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Need help in trying to trace cause of distortion

I’m trying to track down the cause of distortion which occurs in the range of about two octaves above middle C (around 1000 hz-1500 hz).  I hear it it the flute most  distinctly but it must also be there in other instruments in that range.  I’d like to determine which component is the culprit.
The equipment is fairly new except for a vintage Conrad-Johnson PV-11 preamp recently examined and Teflon recapped by the manufacturer.  I suspect it is in the GoldenEar Triton 1 speakers.
The amplifier is a Benchmark AHB2. I don’t think the other components would cause this phenomenon, so I won’t list them unless requested.  It occurs no matter what source is playing.
Otherwise the system sounds fine. Does anyone have any suspicion as to what component is causing this so I can take it for repair?
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gs5556
1,235 posts
 
I had a similar problem... thought it was the tweeter... traced it to a shorted bypass 150pf cap in the output stage of the DAC. So it could be anything anywhere. It can only be traced by process of elimination. In my case, it was going from single ended to xlr outputs on the DAC. 
jpwarren58
678 posts
 
Drywall emissions, couch out of phase, the fake Rembrandt generating negative clovid modulations, heart of pine permeating postulations of positive of sine waves.
Good luck with your mystery. Please inform once solved. 

4krowme's avatar
4krowme
542 posts
 
One time that I will never forget was about an unidentified noise in some music but not all. It turned out to be a nearby lampshade emitting a sympathetic vibration from some of the music. Couldn't have guessed that one. My ears spoke to me that day.
rvpiano's avatar
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rvpiano OP
2,667 posts
 
With all the possibilities described here, this will be a daunting task!
May have to live with it as it seldom occurs.
But once it does, it’s crazy making!
spenav
431 posts
 
Hi rvpiano
 it’s not a simple problem but if you do as someone else suggested, by elimination, you will be successful. My guess is similar to yours, I think it’s the speaker. Luckily, this one is the easiest to eliminate. Check to see if it does it with both. If not, move the speaker cables by swapping left for right. If the problem follows the cable, then you know it’s not the speaker. If the problem stays in that channel now it’s time to move the speakers to see whether the problem will follow the speaker. If it does, then you have your answer: it’s the speaker. If not, now do the same thing with the amps. Swap the input cables. If the problem follows the cable, it’s not the amp, move upstream. Hope that helps. 
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