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My system's high frequencies hurt my ears

Well, to be perfectly clear it doesn't always hurt my ears but I've been getting a little fatigued at times and I'm trying to diagnose the problem. A few nights ago I was listening to a new 24/96 The Doors first album release and had to stop playback. I switched over to The Eagles Greatest Hits, 16/44, and found some happiness there but I wasn't completely satisfied. Perhaps some of this is psychological, maybe I was feeling a little extra sensitive, but I'm sure I've had some issues with high frequencies in the past.

Here's my setup:

Serving all music, ripped to WAV by Exact Audio Copy or downloaded via high rez sites, via Windows 7 computer running J River set to WASAPI output. Sending signal via USB to Audiophilleo USB/SPDIF converter to PS Audio Digital Link III DAC. From DAC using Nordost Baldur unbalanced RCA interconnects to PS Audio C-100 Control Amp. Speaker wires are Nordost Blue Heaven. Power cables are PS Audio Lab Cable from wall to PS Audio Duet Power Conditioner. From there I use another Lab Cable for the amp and a PS Jewel cable for the DAC. The wall plug is on its own circuit with nothing else connected. Speakers are my old but good Mirage 1090i's.

Aside from perhaps the age of the speakers do you guys see anything that stands out? I spoke to a technician from Mirage and he suggested I'm doing too much signal processing which could be a cause of uncomfortable high frequencies.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
robpriore
bojack
652 posts
 
I heard these speakers years ago, and yikes, they were very tipped up and splashy in my opinion. I'd look for smoother, more well-balanced speakers.
shakeydeal
979 posts
 
So did you put all this together at once, or over a period of time? If the sound hasn't always been fatiguing and you have owned the speakers since new, I would rule them out as the culprit. So you can work bacwards from here and maybe decipher at what point something was added that upset the apple cart.

Shakey
davide256's avatar
davide256
399 posts
 
I wouldn't assume its speakers yet. I fixed a like issue with my tube gear by upgrading capacitors at critical points; teflon caps are great for natural sound.
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
The latest Vandersteen 2Ce Signature II loudspeaker balances a sophisticated four-way driver system with their patented time and phase coherent design. The combination produces a precise and non- fatiguing sound that gives the music a wide open feel.

Upon hearing it, the concept of time and phase coherence will make perfect sense. Combining a sophisticated midrange with an extremely inert cabinet allows the tweeter to operate in harmony with the music without losing definition.

In its most recent iteration, Vandersteen has upgraded virtually every component of the speaker system making the best-selling high-end loudspeaker of all time even better.
Also a Vandersteen dealer
Best JohnnyR
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,504 posts
 
Get some GIK acoustic panels and treat the 1&2nd reflection points as well as the wall behind you. They can also be used on the wall behind the speakers.

Please tell me about your room. I can near guarantee you that these 242 and 244 GIK panels will cure the problem and greatly improve your music.
All glare and harshness will be gone. Turn up the volume and the music will swell and grow in size and impact, but not in harshness.
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