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Frustrated with the sound of my system

Here is my system:
Rotel RCD-965BX CD Player as transport
MSB Link 2 DAC
Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 Signature preamp
Classe 10 amplifier
North Creek Audio Borealis speakers (Custom built kit speaker...something close to a Proac Response 2.5 design)
M&K V-75 sub
Kimber and Cardas interconnects
Kimber 4TC/8TC bi-wire speaker cables.

Here is my frustration:
The sound, regardless of music, sounds stringent, hard, really lacks air, and is anything but relaxed. It is fatigueing. I can listen to my Grado 60 headphones on an iPod and the sound is frustratingly more relaxed and has what I would call air.

I don't think that my system is that outstanding, but it really seems like I should be more pleased with what I am hearing.

I would be interested in your thoughts on where the most likely opportunity is. I really like the individual components of the system (OK the Rotel/MSB set up is old and just OK), but all together they seem to be underwhelming. I am thinking it is either in improving the digital front end (new player or DAC) or moving to a planar speaker to get the sound I desire. I have thought about new player like an OPPO 93 or 95, perhaps a tube based player or DAC, or else looking at something like a used pair of Maggie 12's or 1.6's. I have always enjoyed the Maggie sound.

In either case I am thinking that $2k is the absolute max I would want to spend on any solution. Thanks in advance. If there are other questions I would be glad to supply details.
stuartbmw3

Showing 2 responses by mechans

mechans
3,048 posts
 
I was in a similar situation and I simply started replacing elements of the system. This is simply reality, the way most of us do it. I doubt few were able to buy complete systems all at once. It took several years but eventually ended up with a really great system. I did belong to an audio club and got many ideas by listening to their systems. My guess is that you will end up wanting the sound of tube power amps, will change your source, and speakers. Some final tweaks to your cables and you will be all set. Don't rush and with time you will be able to afford more.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I think good sound obviously combines both equipment selection and appropriate room set up. It cannot be all one thing or the other. Crappy low fi souces, amplification and speakers that sound bad will sound bad no matter what room they are in. That said, the best gear and speakers cannot sound good in an echo chamber of a room.
The op's set up limitations necesitate the best possible arrangement of speakers and room treatments that minmize whatever problems that need to be addressed. I reccomend setting up the speakers according to the best approximation to the Cardas triangle. Then use movable room treatments/sound traps to minimize reflections etc. Then start getting to the matter of buying equipment that satifies the your tastes. That part, like the room optimization, will require trial and error. It is the usual method we seem to use it is reiterative. Buy your equip,ment after hearing it at a store or show, or if need be by reputation and suggestion, see if it suites you. If is sucks sell it. If you have the money you can buy several pieces at once as a system. The same cabling and other tweaks and repeat until done. This may take several years and a lot of money. It took about 7 years in my case. (I have never really totaled the bill. I got side tracked with things like tube collecting.)
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