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Audio Research VT100 MK1 and LS15 HELP!!!

I recently bought this set VT100MK1 and preamp LS15 and while I was at this seller house he demonstrated the sound from his online Tidal on TV connect optical to the DAC Luxman DA - 06 then this go to the preamp LS15 and out into the VT100. This set up sounds amazing at his house. However, when I came home play CD from the Sony X1100ES Blu-ray player RCA output into the LS15 and out to the VT100 and it sound horrible - no bass at all in any type of music.  The sound sometime muffle and not clear and most importantly the bass missing tremendously. Im using a pair of KEF R900 Speakers. What is wrong here? can anyone help me correct the sounds? it is because I didn’t have the Luxman DA - 06 DAC? or it is because I don’t have those fancy hundred - thousands of dollars cable?  or the CD source is playin at 41khz /16 bit not high enough signal?  

This is my first system and I don’t know why I can’t get that high fidelity sound from the ARC equipments.  I'm waiting for the Audioengine B1 to arrive so I can stream Spotify into the LS15.   What is wrong with my set up?  Thank you in advance for helping me solve this.
kentrent
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
There’s nothing wrong with your speakers. I’ve heard the R900 with a 30W tube amp and it was a very pleasant listening experience. The R series is the entry-level for KEF, so there is some cost cutting to the cabinets and bracing, but not the drivers and crossovers. These speakers are revealing, dynamic and throw a huge soundstage.
Although listed as an 8 ohm speaker, the impedance curve indicates a large part of the all-important low and mid-bass frequencies are at about 4 ohms. So the 4 ohm taps should be tried first, as stated in the above comments.

kentrent OP
71 posts
 
@lowrider57 thanks for your input. I will try the 4ohm today.  This wont damage the speakers since it rated at 8ohm? 

The thing i discovered is when i connected to the Mac1500 (1965 model from mcintosh) and it does produces fuller bass and treble.  Sounds very nice using the same Blu-Ray player.  But using with the ARC the bass just strip down a lot. So im worry that maybe either the LS15 or the VT100 are having defects that im not aware?  I dont want to be negative and assume seller is selling because of this issue... but i just cant help it thinking about it.  
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
OK, that's a good start to troubleshooting, but since the Mac is a receiver you've removed both the amp and preamp from the system.
Have you re-seated all the tubes in both components? Gently wiggle them out (not all the way) and push them back into the tube sockets. There's also a good chance you've got a bad tube in one of the critical stages.

Can you call the seller and tell him what you are experiencing?



kentrent OP
71 posts
 
The seller gave me receipts that all new factory arc tubes were replaced Late December 2018.  So its roughly 8-9 months.   I also tested at his house before buying and it sounds amazing.  Do u think because i dont have the DAC Luxman D-06? Because he was streaming from Tidal optical into that DAC and into the LS15.  I don’t understand why when the units set up in my house it doesn’t sounds like that.  Would the DAC  makes that much different?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
No, I don't believe it would. I'll assume he was using balanced connections from dac to ARC preamp. That would provide higher gain to the preamp and then the amp.

RCA out of your CD into the proper RCA preamp input should result in good sonics at a lower level on the volume control.
Have you tried all the inputs to the preamp and made sure the tape monitor is off?
 
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