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
You can download the VT100 manuals on the Audio Research site.  The manual shows where the jumpers are.
The balanced input impedance is 200K.  SE is 100K.  Big difference.  
IMHO.  Check that first.

Do you have a multi-meter with spring-loaded hook clips?  If so, check the amp bias to make you have power.

As to the LS15, disconnect it from the amp (power off).  Power it back up and see if the sparking goes away.

Let me know and we can go from there.

Have had a lot of ARC gear over the years.
So...  Just a polite correction.  The jumpers do not go in the XLR socket.  The receptor is separate and apart.  See the manual.