2. amps-preamps
  3. 1139354443

Bypass preamp, better sound, yet fatiguing?

Does anybody know a good reason why running from the CD player direct into the amp will produce a better, detailed sound (e.g., piano sounds more real, instruments are better separated), but on the other hand, after a while, after an hour or so, the sound becomes fatiguing?

Is there any thing as too much detail?

System consists of Levinson 390s, 380s, VTL MB-450, B&W 802n. Interconnects are Transparent super. Speaker cable is Transparent super bi-cable.

Are the cables not up to it? Room acoustics? B&W tweeter to bright? I don't experience any fatigue, if I listen through the preamp, but the sound is somewhat duller (but better rythmically) than if I go direct. Any suggestions are welcome.
hgabert

Showing 2 responses by qdrone

qdrone
1,039 posts
 
I have an Adcom 750 which allows me to listen in a passive mode. My Modwright Sony sounds very good in passive mode but I prefer listening to it with the pre amp active. Sounds more alive,more dynamic. The Sony sounds great in passive mode but I have to really turn it up to get the same sound. I mean no offense but that is a very good pre,it's doing what you paid for it to do.
Now the Impedence between the VTL and Levinson could be an issue though. When I ran my Modified Adcom 555 with my VTL Ultimate pre amp it was not a good match at all. I believe Paul Speltz(anti-cables) makes a transformer or some dodad which configures the best impedence for your system but I think it is run between the amp and speakers.
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
THE IMPEDANCE ISSUE COULD BE BECAUSE YOU ARE USING A COMBINATION OF SS AND TUBES. SOMETIMES THIS DOES NOT WORK WELL.
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