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Equalizer or acoustic room treatment or?

I have a high end stereo system: sony sacd-1, musical fidelity ss amp promitheus audio tvc, snell reference A-5 towers ($20,000) ( towers with external crossovers and huge stereo subs (approx 4'x2'x2') driven by parasound ss amps. The room is 24' by 12' with speakers at the far end. Room is carpeted and has furniture.
Here is the issue. The sound is extremely accurate and revealing. Its so accurate I find it fatiguing to listen to. I think this is due to starting w/ cd's which I always thought had too much of an "edge" to the sound combined w/ very accurate components.
I would like to smooth out or soften up the sound. So far everything I have played around with takes away from the accuracy and detail (slightly) without softening/smoothing enough.
Suggestions? EQ? Room treatments?
I have tried different dacs, tube buffers and they did not cut it.
Look at it this way: I think I hear the sound exactly as it enters the mics. I think i would prefer the sound as you get it as a listener sitting at a live performance.
martyhk0
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Do the Snell speakers have metal drivers for the midrange? (I could not find them)

Also - is there anything crowding the speakers - any sharp surfaces nearby or a glass table in front of the listener?
face
516 posts
 
Dump the Sony and buy something warmer.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
If you've got speakers that cost $20 grand, I think you could afford an appropriate eq. The other approaches might work, but are probably more hit and miss, and in some cases it would be hard get your money back if not satisfied.
mmike84
309 posts
 
I for one am not convinced your room is imparting any real issues here. Doing some treatment might make a subtle adjustment, and it's worth doing (correctly) no matter what else is working or not working for you, but it's not going to change the flavor of the entire sound. I might get some people upset here but SS is known for being sharp, accurate, bright, revealing, etc. For some that's not a bad thing, but for others it is. It all depends on what you value as a listener. It seems like you have resources so you might consider a tubed preamp. I'm using a Modwright modified transporter and a Music Vault which has proven to be both more accurate and resolving, and much easier and more natural sounding than almost every CD player I found under $15k. In fact it's so good I'm considering losing the turntable altogether. Either of those might help you. If not you might need high power tubed amplification as well. Good luck!
skyclmbr
28 posts
 
If I may add, I have a music room that measures 12X20. I use it for listening and playing guitar in. I had a issue with booming sound. After trying different things, I ended up buying foam sound boards 2X4 and placed them in different areas including the corners. BIG HELP!!!!!
Got rid of the boom and created a more realistic sound stage. Foam panels were bought at guitar center. they run $27.99 a piece.

By the way I am running a Musical Fidelity A3 intergrated amp, Cambridge Audio CD player the 340 a DAC magic by Cambridge as well,a Magnum Dynalab MD90 tuner and a Pro-ject Debut 3 with upgrades running them through PSB Mini Stratus speakers with a Phase tech sub.

Hope that helps
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