B&W CDM 1 SE and ARCAM sounds HARSH, WHY??

[stifa]

So my systemis as follows:
Arcam Alpha 8r integrated
Arcam alpha 9p power amp
Arcam alpha 8 CD Player
B&W CDM 1 SE
VanDenHul CS-122 speaker cable with D-102 mk3 interconnects

Sound has brutal resolution and dynamics but it is hard on the ears , highs are harsh , should I change to new cables and which?

[Fife]

Try changing your source first.

Neither your Arcam/B&W are warm/musical...but more clinical sounding.

Adding a tube (pre-amp/amp) component should help.

Cables wont make much difference in this case.

[jim777]

What is your room like? Acoustics is another important matter to deal with when highs sound harsh. When I got my old sofa out before getting my new one a few days latter, I couldn't listen to any music during that time...