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Question about weak link

Hello All,  I just got a bunch of new gear and don't know where to start looking for a problem.  I am no longer hearing very high frequencies, such as bells or chimes in my music, the way I did before my "upgrades.  They sound weaker in volume and veiled in clarity.  I went from acoustic zen satori shotgun cables feeding Martin Logan spires to synergistic research atmosphere level 3 cables feeding Martin Logan Summit X.  I also switched from a Spectron musician amp to a PS Audio BHK 250 amplifier.  I would appreciate any feedback to my question of which of these changed components is likely to have the biggest impact on the reproduction of the highest frequency sounds.

Sorry if this is a simple question; I'm ignorant about electronics but a stickler for sound.
rustler
rustler
mac48025's avatar
mac48025
672 posts
 
How long have you had the new gear hooked up? Might just need time for the new components to burn in. 
gdnrbob
4,471 posts
 
JMC and Mac offer very good advice. +2

Putting back the old amp first would be my first move after the cables burn in.
B
rustler OP
135 posts
 
Many thanks to all so far.  I got rid of the old amp is one of my problems.  I was wondering about longer burn-in time.  The sound is absolutely glorious, except in that one important area.

gdnrbob
4,471 posts
 
Oh poop.
Then, I guess you are limited to waiting for the cables to break in.
How long have you been running them?
B
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Aside from the breakin possibility that has been mentioned, the one other possibility that occurs to me after looking at descriptions of all of the equipment you mentioned relates to the characteristics of the SR speaker cables. None of their basic technical parameters appear to be specified (e.g., inductance, capacitance, resistance). Given the impedance characteristics of the speakers, which are fairly typical of ML hybrid electrostatics and are shown for the Summit X in the graph near the bottom of this page, if inductance and resistance are not low it could easily account for the symptoms you described. And the longer the cables are the more likely that is to be true, as inductance and resistance are both proportional to length. Capacitance, which is also proportional to length, is much less likely to be an issue unless it is unusually high.

You might want to contact SR and see if they can tell you what the values of those parameters are, either per foot or for the specific length of your cables.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

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