2. amps-preamps
  3. 138016-103414

My music sounds brighter

Hello all. All of a sudden my music sounds brighter whether I'm listening to a record or a CD. I do have to turn down the treble a bit to compensate for this and make it pleasurable to listen to. Nothing has changed with my electronics which consists of a Yanaha DSP A1 integrated amp, DBX 3BX DS dynamic range controller, Pro-ject Debut Carbon turntable with acrylic platter and Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge, Wharfedale Rubiance RB 27 floor standing speakers in the front and RB 23 bookshelf speakers in the rear and a Mirage FRX S15 subwoofer.

I would have thought that if I was experiencing any deterioration of my electronics, it would be in the opposite direction with a decrease in high-end response.

Any thoughts? Thanks.
128x128cspiegs
cspiegs's avatar
cspiegs OP
42 posts
 
I just had a checkup and the is nothing wrong with my ears. I don't have the ringing symptoms common with tinnitus and everything else sounds normal. I am more in line to believe there's potentially something wrong with my electronics. However, wouldn't that manifest itself as sounding a duller, not brighter? Except for my turntable and cart, all my electronics are between 20 and 30 years old.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,811 posts
 
Do you have any Stereophile test CDs? They go thru all frequency ranges. Pay attention to the bass and lower frequencies for deficiencies. Lack of bass makes it sound like your speakers are "top-heavy" when they are actually bass shy.
cspiegs's avatar
cspiegs OP
42 posts
 
Not that this solves my mystery but it does improve my listening experience.  As much as I hate employing this, I simply turn down the treble control a few decibels until I'm happy with the sound. It's much better now.

There is a digital high-shelving filter and parametric equalizer (at 12.8 khz) in my Yamaha DSP A1 that I should learn to use (might be beneficial in taming harsher sounding recordings - a subject on equalizers for bad recordings I posted a few months ago) as well. 
rwwear
2,880 posts
 
If it's bad caps in the amp it could very easily make the sound brighter.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
or duller or channel imbalance.

Given the highly integrated circuitry of the DSP-A1, a cap their is an unlikely cause.

Since the OP does not single out a single channel and given it is a multichannel set up, his comment about 'learn to use', a most probable cause is an effects mode change - like from Classical to Jazz - intentional or not.
More to discover