Should I stick to the same manufaturer?


What should be replaced first Preamp or cd player or something else?

System:

Speaker Cable- Monster M2.4s 15'pr.;
interconnects- 2m Monster M1000i;RCA connections not balanced- preamp will not accept balanced;
Speakers- Martin Logan Prodigy;
Preamp- Audio Research LS1;
Amp- Mark Levinson No. 336;
cd player- California Audio Lab icon mkii;
Tuner- Magnum Dynalab MD102;
electrostaticman

Showing 2 responses by beemer

Lose the CD player AND the preamp AND the Monster Cable.
You've got some nice pieces currently being crippled.

Please don't get me wrong, the IkonMkII was a great player in it's day and not a bad player still for a second system.

The LS1, well I find that pre to contain a whole lot more than I like of the ARC house sound or what I call a "white" sound. Logan's can sound a bit thin at times, I'd put up a warm preamp such as a BAT VK50 or VK5i. I use BAT pre and Levinson amps on two systems, and I find great synergy. As to the CD, lots of good players out there. Use balanced cables, your 336 was designed with balanced topology and it will sound better balanced than single-ended. I'd get tubed CD player though, your mileage may vary. Good luck.

beemer
For cables:

New School:

Harmonic Tech
Acoustic Zen

Old school:

Transparent

For Cd player, please understand I am biased:

BAT VKD5SE

Good listening to you!