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Listening Levels for Classical Music / Slightly electronic sound at high levels

I'm presently auditioning some new very high resolution speakers to possibly take the place of my Thiel 2.4's which are absolutely fabulous on classical music but which run out of steam on orchestral peaks.  The new speakers absolutely do NOT run out of steam and are *perhaps* more highly resolving than the Thiels which is really saying something.  However what I'm hearing on the Paradigm Persona 9h is sound of a different character between crescendos and quiet portions of the classical repertoire where individual instrument, although generally "right" in timbre (clarinets sound like clarinets and bassoons sound like bassoons) but there's a slightly electronic sounding envelope around individual instruments.  It particularly noticeable at high listening levels but less so at moderate listening levels and low listening levels.  In a word the music on the 9Hs sound ever slightly more "electronic" or "digital" with a tiny bit less  immediacy and presence than with the Thiels on quieter portions of the musical line where solo instruments enter and the rest of the orchestra is sightly recessed.  The 9Hs are astounding in so many ways that I'm just trying to get my head around the differences that I'm hearing.  Amplification is a Pass 150.8, pre is the Aesthetix Janus, DAC is the PS Audio Directstream.   I can listen at moderate levels and not be bothered by it so much but there's a subtle difference here. Once they're dialed in both speakers image like crazy and disappear in the soundstage.   Any thoughts?
pwhinson
folkfreak's avatar
folkfreak
1,349 posts
 
Changes in character of sound at high playback could also be acoustic interference with the amp. Have you experimented with isolation footers of any sort. As I’ve upgraded the footers under my power amps their ability to play back at high levels without any issues was completely transformed. 
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erik_squires
16,138 posts
 
I just looked at the specs. I think your amp is probably at the limit. Those speakers are rated for up to 500 Watts, but have a very high sensitivity (96 dB).

Your amp is 150 Watts/CH which might be a little small. 250 Watts or more might get you were you want to go.

However nice those drivers are, they do have output limits. You will eventually reach driver compression limits.
pwhinson OP
158 posts
 
Vandersteen, Magico, Thiel (as is in other Thiels such as the 3.7 which, with two large bass drivers should be perhaps better capable for properly reproducing orchestral peaks without compression.

I know the amp is not running out of steam, far from it, the needle on the Pass 150.8 doesn't move even at the loudest playback levels.  Its only driving on each side one midrange and one tweeter (the speakers have powered subs).  I think there's a sense in which the Personas are more highly resolving than the Thiels but the Thiels are a bit more forward in the midrange, are less electronic sounding which seems to me to involve the speaker reproduces the sound around the solo instruments.  Its a difficult thing to put into words, what I'm hearing that is.  Of course that is the nature of the beast.  And Yes that's the argument against the Personas, that for that much money I should be able to "have it all."  Today I've been running convolution in room with filters derived in REW that bring the top end down a tiny bit which makes louder levels seem more realistic and less electronic so I suppose it could just be a question of that slight tilt up in the response of the Persona speakers.  Fortunately I have the most patient dealer rep in the world as I labor over this decision.  I'm beginning to think its going to be harder than just auditioning a few different speakers available to me here in Atlanta, that rather it might be a good idea to start attending a few shows like the APOXNA show coming up in Chicago, before I sink money into what will, at 61, be my "last" speaker.  Of course another audiophile friend asked me if such a thing exists.  YES.  At least for me, that's what I'm after.  
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Are you using any vibration control or isolation on your sources? You have a PSA dac, what is your source?
I’m asking since the highs with orchestral music on my system resulted in a sizzle or digititis. I changed DACs and added a reclocker to lower jitter, but the harshness remained. Then I took measures to control vibration from my components. Treating my PSA transport was a step in the right direction. Next was my DAC, and the playback was now sounding like music with realistic highs. Brass instruments will always have a raspy quality, that’s their nature.
The components will vibrate on their own and in my case, there was an acoustical issue from a woofer directed at my audio rack.
I recommend addressing jitter and vibration if you haven’t already.


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