2. amps-preamps
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what would you change if anything, in this set up?

here is my set up- Wondering if this all seems paired correctly to you guys and if there is any particular area I should consider to improve the set up. I am happy with the sound in general but sometimes I feel like it's lacking gain on the digital side of things (no issues with gain on vinyl AT ALL) and in general I feel it can lack the WOW factor I'd hoped for. I listen to a range of old and new rock: (Beatles/Stones/Radiohead/Tom Waits/Amy Winehouse

Integrated amp: Ayre AX-7E
Source 1: Turntable: Pro-Ject RPM 5.1 w/ Ortofon 2M blue cartridge
Source 2: MacBook Pro via USB to DAC
DAC: BelCanto 1.5 (connected via unbalanced RCA to int. amp)
Phone stage: Sutherland PH3D
Speakers: Vienna Acoustic Mozart Grand Symphony SE (connected w/ 'Transparent' speaker cable)

Room:
About 15x15
Wall opposite speakers is mirrored.
Wall to right of speakers is glass floor to ceiling.
Area Rug

Any general advice on speaker placement is also welcome. I have them approx. 6' apart, on either side of a fireplace. Slight toe-in. Speakers are about 10' away from my listening position.

Ok-that's it-
Thanks in advance for any input.
capitalv
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
have you swapped RCA cables or tried new power cords?

worth trying and can make a huge difference.
vicdamone
850 posts
 
I'd get a sub, a different DAC or an Off Ramp.
jdodmead
257 posts
 
Your room doesn't know if it's digital or analog. First thing, I would do, is to try(borrow) a superior cd player, just to rule out the pre and or dac. I personally think you're lacking in the digital playback. Have you tried other dacs or cd players?
I personally could not come close to my analog, until I bought a Electrocompaniet Emc1up, now they are pretty even in sound quality.
goodluck
jeff
donjr
1,335 posts
 
What about the balanced inputs. Every review of the Ayre AX7e says the difference is huge.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Don't buy anything. Play with speaker positioning and your listening spot. 10 ft seems to be a bit far considering the distance between your speakers.. maybe you need to mitigate the reflectivity of the glass areas with some sort of absorbent material. I have found that speaker position and listening chair position have a real effect on sound and it's easy and free to correct. My speakers are 68" apart, and I sit 8 ft away. I just did this yesterday. I was about 9 ft back before. I will listen for a few weeks and move my chair again until I get it perfect, but it sounds much better than it did. When I look at my speakers from my chair,I cannot see the sides of the speakers. I also use a laser pen to see exactly where the speakers are pointed. Do the easy and free first!
Cheers
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