Need help in trying to trace cause of distortion
Download REW
https://www.roomeqwizard.com/ and purchase a calibrated microphone
https://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-umm-6-usb-measurement-microphone--390-808 Learn how to use them and you will be able zero in on problems like this in short order. |
Many years ago, during the period when I had gone over to the dark side (Muse Model 150 monoblocks, Thiel 3.8s), there was a particular passage in one particular Martinu piano CD (Chandos) that excited some kind of distortion in one channel. "Luckily" it followed the monoblock when swopped, but I never found out whether it was just the monoblock, the interaction with the speaker, or something anomalous on the recording itself. No other CDs, even of piano music, created the problem. Muse went out of business shortly thereafter (surprise?), and I moved on to an SET + Proac. Moral of the story: yes, these are very irritating and yes, they can be very hard to track down. |
RV, to add to the good suggestions above I'll mention that one thing I've found to be very useful in diagnosing sonic anomalies, as well as determining if it is the recording or the system that is responsible for them, is to have a headphone and headphone amp in my system. In normal use a headphone amp would be connected to a tape output of your preamp, which would exclude the power amp, the speakers, the room, and most of the preamp circuitry from contributing to what you are hearing. For experimental purposes, though, it could also be connected to the preamp's main outputs, or to the output of a source component, or even (using a speaker-level to line-level converter) to the power amp outputs. A good low priced headphone I can recommend based on personal experience is the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x ($149 at B&H). I have no specific recommendations for a headphone amp, though. (I use Stax electrostatic phones in my main system, which require specialized amplification that is not suitable for conventional dynamic headphones). Good luck. Best regards, -- Al |
I second starting with headphones for troubleshooting That is my first goto. If you have none I recommend 7506's https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E/ref=sr_1_1?keywor... Not great for extended listening (bright) but good analytical monitors. However not recommended for dry environments. They will static zap your ears. I switched to Focal Listen for recording after 25 years of anti-static spray in the winter. A good enough complimentary amp is https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-NS-08E-Integrated-Amplifier-Headphone/dp/B014FASL1A/ref=sr_1_3?keywo... It sounds better than my Topping TP21 and Schiit Magni 2. Especially if you roll the tubes. The whole sets you back $150. |
