Bypass preamp, better sound, yet fatiguing?

Hello Tvad, I guess the First sound with the APL dennon would have been great! Did you have the H attenuator?
May I ask what is your CD source and preamp today?

Hello Stehno, I wasnt trying to make it sound like a statement but it was really describing the sound qualities I am running away from (or trying to!).

I am using Gabriel Gold ics which I find to be "low" on mids, I also tried Blue heavens, Transparent link, Siltech.
I am using either original Cabasse very short scs from my tubed mono amps, or DIY with a bunch of small diameter varnish coated copper cables per run and a pair of Audio Consulting silver wires, probably one too many....
I found longer cables to get in the way, either too bright or too blocked. Short speaker cables sounded right straight away...

I am using as I said an Isolation transformer which runs on two live 110 volts line (220 volts) and turns to 110 live and ground, thus isolating my system from the street ground.
Dedicated power line of course, and Leviton computer grade outlets. 12 awg Varnish coated power cable with pure cotton shield.

Leak TL12.1 Class A 12 watts tube mono amps which have a nice full body into Cabasse Catalane loudspeakers which I find to be faster and more dynamic than my Lowthers DX3...

I would not blame the tweeters for the Fatiguing sound mainly everything is to blame here very clear dynamic mids, punchy bass, and yes extended highs.

Today I made a test of running my system directly from the wall (mainly because of this thread) and the sound was very different, not so agressive or fatiguing but much less transparent.

Any advice is well recieved....thanks!

PS
I am loving my system without preamp....BTW.

Jsadurni, it appears that you like to tweak quite a bit and that's good.

However, from where I sit (in Salem, OR), it's difficult for me to see if you have any serious benchmarks in which to compare your tweaks.

I've heard one very authoritative source state that isolation transformers have their own pitfalls and in general are no match for excellent line conditioners. But I'm out of my league as to the whys and wherefors. The fact that you seemed to experience some positive benefits by plugging straight into the wall would seem to substantiate such claims. The other problem is finding line conditioners worth owning that do not induce their own sonic harm. In my experience the most popular brands actually sound worse than plugging straight into the wall.

As for the ics and scs, I'd highly recommend acquiring some Speltz anti-cables and anti-ics. Speltz' anti-cable speaker cables cost $10 per foot, the anti-ics cost $100 for 1m pair and are the second best cables I've yet heard. Moreover they require essentially only a few hours burn-in time and they come with a 30-day satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

These should give you some good benchmarks for your other cables and they induce little to no time-smear. You probably are aware that some to many ics and scs induce much time smear which in the highs produces a digital-like noise or hash and induce much ear fatigue. Time-smear in the lower bass regions simply make the bass sound wooly, loose, bloated, ill-defined, etc.. Anyway, the Speltz' cables absolutely minimize all of these ill affects and when the anti-cables are elevated at least 1 or 2 inches off the carpet, they will sound even more pristine and with greater speed.

In my experience and almost without exception silver cables/ics without the best line conditioning simply accentuate any fatigue already present. And that's assuming the silver ics/cables offer good sonics to start because there's plenty of poorly designed silver ics just as there are copper.

-IMO

05-27-06: Jsadurni
Hello Tvad, I guess the First sound with the APL dennon would have been great! Did you have the H attenuator?
May I ask what is your CD source and preamp today?

I did have the H Attenuator, yes.

Source today is Exemplar Denon 3910, and preamp is Lamm LL2 Deluxe with Mullard 12AU7 and Mullard 6922 NOS tubes.

Thanks for your response Stehno, you were right on the spot, I changed speaker cables and things got a lot better I finally decided on the Cabasse original cable which looks like your every day lamp cable but it has diferent color strands (whitish-blackish), I guess its all copper, but it brings out the best on my speakers, I guess they know what they are doing!
10 inches of speaker cable and the Fatigue is gone....

I also returned to my Isolation transformer, when I hooked it back on I could not believe the change, two blankets were taken off each speaker!! It makes the sound of my system.
Going to the wall outlets made my system "undetailed" lost dynamics and extension...?¿?¿?

Thank you Tvad, amazing, I would have gone for the previous set up, but I am sure the new one sounds better then... interesting!

All the best

Thank you Tvad, amazing, I would have gone for the previous set up, but I am sure the new one sounds better then... interesting!

It's not better, but it's less expensive.