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How do I warm up my system?

I have a Sony 555ES, deHavilland tube preamp, Nuforce amps and SP technologies speakers. System very detailed but highs are bright and harsh.

Considering DAC and or equalizer.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
hburns
sbrtoy
122 posts
 
One way is to do just that, keep your components on all the time, they will be much more musical as it takes upwards of an hour for many devices to truly "warm up" if they are shut off for a while.

Second area I would look at is your Sony CD...it could be tamed with some warm cables like Cardas Golden Cross, but why waste the money when players that sound much better than the Sony are now available for less than $1000?
zar's avatar
zar
188 posts
 
Back in the day I owned equalizers by both MXR and Luxman. I remembered they made a difference but didn't as much as one bought better equipment. Zar
bruce_philly
31 posts
 
Have a few beers. That usually takes the edge off! Seriously, I had tube amps that sounded bright with two different speaker manufactures and it was my speaker cables. Actually, I think it really is a mismatch between your amp and speakers but you can fix this with cables. Start swapping.

I think this mismatch is due to a tough load from the speakers. I admit I have no experience with SP, but you should take a look at the impedence curve from any reviews if they exist. Average impedence is irrelevant; if the curve dips low, say 3 ohms at any frequency point (usually on the lower frequency side), tubes seem to sound hard/bright. I don't know why this is so, but matching tube amps to speakers is tough regardless of what the manufactuers say.

I have VTL 300 Deluxes tube amps which are supposed to me tough monsters but they are finicky with speakers. Real finicky and the first thing to go is not the bass as most would say, but a hard/bright sound. You think you have this hobby figured out and then......
porziob
316 posts
 
Turn it on & let it play. I hate trick questions.
mdhoover
695 posts
 
"it's interesting. nobody has endorsed an equalizer. why ?"
-Mrtennis
In my case an equalizer constricted the soundstage, even when in the bypass mode. I had it modified such that the bypass mode now emulates a hard wire connection, and the soundstage degradation is no longer audible for me--IF the equalizer is in the bypass mode. I'm told (by Duane, a dealer friend of mine) that the only equalizer that didn't degrade the sound was the Cello by Levinson, but it was priced at 14,000 dollars.
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