Signal and others to dip your toe in this world if you haven't already.

Second, if you eventually start Jonesing for new cables, contact The Cable Company, they can provide advice about both interconnects and power cables that can help you achieve your system tuning goals.

Three, as suggested by others above: further adjusting the position of your speakers in the room, playing with toe in/out, distance from each other, the walls and your seating position, angle of repose or height can do wonders. After room shape and materials, this is probably the single most important aspect of your stereo system. Then equipment, and last of all wires. Besides all that, this tweak is free as you noted yourself!

After more experimentation with speaker placement/room changes, I have concluded that good recordings (James Taylor's 'October Road', Chris Botti's 'Italia') sound great and poor/bright ones (Boney James' 'Sweet Thing', Earth, Wind, and Fire's 'Vol.1') sound harsh and fatiguing--regardless of how the room is arranged. I assume this is simply the result of a revealing system "doing its job". While there are much more costly electronics and speakers than mine (which I surely will aspire to later in my journey), am I to assume they make poor recordings sound better? If not, it seems, purchasing quality recordings is as important as anything that follows. Also, it has been suggested to me that using digital cables will help reduce high frequency harshness while maintaining the overall sound quality. Seemed odd to hear, but has anyone experimented with this?

Goblue711,

Before you spend more money on interconnects, please get some ferrite cores as Elizabeth and I have suggested. They are cheap and effective. If there is any harshness due to EMI contamination, they will take care of it. You can treat the whole system for about $20 to $30. You got to trust me on this. Don't spend more on interconnects before trying the ferrite cores first.

Goblue711,

Also, are you using stock power cords? Better PCs can reduce some of the "edginess" associated with poorer quality digital recordings, and better recordings sound even better.