That sucks and must be very frustrating — you have my sympathies. It sounds like a phase thing, and I’m sure you have it connected properly but just outta curiosity I’d try reversing the R/L outputs from the streamer and see what happens. Probably won’t help, but at least it’s free to try. Anyway, FWIW and best of luck.
My streamer doesn't have a good fantom centerDSP
All vintage analog system, Cambridge Audio streamer using built in DAC. Radio (yes, I listen to it regularly) and Vinyl both have huge sound stage, great image, it sounds like voices are coming directly out from my audio rack. However, when playing my streamer, it's more like just L/R speakers. That center image isn't always there.
My streamer software/firmware are up to date, cables are connected correctly, use Tidal Connect with MAX bitrate. It does sound great, very clean, clear, great dynamics, good sound stage, but the center is just not right.
My thoughts are that my speakers are setup correctly, due to the other sources working just fine. Not using any signal adjustments in the streamer (DPS, EQ).
Thinking might need to invest in a better streamer? Mine is a budget one after all.
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Hi , nice vintage system. My thoughts are first, digital is more than 1’s and 0’s, and everything matters. Second is you probably are lacking due to the level of streamer that you have. You are at the beginning and I’m at the mid Fi level. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people on this site and I’m not one of them. In the ten years I’ve been streaming and totally budget driven I’ve tried half dozen DAC’s and a few streamers limited by cost. I had a lap top , then a Cambridge, then a Project Stream Ultra and now an entry level Innuos. I’ve worked my way through DAC’s to an original Schiit Yiggy. Under certain conditions I still experience the lack of soundstage you mention. With your system once you reach the limits of your system it won’t matter. My thought is consider what you are willing to spend and do some research and try a few streamers that come with a return policy. Also within a couple days you should get a huge response with much advise. Happy Hunting , Mike B. |
@soix I have tried swapping L/R cables, also done all the fq sweeps and phase test through tidal to dial things in. It is in fact in phase, have tested it so many times. One thing that did throw me off was that the L/R test is backwards!! Now that I know that, all is good. Also tried different inputs on my pre-amp, different cables, none of that made a difference. Both the pre & power amp have been fully restored by me last winter, replaced like 250 parts in both. They are in tip-top condition. As a last resort, put in another set of speakers, new KLH Model 5, same thing. |
That’s what new digital processors sound like. That’s why I’m sticking with older Oppo bdp-95 which has sound focus and images. All newer DACs are distortion noise monsters without sound focus/images regardless of cost. Listen to the original Eagles and remastered. The remastered sounds smoother (more distortion noise) but the focus is gone. The original sounds focused and cleaner overall noise. D chip companies marketing to sell more DACs worked and still working. The sound is getting worse and people can’t hear it. Watch whose keep saying the new DAC sounds great and poor followers. Alex/Wavetouch audio |
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