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Dreadnaught a Bit Bright?

I recently acquired a Theta Dreadnaught to drive my Aerials 8b's. Originally I was driving them with a Proceed HPA-2. Sold the HPA-2 with intentions of buying a HPA-3 to drive the front three channels in my HT. To make a long story short, I bought a Dreadnaught based on it's universally high praise. Don't get me wrong I am enjoying the music, but there are recordings that sound bright to me now. Could be my imagination since it's been almost a year (I used the Amp5 temporarily.) since I sold the HPA-2. Thought I'd check to see if anyone else shared this perception or had the chance to go side by side with the two units? Originally, I did side by side comparisons between the Proceed and a Bryson. The Proceed was clearly warmer.
quicke
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,677 posts
 
Not really but all the Theta amps I've heard have a slightly forward and lively sound. Not heard them on Aerials.

Kal
bigtee
803 posts
 
After using the Dreadnaught on and off for a few years, I can say I would have never called them bright. It is, if anything, slightly laid back. (It sounds closed in until they warm up a while.) I found it to deliver sound in a very convincing way once warmed up. My major complaint was a little conjestion in the mids compared to my Ayre V5xe.
I would look at associated components including cables. You can't fault an amp for delivering what it is fed (Which I think is the case.) I have never owned the Model 8's but have heard them numerous times and I always considered them a touch bright to begin with. A neutral system is going to reveal some bright recordings because they are a bunch out there. My point is, in your system, it may be bright but I really don't think it is the amps fault.
zshuster
56 posts
 
not in my experience with a Dreadnaught I and Aerial 10Ts...Theta and Aerial are a good combination...a number of folks on AudiogoN have that configuration...what are you using for interconnects and speaker cables?
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