All my connections are correct. I’ve talked to James at PSaudio and he feels the preamp should be performing very well currently at around 100 hours. My Bryston preamp the vocals are more forward and defined. The BHK are recessed and at times difficult to hear in the mix. What could be causing this, or is this characteristic of a tube preamp?
Sounds being further back and more recessed is considered normal.
Hard to hear vocals in the mix…something isn’t right.
Vocals should be smoother and more defined, and even easier to hear.
As others have mentioned, I would try changing tubes first.
There is a possibility of a mismatch with your B&W speakers, or the possibility that you like the Bryston preamp more than you realize.
Has the soundstage otherwise opened up?
What music are you listening to?
I had found with the Bryston preamp that vocals were clear and defined, but overly bright lacking bass. Became fatiguing after an hour of listening.
The soundstage has opened up, very 3 dimensional over the Bryston.
Here is an issue…what type of music do I listen to. Well, I have many old recordings on cds, primarily atlernate takes, early releases of Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Arnold, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, etc…
I also have new recordings of Sarah Brightman, Kate Bush, even Taylor Swift.
My Levinson 5101 cd player does also come with 7 PCM filters. Any thoughts on these?
My thoughts too went to what recording you are listening to…. Could be you are actually hearing the recording better than before and all the flaws that come with it. But it does not sound like your describing that. While I’m not familiar with the stuff from the 50s-60s you mentioned the contemporary recordings and those should sound clear(er) and concise(er). Are you A/Bing these with your other pre amp? Maybe the Bryson just has better synergy with the other components in your system. However like many others have mentioned some more burn in might be in order.
Give it a couple hundred hours to break in. Gear changes over break in. If after that it still sounds wrong to you, send it back for refund. It may simply not match your sonic preferences.
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Where are you? Perhaps if there is someone with a BHK Pre around you, he/she can meet up with you (either you bring your unit to them or he/she brings his/her unit to you) and you both can compare what you are perceiving to hear.
If you live in NH or thereabouts, I’m don’t currently have my BHK hooked up (playing with a Hegel H190) and would be glad to meet up with you to compare (though I currently have Gold Lions in it).
Your description of the sound of your BHK is not how the BHK sounds, regardless of tubes, burn-in, etc.
Your description of the wide, diffuse sound stage with indistinct or vague central voices off in the background sounds like incorrect polarity.
If all your connections are correct, especially your speaker connections, I would send the unit back.
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Yes, this does not sound like a tube or preamp burn-in issue at all. Something isn’t right.
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With those recordings, there is a strong possibility that your preamp being “brighter” is actually a form of a tone control that may be needed with the music that you listen to, even though it is fatiguing after a while. I wonder how a song, like “Painter Song” by Norah Jones (from the album “Come Away With Me”), would sound on your system with both preamps.
I did an A/B comparison between the BHK and the Bryston preamps on the Norah Jones "Painters Song’ track.
It was for lack of a better word ‘clearer’ on the Bryston. Brighter yes, but clearer.
The BHK vocals were more recessed, instruments not as defined, but soundstage larger.
The Bryston cannot play as loud as the BHK without sounding loud, if that makes any sense.
Have you validated that all of the jumper settings are correct?
This is yet another fine example of the first row or tenth row effect. So very many people have always heard a three inch deep soundstage. The first time they hear a proper presentation the first thing they think is why is it so far away. The answer, that it is supposed to be is a hard one to contend with. One can prefer the very incorrect 3 inch stage depth and life as we know it will continue. But gosh, I’d miss this 100 yard depth of field this album is creating. If it was all flat it would lose me. But that’s just me.
Interesting point.
My new preamp has a profound effect on soundstage depth.
I can no longer live without it.
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Its been a recurring theme here lately.
A new user from Europe posted his buddy with Chronosonic XVX speakers preferred a BHK 300 pair to the Gryphon Apex Stereo Amplifier and preferred the BHK cause it sounded like front row. With the Apex, everything was farther away. He preferred the squish. I am listening to an Apex and squish is not something I desire. No sir. Depth makes the room boundaries vanish. Mmmmmmmm
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Squish does make some happy. But some like pineapple on pizza too.
The one illusion that my system creates that I most enjoy, is three dimensionality of the individuals who are performing in front of me. I’ve had casual listeners mention that quality when seated in The Chair.
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I am actually trying a new chair just now. Instead of my usual Near Field perch, I’m back three feet and two feet higher up. Now Height seems to be a thing too.
I gotta tell you, this new gear, the change it has made, it’s overwhelming. Nightly. Oddd.
You kids can buy the exact same gear, minus the turntable setup, for just about $300k. But cables, my oh my. What a can of worms. Cables.
Oh! I almost forgot! Feet! How many of you have auditioned multiple sets of feet? It’s sad. But if you want to hear the most from the linear power supply that powers your router, you have to find the Exact Right Feet! Bah, Bah I say. ERF - Exact Right Feet
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I glued some cheap sorbothane feet under my IFI cheap SPS for the streamer. Did I hear improvement? Definitely, but that only happens after a couple shots of expensive whiskey. Without it it’s a Maybe. So I believe you, I think.
The feet under the streamer make big difference too.that I’m sure of.
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I have used my system with the DAC directly driving the power amp and with the BHK Preamp in the middle. The addition of the preamp in no way caused degredation to the vocals. If you are getting that in your system than I would think the issue is due to something else in your system. It may be that your previous preamp pushed the vocals forward and compensated for something else going on in the system.
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I had Pineapple on Pizza today! It’s my favorite topping!!!
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