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Seeking advice on high kHz annoyance in my system

Some of my go to recordings for testing my system have always been classical piano. I listen for mid-range clarity, the audibility of the “action” of the piano, e.g. hammer and pedal sounds coming through, as well as clarity in upper register.

After recently making substantial changes to my system (see below), I hear (or continue to hear) an artificial or secondary ringing/buzzing (sorry, not a good description in the upper register of piano recordings.

Trying to isolate the issue, I hear this across a wide selection of recordings of the same Mozart piano sonata to varying degrees (all 44.1kHz/16 bit) regardless the pianist and recording. Although relatively newer recordings appear to have this artifact more than older ones.

Before I continue with my Quixotic search for the “final 10%”, I’d like to identify the cause and tame this high frequency annoyance.

My thoughts:

(1) My once golden, now 63-year-old ears? Unfortunately, I have no intention of visiting an audiologist during COVID.

(2) This was present in my previous system as well and I'd hoped to eliminate it through recent upgrades. It may or may not have been helped. Can't recall.  It’s been so long since I’ve been to alive recital or concert, I don’t recall if the same annoyance happens live. 

(3) My 21”x16”x14” room is untreated other than for rugs, book-shelving on a side wall and ordinary furnishings, paintings, etc.

(4) More noticeable at higher (but not excessive) volumes.

(5) Occurs through speakers and headphones (HD800s and Campfire Ara iem using Dave or Mojo)

(6) XLR and speaker cables are older Synergistic Research (Element and Tungsten). Using silver tuning bullets (no snark, please), and have not tried gray or black, which are said to darken the sound (roll-off?) slightly. Have experimented in the past and found slight differences in sound character. Will try this next.

Recently moved from BHK 300s and pre with Modwright-modded Oppo Sonica DAC and Fidelizer Nimitra Signature server as Roon core to my current system:

Roon Nucleus Plus w/ Teddy Pardo LPS

D’Agostino Progressive Integrated

Chord M Scaler w/ Teddy Pardo LPS

Chord Dave DAC

Focal Kanta 3’s

Cables: Synergistic Research, Wireworld, Wywires. Stock Chord BNCs between M Scaler and Dave

Grateful for any thoughts as to cause/solution?

 

 

 


128x128cantorgale
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,274 posts
 
@cantorgale, grab your phone or tablet, plug in some headphones, look-up “frequency sweep”.  After listening to sweeps over and over a couple times then zero’ing in on certain frequencies I realized my hearing is all over the board.  I have “hot spots” at something like 3,6,10 khz where the highs become louder and slightly annoying / piercing.  The image shifts left to right as well through the sweep which indicates hearing loss in my right ear at certain frequencies (maybe shooting with no ear protection).

Anyhow, I do have slight tinnitus so that may be your issue too.

I also have Beryllium tweeters and Beryllium headphones, neither of which are too bright for me.  I’ve heard of some people saying that the focals be tweeters can be a bit bright.  Not sure if thats your problem (combined with your hearing preferences now) but a nice pair of speakers with a high end silk dome may please you more now.
cantorgale's avatar
cantorgale OP
151 posts
 
@dweller Great suggestion.  
A good reference is Mozart Piano Sonata No 11.  
I hear it very oftenin Mitsuko Uchida’s Decca recording in Complete Mozart Sonatas. 
Much less so in Andras Schiff’s version in his London Complete Sonatas.  The Decca is a much more incisive and forward presentation in every way, so there’s that. 
@b_limo Focal does have that rep. But like you I don’t find them overly bright either.   I think they’ve moved past that issue.  My old Chorus 706v’s had a hard top and I was a bit concerned about the Kantas. But no such concerns.  Of course, you get what you pay for...

Thanks to all for you input.  Much to pursue on my end.  


dweller's avatar
dweller
3,781 posts
 
@cantorgale Can't find the Decca version -only Philips label.
Throw out a few more examples please. Also, when were your CDs recorded? There's a reason a lot of people hated early digital.
cantorgale's avatar
cantorgale OP
151 posts
 
@dweller Sorry.  Roon data shows Decca.  Album art is Phillips.  You got it.  
cantorgale's avatar
cantorgale OP
151 posts
 
@dweller Schiff ‘95; Uchida ‘91 Both fairly 
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