• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

What is wrong with my system?

O

onehorsepony

Member
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
 
Register to hide this ad
What is your room like? Size , placement of system /furniture etc. do you have treatments in your room? Lastly like Artie said have you checked to make sure all cables are correctly setup.


Audiofreak71
 
Check to make sure the pin arrangement on the XLR connection between the preamp and power amp are the same.
This is important anytime you mix brands of gear using XLR connection as they dont always use the same pin layout.

And yeah make sure the speaker wiring phase is correct.

Also of note here is some brands of CD players ~ preamps ~ power amps invert the signal as SOP too.
So that can also come into play as well,for this it's best to refer to the owners manual to see if that is a concern.

>>> Addendum <<<
Also,I forgot to mention that the BP-26 has a phase invert switch,so yeah make sure that's not the issue here either.
Easy to do,just flip that switch and listen to what happens.

HTH

Bret P.
 
Last edited:
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?
 
I don't have any other sources except for my dvd player that is through my tv. Movies always have alot of slam to them and youtube videos sound like youtube videos
 
Not sure if you read all the replies above but there are some questions for you , seems like you skipped them and went on to other questions for us :dunno:


Audiofreak71
 
I've heard it said that the B&W 802D, if it's the non ported one, is a bit weak in the bass. Also hot up top. I haven't heard them. The problem could be the placement and your room, as some suggested.
 
Although other things may need work (particularly the room), you have basically just told us that it's your sources that are at fault. Pass the Mac CD player on to someone else, and look for something that betters your Arcam.
 
If you have young hearing in a fairly hard room your B&W will be hard to listen, too. They are almost always overly bright and hard sounding. All you can do with out spending a lot of money is move them closer to the rear wall or more into corners. The other choice is move your listening position further away from the speakers might work too. Point the speakers straight on and not toward you where the highs will be rolled off a bit. You could go with a Mcintosh restored older tube stuff or ARC pieces to calm them down a bit . Or you could get room EQ's a calibrated mic and an app for your computer and voice them to your liking similar to the B curve shown I use the b curve above and the A curve below the midrange.aa2g2.jpgAnd you can always start the lower roll off further down and the HF roll off higher up if thats to your liking. But the secret is to get the curve smooth and get rid of all the peaks first.Don't try to fill valleys in response first, take out the peaks.
 
People on here tend to dislike EQ's. But a decent EQ with a calibrated mic could probably give you a lot of information as to what is going on.
 
Does it sound like something is wrong or just thin? If it’s just thin, You might try a tube based preamp to see if that might fill out the sound, if your remaining components are of the ‘clinically accurate and sterile’ variety.

Also agree with some EQ for room compensation or to your preference, if you are willing to add that component to your system.
 
the other possibility is not that the speakers are overly bright, but they don't make any bottom end, either because of what they are or because of the room. Some rooms just eat bass, mine is one of them. I'd probably verify equipment setup and mess with the room before spending any money on electronics.
 
My advice is get a redbook pair of interconnects and put them between your pre amp / mono blocks and listen. Did the shrillness on the top end ease up? I think you have speakers with elevated highs with inter connects and speaker cable that are exaggerating it. Audiophile Inter connects, Power Chords and Speaker Cables are tone controls with out a knob. If the shrillness is gone with the redbook interconnect my advice is contact Cable Co. They have a lending library of inter connects and ask them what they suggest to get what you want. You want rolled off highs and more bass. Cardas or Audience Cables are in that ball park. I use Audience AU24sx inter connects. Extended to the sky highs with no harshness, the highs are wrapped in a cotton cocoon and the mid base is a thumping. Good luck.
 
"]My advice is get a redbook pair of interconnects and put them between your pre amp / mono blocks and listen. Did the shrillness on the top end ease up? I think you have speakers with elevated highs with inter connects and speaker cable that are exaggerating it. Audiophile Inter connects, Power Chords and Speaker Cables are tone controls with out a knob. If the shrillness is gone with the redbook interconnect my advice is contact Cable Co. They have a lending library of inter connects and ask them what they suggest to get what you want. You want rolled off highs and more bass. Cardas or Audience Cables are in that ball park. I use Audience AU24sx inter connects. Extended to the sky highs with no harshness, the highs are wrapped in a cotton cocoon and the mid base is a thumping. Good luck.[/QUOTE]

:eek2::rflmao::dunno::wtf:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom