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CD has laid back and uninvolving sound

Hi folks, yesterday I listened again to vinyl. I conducted also a comparison between vinyl and CD. The most peculiar thing with CD is that the sound seems to be more laid back, distant and uninvolving. With vinyl the sound has more bloom, is less laid back and has more PRaT. To me this laid back and distant sonic character of CD is the most significant finding and bothers me quite a lot. How can I improve this? Btw, my digital front end: MBL 1621 transport + Accustic Arts Tube DAC. Would Wadia DAC (the old Wadia 9 or another classic Wadia) be better in rendering a more upfront and engaging sound (more PRaT)?

Chris
dazzdax
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
The Shun Mook Diamond Resonators don't work with the AA Tube DAC! --> the sound became somewhat hard in the upper midrange, like as if there is some ringing/resonance. Which feet should I use now? Graphite blocks?

Chris
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi chris:

i have great success with the sound fusion sound boosters. read my review at audiophilia.com.
wavetrader
260 posts
 
The biggest difference made in my digital system have been....

1. Tubes 6922 Amperex D-getter gold pins....the soundstage went global...big and wide top to bottom.

2. Coupling caps....big difference in dynamics and resolution.

3. Power cable...focus was good but it is even better now.

4. transport....This can be a eyeopener in the presentation...upfront or laidback...also in ambient retreival and perceived air around instruments and vocals.

My advice...experiment...tubes...first then take it from there....I must admit my vinyl player has dust on it...
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
Thanks for the recommendation Roy. Are you also familiar with Herbie Tenderfeet?
Wavetrader: I have a decent transport, which is the MBL 1621. I suppose Accustic Arts knows about the coupling caps thing. Power cord is from DCCA Audio. So I'm afraid there is little left to be changed. Maybe the tube, which is residing insinde the D/A-converter (according to TJ this should give a significant improvement).

Chris
wavetrader
260 posts
 
Dazz...very nice components. The Acoustic arts is a very fine dac but I have never had a piece of tube gear that couldn't be voiced differently by rolling tubes. It looks like the AA dac uses a 12ax7 so if your inclined I would try some different tubes.
I had a conversation with a fellow audiophile at a Christmas party...He said the exact same things about his experience with vinyl vs digital. But for my experience tweaking has convinced me that swapping tubes and capacitors can make a major difference on how a system is voiced.
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