grainy sounding high end system


Hi, I hope this is the right forum to ask this question. I have a quite decent audio system at home, which consists of Pioneer CLD-98 laserdisc/CD-transport, Bel Canto DAC 1.1, Conrad-Johnson Premier 7b preamplifier, Mark Levinson 333 amplifier and Dunlavy SC-IV speakers. Though this is a "high-end" system on paper, it sounds not very high-end to me: the overall sound has a grainy quality, it has compressed dynamics, the low end is quite lousy and the highs are too prominent. Why is this happening to me? I have invested a lot into this hobby and is this my reward? What could be the reason for the abovementioned grainy sound? Maybe I have to get a better CD-transport, like the TEAC P-30 for example.
dazzdax

Showing 1 response by bigtee

I will second the opinion on your front end. Might want to look at that. Also, you might want to look at the preamp. The choice of tubes does make a difference.
Sometimes you can "Tune" some of what you are hearing out with a different cable (interconnect) Cardas comes to mind here.
I really think you have a cummulutive effect. I agree with the above post that ML amps can get a little tizzy if all is not well upline. Could try a little speaker moving and see if that helps. Just don't aim those bad boys right at you.
Maybe your dealer will let you try a few different things. Put them in your system and see if you hear a difference. Might help you isolate some of it.
Also, check the cable between your front end and the DAC.