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New system has fatiguing, harsh high frequency sounds. How to fix?

I just purchased my first audio and home theater system (other than a bluetooth speaker or computer speaker system). I use it for listening to music as well as watching movies. It is a tremendous upgrade and I’m enjoying it. It has clarity and detail that I have never heard before. However, I notice a harshness in the high frequency sounds when listening to music.

I would like my treble to be smooth, sweet, soft, silky and gentle. Right now it is the opposite of that. It is annoying, screechy, metallic and harsh.

I am seeking a solution to that issue. From the little I have been able to find on this subject, it seems that room acoustics might be a big part of my solution. Is that true? If not, what is my next step? An equalizer? I can’t see many options for big changes in speaker placement. At most I can move them a few inches or change the angles.

My listening room is about 11.5 feet by 11.5 feet and square except for the doorway in the back corner which protrudes into the room 18 inches x 44 inches. In the room are a bookcase, couch, end table, media center stand (holding TV, center speaker, receiver, disc player and Roku), computer & computer monitor, my speakers (and rear speaker stands), a ceiling fan and that’s about it... I’m describing the room on the assumption that the room (or its contents) are relevant to the treble problem I’m describing. (However, throwing some thick blankets over my TV and computer monitor, as a test, did not change the issue.)

Here are my home theater components:

  • Computer monitor: WASABI MANGO UHD400 40" 3840X2160
  • TV: LG OLED65C7P 65"
  • Receiver: Sony STRDN1080
  • Disc Player: LG UP875 4K BLU-RAY PLAYER BestBuy SKU 5979504
  • Streaming Box: Roku Ultra streaming player (model 4660)
I mention the monitors (and their size) in case they play a role in reflecting sounds.

Speakers:
  • Front 1: Polk Audio RTi A7 floorstanding speakers
  • Front 2: Polk Audio RTi A5 floorstanding speakers
  • Center Speaker: Klipsch RP-250C Center Channel Speaker
  • Subwoofer 1: Polk Audio PSW125 Subwoofer
  • Subwoofer 2: Klipsch R-112SW Subwoofer 
  • Rear/Surround: Polk Audio RTI A3
Speaker Layout: 5.1 layout with two pair of front speakers and two subwoofers.

The front speakers are on either side of the LG TV on the front wall (and near the room corners. The front speakers are angled in. Minimum distance to wall is 10", but measuring straight/parallel from back of speaker to wall is at least 18". From side of speaker to wall is at least a foot (one side of room has 30 inches). There is only 3" between each RTi A5 and RTi A7 speaker.

The rear speakers are behind the couch at each corner and against the back wall.

One subwoofer is in the back corner. The other is midway on the other wall and angled toward listening area.

For music, I usually prefer listening in 2-channel stereo. The dual pairs of front speakers are awesome. (I initially started out with a 7.1 layout but I prefer this layout now.) The high frequency problem exists even in 2-channel stereo. It also exists if I use only 1 pair of front speakers.

Wiring
All speakers are bi-wired, except the center (and subwoofers), which don’t support it. (Not bi-amp’d, just bi-wired*.)

Speaker wire: Mediabridge 12AWG 4-Conductor Speaker Wire (100 Feet, White) - 99.9% Oxygen Free Copper - ETL Listed & CL2 Rated for In-Wall Use

* https://www.qacoustics.co.uk/blog/2016/06/08/bi-wiring-speakers-exploration-benefits/

Banana Plugs:
  • Mediabridge Banana Plugs - Corrosion-Resistant 24K Gold-Plated Connectors - 12 Pair/24 Banana Plugs (Part# SPC-BP2-12 )
  • Sewell Silverback , 24k Gold Dual Screw Lock Speaker Connector
  • Ocelot Banana Plugs, 24k Gold Plated Connectors, Open Screw Type
BTW, my prior speakers were the Edifier e25 Luna Eclipse. I thought they sounded good and I did not remember them having these harsh high frequency sounds. After listening to my new system for a week, I went back to those for a test and they sounded horrible in comparison. The harsh high frequency sounds are much worse, and every other aspect is worse as well. (That shouldn’t be a surprise given the price ranges being compared, but my incorrect memory had been that they didn’t have this issue.)
lowoverdrive
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,314 posts
 
What source devices do you hear it with?

With power on switched to that device and nothing playing, with ear to tweeter do you hear any noise or is it dead quiet?

I read in one review that sound quality with that Sony A/V receiver is not as "full" as prior model and "less forgiving of brighter speakers" which could be part of the problem.

I'd check to see if any audible noise is a factor first, eliminate that potential issue with any setup or not  and go from there.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,314 posts
 
I think perfectpath tech is way out of line recommending that particular product of his in this case.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Everybody run! The moral police just showed up! 🏃🏻‍♂️ 🏃🏻‍♀️ 🏃🏻‍♂️ 🏃🏻‍♀️
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,314 posts
 
If the op wants to smear $300 goo to make his $500 receiver sound better because the vendor recommends it thats his perogative. I’d ask for a money back guarantee first though at least if I were him. Funny how the world has managed to avoid such issues to date without breaking out the new fandangled $300 audiophile goo. Just let us all know how that turns out. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,314 posts
 
If noise is heard in tweeter with nothing playing try playing with how the wires are routed. Try to keep power and digital wires in particular as far away from line level analog wires as possible and listen for a difference in noise heard with with goal of keeping it minimal. Avoid wires running parallel and in close proximity to each other for long distances.

 Keeping noise to a minimum helps take the edge of the sound otherwise. Using shielded cables can also help if noise picked up by wires turns out to be an issue in this case. Toe in and equalization may certainly help but minimizing noise if it exists is always a good thing.

Other sources of noise worth isolating from are power transformers in the gear or in nearby household devices in close proximity to wires, flourescent lights, dimmers, nearby computers etc.
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