[1oldguy]

Hi

I will give that a try and see what happens.Curious though about your statement.Quote,"make sure that the level controls are all the way up (not attenuated)."may I ask if you could explain where this level control is?I take it your not referring to volume?

[srb]

The level control is directly beneath the sensitivity switch and is turned with a small screwdriver.
 
Steve

[werd]

Hi

1oldguy you can make these adjustments include the 1v to 2v setting while playing music. Just make sure the volume control on the pre amp is set to low. So you dont get a large boost of volume.

[James Tanner]

I didn't see a series switch on mine and there is only one set of binding posts.The other two members of my family are kind of in shock to.Week,Small is how I would describe the sound with bass not very apparent.Flat is another word I would use.I don't think anyone would accuse the sound as anything other than lifeless.

The current 7B's do not have the Series/Parallel switch and only one set of binding posts.
I would never describe Bryston sound as flat so something is wrong and I think a dealer visit is a requirement at this point Brandon.

james

[1oldguy]

Hi James....Wondering if there is the slightest chance that the level control on the back of the amp isn't turned all the way up?
But It's not just a matter of more power the sound isn't very flattering to say the least.

I did try the 23 db setting.The effect seems to be more power but less high end.But even with that it's nowhere near what I would expect.

I agree James,a dealer visit is in order.

[James Tanner]

Hi James....Wondering if there is the slightest chance that the level control on the back of the amp isn't turned all the way up?

I did try the 23 db setting.The effect seems to be more power but less high end.But even with that it's nowhere near what I would expect.

Unless you played with it it will be all the way up - also highly unlikely that both amps woud have the same issue.  Also Brandon you mentioned it sounds the same with headphones so that eliminates the amps and speakers.

james

[srb]

1oldguy you can make these adjustments include the 1v to 2v setting while playing music. Just make sure the volume control on the pre amp is set to low. So you dont get a large boost of volume.

I didn't know for sure, so I was just covering the bases! 
 
I know the 2V (-23dB) setting actually decreases the gain of the amplifier, but perhaps with the 1V (-29dB) setting, the preamp's volume control can't be turned up enough to "open up"?
 
Just some things to try before someone else can get in front of this system in person.
 
Steve

[srb]

Also Brandon, do you have another CD or DVD player around that you could try just to eliminate the possibility of something wrong with the source?
 
If not, another thing you could try is to connect the BCD-1 to the preamp via a digital coax cable to either the DAC1 or DAC2 input.
 
Steve

[1oldguy]

I don't have those kinds of cables so can't try that.But I can tell you that my very small system using gear that is no where near hi fi sounded much better over all.The cd Player is working fine as I used it on the dinky dink system prior hooking up the new gear.
Good thinking though...One does need to eliminate any weak links.If I were to guess I think it may be the pre amp.But time will tell if I'm right or not.

[KeithA]

I don't have those kinds of cables so can't try that.But I can tell you that my very small system using gear that is no where near hi fi sounded much better over all.The cd Player is working fine as I used it on the dinky dink system prior hooking up the new gear.
Good thinking though...One does need to eliminate any weak links.If I were to guess I think it may be the pre amp.But time will tell if I'm right or not.

Brandon

All this speculating is only going to frustrate you more. Let's see if I can listen tomorrow sometime and if not, do as James suggests and get Dave or Seymour from West End up there first thing Monday to have a look-see.

Keith

[1oldguy]

Hi Keith

Your right....I agree as I've tried everything that is possible from my perspective.

[James Tanner]

Brandon,

Speakers do take many hours to break in so the dynamics and bass will improve with use - you need at least a couple of hundred hours.

Also it may be that the B&W's may be the wrong speaker for you given that you made a huge jump from a low-fi system to a very hi-end system in one large jump. 

james

[1oldguy]

Hi James

In the words of Billy Joel,"You may be right".
I did hear the 700 series and really liked them.So it was only natural I would think the 800 series was going to be even more of a good thing.At least I "though" it was pretty sound logic.

[vegasdave]

I concur with SF. You should be hearing a very brilliant sound, to say the least. I too wonder if something is amiss in the setup. 

