Is there a low pass filter on the sub? Where is it set? Is it self powered? What volume are you playing it at? Setting a self powered sub's low pass filter too high and especially too loud will definitely cause fatigue with any component set-up. You'll probably cure the problem by setting the system up "flat".
Listening fatigue
This may be low-brow for Audiogon folks due to the nature of the gear, but here goes: I have a pair of Totem Mites driven by an NAD 326BEE, with an NAD 345BEE disc player and a Velodyne SPL-800 in my master bedroom (carpeted, basically about 15X20 with a small entry hall). The problem is fatigue – if the volume goes up, it gets to be too much very quickly. I've tried different speaker locations and padding on the first points of reflection, but it hasn't helped much. I'm using 12 gauge wire, but would an upgrade here help? Or is it an unfortunate component combo? Any suggestions would be appreciated ... thanks.
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Funny, I experienced fatigue just a couple of nights ago for the first time in ages. I was listening to vinyl at a very reasonable volume. "as always, YMMV" I played in bands off and on for years and I would never (now, at least) want to recreate those levels of sound pressure in my private listening. Those guys at the soundboard have made themselves deaf and are gradually doing the same to you. |
Another thing that is well-known for causing listener fatigue is odd-ordered harmonics in trace amounts, something that is common to most transistor gear. This will get more pronounced as volume is increased. The reason is that the ear uses odd ordered harmonics to figure out how loud a sound is! If the equipment makes odd ordered harmonics it will come off as louder and brighter than the measurements would suggest. Our ears are more sensitive to these harmonics than they are to human vocal frequencies- by quite a wide margin! To get rid of the odd ordered harmonics, you might try introducing some tube electronics into the signal chain. Tubes are more linear, and make less odd ordered harmonics as a result. This is why they sound smoother in most cases. |
I have no experience with the Mite, but judging by this measurement which I found from a Mite owner, it's easy to see what would be causing the fatigue - the top end is tipped up significantly, probably intentionally to give the sensation of more air and detail. http://harmonicsreview.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/totem-mite-fr.png |
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