Not sure how the 7SE improves on the 7 but I did review that one way back when. http://www.stereophile.com/cdplayers/199arcam/index2.html

Have you another source to exonerate the player? Have you access to a better DAC?

Kal

Working with way too little info, but that almost seems like a 'capacitor sound' when you describe the distortion.

So...

Any other gear you can hook the speakers up to to see how they do?

Then, if they are fine on another system, then hook them up to the integrated and check, then compare with the regular amp driving the same drivers and see if you can localize the problem.

I'd save the digital troubleshooting for later - if it were the player, you should hear the distortion at all volumes.

I have to agree with Buddha here...

Have you done phasing checks on the speakers to your amp? You would get a very diffuse sound with little defined bass if out of phase.

Could it be faulty caps in the crossover?

IMHO it could be:

1) a speaker cable misadaptation problem
2) a property in the tweeters
3) a misadaptation between speakers/other apparatus
4) ?

I am going for #1 - when you describe it as "...not awful awful...", perhaps you could try with darker sounding speaker cables. Probably not a flaw in crossover caps after all. I am not sure how to check that anyway.

P.S. Are you using solid core or stranded speaker cables?

Sounds awesome... good luck!

Quote:
Silly silly me. 10 years ago I had an arcam/ruark set up but divorce/child support took care of that. So getting my new system together ment I had spent 10 years away from listening to quality sound and apparently that was very ovbious because I had some of my interconnectors reversed. It should have been so so obvious. I should have double check that but hey ho I didnt. But did before I did any other fault finding on my system.

I now have beautiful high frequency, mid range and the clarity and punch from the base that I want. Amazing how much difference it has made.

Thank you for you comments and help although I do feel a little silly for being so confident I had connected them correctly and not double checking.

I am now looking forward to a life hobby quality hifi. I now remember how I used to feel with it......extremely happy with it but always looking for every improvment possible within my budget. Budget? I dont think so....

Now, all you need to do is make sure the interconnects are connected in the right direction. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Glad everything worked out ok Jason. Pm me if there is still any problem with sizzling S or a little too bright.

Cheers.

But that's a good ending after all. Good for you buddy, and always happy to help out