What can I improve in my audio system for better s


I have lossless FLAC music ripped from cd's and music I purchased from HD tracks, I am using Macintosh MX 121 processor, Krell S1500 7 channel power amp, 7.1 SYSTEM, B&W 802D speakers for front and center, Monitor Audio for side and rare channels, Crystal and Audio Quest for interconnect and Tara Lab for Speaker cables. I am using JRiver to play this music from my computer, which resides on Lenovo Q180 small foot print PC with build in HDMI which is connected to my processor via this HDMI. I don't know why but I feel that this PC is the least expensive equipment I have, and is the weakest link in my entire system. There is nothing wrong with the system. But, it always bugs me that I can improve this weak link. I like the fact that while playing music I can see the album cover and track information on the monitor. But still I am curious to know, if possible, how I can improve the sound quality. Since I have a McIntosh processor with built in DAC, I don't want to add another DAC (by the way I tried using Moon DAC, it was no-ware close to McIntosh MX121, ended up selling it on eBay). I am not even sure, while using HDMI port does better sound card matters? Or can I enhance anything in my system to improve the sound quality or am I looking for unrealistic Magic? When I purchased this system, my friends were so surprised from the money I spent, there first question to me was "Does singer comes out of these speakers to sing for you?" I guess that's what I am expecting; I believe I am missing those emotions that we get from live performance.

Need a professional advice, please help.
trcns
Today I got Bel Canto uLink, I connected and believe or not first thing came out of my mouth was Woooow. I have over $60K invested in my Audio Video equipment and this tiny $675 just amazed me. No more noise in the music, just music. So sharp, so open, so deep, just Wooooow.
I am not at 20K, I am already over 60K. Problem is I have 130" projector screen with 4K projector and its the same room where I play music. So I cannot separated them.

Said that I found what was missing. Its an external USB to Digital converter. I bought Bel Canto uLink which really made a difference.
I personally think that it's going to be tough to find what you are looking for with what you have. I have started all over a few times in order to get products that work together to sound the best they can. It's not difficult to do in all the price ranges. Do you have to have surround? If so, it will cost you a TON of money to do it properly for music. You may think about two separate systems. I personally just went with all new 2 channel audio as the TV sounds great compared to surround systems I've heard under 20k. or more.
"I believe I am missing those emotions that we get from live performance."
Trcns, to be frank you couldn't be any further from your goal with this system. Speakers aren't your problem it's your electronics. They were designed for sound effects not music, this is the first place you need to make changes, then your front end.

david
"10-15-14: Beewax
You can improve your audio system with latest technology such as "asynchronous" DAC. Sample rate conversion of all inputs, which are re-clocked, re-timed and up-sampled. You can spend $500 for the new ZDAC2 or $5,000 for PS Xtreme."

Do you consider the analog portion of the DAC as well, when you make recommendations?
Honestly, for surround sound, you seem to be working with all good stuff. Not bad for two channel either. If the best 2-channel sound quality is of interest to you, you could probably do some things there for comparison.

Again it all depends on what the perceived weaknesses are and what the target is.

Definitely good advice to have a roadmap up front to get where you want in steps, but only change one thing at a time, one step at a time, and take plenty of time to assess each step along the way towards the goal.
You can improve your audio system with latest technology such as "asynchronous" DAC. Sample rate conversion of all inputs, which are re-clocked, re-timed and up-sampled. You can spend $500 for the new ZDAC2 or $5,000 for PS Xtreme.
I cannot provide you with any specific expert help here. However, improving sound quality is a slippery slope. I know from experience. Make one change to your system at a time and then give that one change plenty of time in order to learn what, if anything you have achieved. Then you can move on to a different variable in your system to change if you are still unsatisfied. Try to be patient with each change.
I will add the pictures. Only time I visited the dealer when I was shopping for speakers, I listened to YG and DynAudio along with B&W. All the rest of equipment I purchased is based on reviews of the equipment. Monitor Audio reference speakers were my original speakers before buying B&W 802 D's last year, so I moved them as side channels, I feel that they timber matched very well. Music sounds very very crisp and clean. I never compared my system with other systems. I never had an opportunity to spend hours and hours at dealers location and now little by little all these Hi-End audio show rooms are disappearing. It's just a bug in my head, always thinking is their a better software than JRiver? Is there a better way to connect computer to my Processor other than using HDMI? Should I buy a better HDMI cable? Or a better sound card? Should I change my hard drive to SSD drive? Will it matter if I change my sound cards setting from 24/96 to 24/192?
I'm in shock that you have spent so much, but are using different speakers. I've personally never heard any system sound great without having the same voiced speakers all the way around. It will smear transients etc... I also won't use different cables, but that's me. I like to keep everything the same and if you get the components you like, then you don't need to 'tune' things with cables or tweaks. Just get what sounds best to you up front. Personally, I think I'd get the same speakers all the way around and go from there. That's just me but if you ask speaker designers, they'd tell you the same thing even if you weren't using their speakers.
"Or can I enhance anything in my system to improve the sound quality or am I looking for unrealistic Magic? When I purchased this system, my friends were so surprised from the money I spent, there first question to me was "Does singer comes out of these speakers to sing for you?" I guess that's what I am expecting; I believe I am missing those emotions that we get from live performance.

Need a professional advice, please help."

You're making a very common mistake. You have no way of separating reality from fantasy, with regards to what's possible. What goals have you set for what you want your system to sound like, and are they based on a system that you actually heard? If you don't have any clearly defined goals that you know can be achieved, it will be one guess after another with no end in sight. Yes, I know its harder to do it this way, and that most people will tell you to just buy this, or buy that or whatever. That approach doesn't work.
Also a system picture showing the physical layour would help. Often all that is needed for better sound is a better approach towards setup and dealing with room acoustics. Definitely a best practice to get that right first before changing anything.
You have good stuff. What aspects of the sound do you think need improving? How do you know what your target sound is or equivalently where yours is deficient? Have you heard some other system for reference? IS there any noticeable noise or distortion?

There is no absolute sound. Its often highly subjective what sounds better or best.

Some more info might help others make more useful suggestions.