James has a point. It could be the speakers. When I auditioned a pair of top-of-the-line Phase Tech speakers, the sound was dreadful. I thought the tweeters were blown! It sounded like wet burlap bags were over the speakers.

Then I got my JBLs, which are not really high-end speakers by any means, but they are very crisp and clear sounding. They were less than half the price of the Phase Techs too.

[srb]

I did try it with the head phones. Got the same impression.

Let's go back to this previous comment.  If that's true, then it has nothing to do with the amp and speakers, and everything to do with the source, interconnects and preamp.
 
Steve

[alexone]

Brandon,

Speakers do take many hours to break in so the dynamics and bass will improve with use - you need at least a couple of hundred hours.

Also it may be that the B&W's may be the wrong speaker for you given that you made a huge jump from a low-fi system to a very hi-end system in one large jump. 

james

Brandon described the sound as flat. even if he would need hundred hours for a speaker burn in procedure he should have a grown up bass already. i can remember that my 4B SST gave me a kick when turned on the first time. my speakers were pretty new at that time.
there is something wrong...

al.

[Mad Mr H]

Hi Brandon,

With everything switched off remove ONE speaker cable from ONE B&W.

Reverse the two connectors.

DONT reverse the two link cables on the speaker, just the main speaker cable.

Switch on and see if your bass is much more or much less.



I know things are pointing to the cd player/cables but the above is worth checking........


OR wait until help comes round..........

Too many people with suggestions might not help.



But it will sound excellent when you find the issue.

Speaker run in time deos greatly change audio signature of speakers......

All the best,

Andy.

[1oldguy]

Hi Andy

I really doubt it's the CD player as I used it with my meager system and I did notice more bass than with my older nad CD player.
Actually I was blown away with the quality of the cd player on my little old system.

[James Tanner]

Brandon - what are your old speakers - have you tried them on the 7B's?

james

[Mad Mr H]

Hi Brendon,

Im 25+ years an Audio Visual Installer and general fault finder (I also own the company  ) . That does not mean I know everything, But it does mean I get daily faults to find, Some are common faults but many are still faults for the first time......You must be open minded about this.

Being VERY blunt here......

If you are going to look at ANY system with an issue and use the statement "I really doubt its "X" bit of kit or cable thats the issue" Then not only might you miss what the issues actualy is BUT you are also making your own job so much harder to do........

Side note : my ?1500 Denon 3800 player has always worked fine, last night it jumped all night ling so I dragged a spare unit in, My Mark Levinson CD Transport had always been fine then one day the draw started to stick half way out, My Sony ES player one day refused to turn on, My Quad Electrostatics needed a HF panel, ALL of these were fine days prior. Some of your system has been switched off, boxed up and moved to a new location things go wrong......

I think you have been through a lot recently with the move and changes, Give the Hi Fi a chance, It will be worth it.

Andy - Steps off his soap box 



The reason I mention to change the cables round is a phase check and BASS is most changed by this.

By changing the peaker cables round you are acually checking the ENTIRE audio signal cables from the CD all the way to the speaker - You are rversing the entire chain. So IF this helped then and one OR MORE cables could have a phase reverse, that could also be in the other channel........



PS - If the complaint is that the system sounds flat that could just be you are hearing it correctly, There should not be an area of the audio that sticks out unless its a solo.

Basic set up tools include phase checking and test tones, I really urge you to get the shop in to do the install correctly - Then if there is an issue they can sort it at their cost.



PPS - If you heard more bass in your previous system another way of putting that is that you had less mid/HF in your previous system. As speaker systems go up in quality the ability to reproduce lower frequencies increases thats NOT louder bass but deeper/lower bass , That will also mean the bass will become more subtle much play much lower. The B&W 802D has the near perfect bass driver compliment (the 800 being perfect) so there really should not be an issue there. ALSO the 802D has the supertweeter that can sound a little sharp and detract from the rest of the reproduction until the entire cabinet has run in - Speaker run in is essential, (I am amazed that companies dont do this prior to shipping)

Speaker placement also greatly changes the sound.



Sorry if this is unstructured and blunt response in places - I certinally dont mean it to cause offence - I have just got in from a Time Trial on my push bike and still running on caffine  with a more erratic than usual thought process  .