Confused By A Transport Upgrade


Dear Forum Members:

I just got a used Theta Pearl CD transport on monday. The change in sound from my previous transport[CD player actually] is so dramatic, I don't know what to make of it. In the course of trying to building a nice musical system I've experimented with different speaker cables and interconnects and isolation tweaks, but nothing has made such a dramatic change as adding this transport.

My system is comprised of Sim Audio Moon I-5 integrated, Musical Fidelity E60 CD player, Bel Canto DAC 1.1, Sonus Faber Concertinos and ProAc Tablette Signature 50s. I have added these pieces incrementally starting with the MF E60 three years ago, then the Concertinos a year and a half ago. The Moon I-5 arrived last August. I just received the Bel Canto and the ProAcs last month.

Since the beginning my system has always been on the bright side. In order to combat this characteristic I have experimented with different interconnects and digital cables eventually settling on the relaxing Cardas Golden Cross and L-15. I also upgraded DH Labs Silversonic T14 speaker cables to Analysis Plus Oval Nines. These changes have helped somewhat, but still the occasional nasties remained.

The Theta Pearl is a solid piece of gear using the Pioneer stabile platter mechanism with the CDs inserted label side down. Before hooking it up, I played 3 CDs I'm pretty familiar with through the MF just so I could have a fresh taste of the 'ol transport before getting down to business with my new toy. When I started playing the first CD in the Theta I was shocked at the Jekyll and Hyde difference between the two players. In comparison to my MF E60, the Theta is leagues softer, and fuller in the midrange, almost to the point of sounding muffled. CD after CD I kept thinking to myself that I had lost a ton of detail and information.

Now here's my question. Have I become so accustomed to a thin sounding, overly bright, and falsely detailed system so much so, that a well regarded transport such as the Theta Pearl sounds, dare I say wrong to me? I've been searching for a non-fatiguing system for so long, and now that I have it, I yearn for the lifelike energy that some of my CDs exhibited when played through my $500 MF. While it was often thin and bright sounding, it sometimes created spookily real instrumentation and voices.

I'm now contemplating a reverse change in my interconnects, speaker and digital cables. I have a run of Kimber Illuminations D60, so I'll see what that does. Will it restore some life in my system? Maybe all the Cardas are wrong in this setup. Should I change the AP Oval 9s to Silver Ovals?

What have I done wrong? Help!!
gunbei
Gunbei, what effect did the D-60 digital cable make? Please report back on this forum and let us know. Thanks!
I wonder if there is something wrong with the Pearl. A few years ago, when auditioning various transports, I had a similar experience with an Audio Alchemy transport that coincidentally used the Pioneer stable platter. The sound was so dull and so lifeless that I concluded there must be something wrong with the transport and I sent it back. If you have already bought the Pearl used, you may want to contact Theta to see if you can have the it examined for possible defects.
Lak, I'll definitely try the D60 cable tonight and report back. Joe, that exact thought had crossed my mind. I thought it prudent maybe to just send the unit in anyway and have it looked at and tuned up. More later...
Another thought Gunbei is to clean the connection. Perhaps the person you bought it from was using the XLR output and hadn't used the connection (RCA or BNC) that you are using. A dirty connection could definitely give you below par performance. A second thought is to try different tweeks to decouple the transport from the rack. I have found that my Theta DaViD decoupled, sounds better than the stock rubber feet.
Hey Gunbei, it blows my mind that a transport could make a night and day difference. Don't get me wrong, I think the transport makes a difference, but a subtle one, not that kind of one. From my experiences with the other equipment you listed, I'm kinda surprised you hear bright sound. I've auditioned or owned the Sim Audio amps, Bel Canto Dacs and the Sonus Faber Concertinos and find all three of them leaning towards the warm, smooth camp, not the bright, detailed camp at all. I also know Cardas to be smooth, the DH labs can be a bit bright, I'm not familiar with the Analysis Plus though. Overall I would expect this system to be smooth, maybe lacking in detail, I'm shocked to hear you think it was lacking in warmth from the start. I'm not familiar with the MF you were using as a transport either. What are your musical tastes? With the equipment you list, I doubt you have become accustomed to thin, brittle sound. If the Theta is not defective, you may have too much smoothness. You may rather look for a Proceed or Mark Levinson transport, as they lean more to the detail, without brightness side. I'll also agree with the leave 'em burning 24/7 camp, this could solve your problems. Good luck.