That's not right - but what's wrong?


I'll try and make this short. Mostly new system of PrimaLuna Prologue Classic integrated amp and Totem Arro speakers with (guessing) between 100 and 200 hours (maybe more) on both. Wavelength Proton DAC or Rotel RCD-02 CD player are used for source. Speakers are wired diagonally with KimberKable 8PR per Totem suggestion, mounted on studs/washers on HW floor. Interconnects are Kimber Kable PBJ, or Audioquest Sidewinder. I also split the output to a different lower quality amp to power speakers in the kitchen. Same interconnects.

Here is the issue; sometimes I get a small distortion of an instrument or voice, although voice is more common, which seems to occur at only one frequency range. It seems most apparent at the start of some vocals. One example is Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me" - almost every pronunciation of the "W" sound starts out sounding like this but then perfect. A couple CDs sound muddled, or undefined which after listening to other CDs has me convinced is bad recording/engineering. Other music sounds great.

I guess my questions are these:
How do I figure out where the problem is so I can address it?
If this is a speaker issue will it go away with time as more hours are on the speakers or is probably something with the speaker drivers (that would seem odd as it's both speakers).
Do you think these are probably more recording errors that I didn't notice on lesser equipment I replaced (Creek 4330 amp/JM Lab Micron Carat speakers)

Thanks for your help.
jetson

Showing 2 responses by lowrider57

Jetson, I've read about people using that diagonal wiring approach. I still think it's a possible impedance or gain mismatch between the 2 amps and preamp. Try only using one amp and let us know.
"speakers are wired diagonally"? What does that mean? Easiest way to diagnose the prob is to do what Elizabeth said; remove amp # 2 from the system. Maybe it is an impedance issue.