JB, what are you comparing the sound with? Have you used other speakers? The M3 is slightly laid back compared to the M2 or M22, but not to the extent you describe. It's highly unlikely that the player has anything to do with it, since all it's doing is sending out a stream of digital 1s and 0s. The wires also make no difference. Have other speakers sounded much different when driven by that receiver?

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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.