2. misc-audio
  3. 133446-75518

Taming the high frequency

Looking for ideas/suggestions to tame high frequency harshness. Recently installed a Lexicon MC 12 processor after my Krell decided to go to the electronic graveyard. Since I did not have this issue before I'm assuming the Lexicon is more revealing. My dedicated listening room is 15X23x8 and is treated with GIK 244 and 242 panels along the front and rear wall at ceiling junctions and Accurex bass traps in the corners floor to ceiling. Along the front wall behind the speakers are some decorative thick blankets for absorbption. No slap echoes anywhere in the room. Room is dual purpose H/T and 2 channel stereo listening with separate systems. Systems consist of Proceed Pre, Adcom 555II Amp and B&W 803d speakers for 2 channel and Lexicon Pre/pro, Polk speakers for H/T and Emotiva XPA amp. How can I diminish the high frequency harshness I'm experiencing? Any ideas or realistic suggestions?

128x128gillatgh
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,766 posts
 
Consider replacing the Adcom for a tube power amp? Solid core speaker cables? Duller interconnect like the Audio Sensibility Impact?
gillatgh's avatar
gillatgh OP
381 posts
 
Noromance, I'm not sure a tube amp can provide the umph I require unless I win the lottery, so that's a real stretch. Yep, dug out my collection of speaker cables, audioquest, straightwire, transparent, blue eans and JW solid core. Tried them all with no noticeabl difference. Can't say I've ever heard of Audio Sensibility Impact interconnects. Loom of interconnects is all audioquest. I appreciate your reply. I really hope I don't have to go thru the cable witch hunt again. I'm hoping that some form of room treatment or correction can solve my issue. It' also not at all high frequencies just certain ones.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,306 posts
 
I fought harsh for a long time. First recommendation I’d have made was room treatment...but you have that pretty well covered - unless there is further benefit to be gained by replacing the decorative blankets behind the speakers with a couple of GIK panels. I found a Hegel H200 SS integrated to be significantly warmer than the 6CA7 tube mono blocks I had. Cardas ICs and speaker cable helped a lot too. A good deal of the pain and "gambling" with wire can be eliminated by borrowing from the Cable Co. I didn’t understand what you are using as a source...any chance this is contributing (or did it sound fine when the Krell was in service)? Finally, I assume everything is well broken in? Final thought is to consider some sort of equalizer.  Some here are very happy with the Schiit Loki.  

Good luck!
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,766 posts
 
Tissue paper over the tweeters a la Yamaha NS10s in the studios back in the day!

gillatgh's avatar
gillatgh OP
381 posts
 
Ghost, thanks for your input. Thinking about it even with the Krell there was some harshness at certain high frequencies regardless of the source. It is possible that the Lexicon is more adept at identifying the problem. I’ve never used any room correction software and may have to try that. Someone else also mentioned cardas to me. It may be a solution.. ... yes all been in use a loooong time. This is very frustrating.

More to discover