2. digital
  3. 131690-5376

Digital Music sounds too bright?

If you feel your digital sound is too bright - I suggest you place a lightweight blanket over your tv screen or computer screen, if you have it placed between your main speakers. I did this and immediately heard a less edgy sound and improved separation between left and right channels.  I have a 55 inch screen between my mains (Tyler Acoustics). This easy and free tweak made a noticeable improvement for me. Hope it will for you too. 

(It makes complete sense that this will reduce some reflected sound. No one would ever recommend placing a mirror or window between main speakers, but a screen has the same effect. If you have a coffee table in front of you when listening, it also could reflect sound that undermines your speakers. Try covering it or moving it away). 
philtangerine
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Like I said before, acoustic absorption between the speakers is not recommended.  Only scattering devices, also called diffusers.  Most speakers also need the reinforcement for bass from the backwall.

I have a system that achieves pinpoint imaging with a 65" screen between and behind the speakers.  I can get this because of the 1/4 round tube-traps next to the screen, the ultra-low jitter of my sources and the fact that I have zero ground-loops in my system.  No component is grounded to any other component, except through the AC power outlets.


Steve N.

Empirical Audio

randy-11
1,913 posts
 
Agin - How much jitter reduction did you measure in the CD player?

You DID measure it right???
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Steve,

Common sense defies stressing the pitfalls of using absorption between speakers while advocating placing a huge reflective glass panel in the same position, but you're the expert.

Dave
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,467 posts
 
@audioengr

+1 Ditto

Since the measured performance of my DAC with Toslink is absolutely perfect and I have very few really high res files, I have opted for galvanic isolation rather than use the higher sample rate USB input of my DAC

So I have complete galvanic isolation using Toslink to the DAC and balanced out to the power amp.

Nice not to have to worry about the effects of cables and ground loops. However it needs a DAC with robust jitter rejection given Toslink is often the most jittery connection. For balanced I use Canare Star Quad cables.
philtangerine OP
29 posts
 
KN,I think you've nicely illustrated a number of things with your post, thanks for that. It seems that consistent with my suggestion, for a free mid fi upgrade, a simple blanket may help the soundstage. But consistent with Steve N. and others, this doesn't really address the cause, and there may be other approaches that are better and more complete [and cost money]. It sounds like you chose some upgrades, and once you got a good sound stage the blanket actually detracted (as I think Steve N. would predict). Hopefully I've not mis characterized anyone here - if so its not intended. I appreciate everyone's comments here. 
More to discover