Klipsch Forte ii too bright, or is it my room ?


Help? Certain music makes my ears hurt from my bright sounding Klipsh Forte ii's (Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus), Or is it my room full of glass and tile? Or am I listening too loud (80 db), or my 1970's Pioneer receiver? I just ordered some dynamat to put on the rear of the horns. Some music is good though. I have often though about getting another pair of speakers so I can switch back and forth or run all four depending on the music. Any advise?
128x128peterjc
@peterjc That's helpful information Peter.  It really helps focus things as far as what options you have.  Given your limitations on your room, this may be a bit of a challenge.  Our musical priorities and living spaces can change over time.  My original concern for you was not to spend too much cash on things that may not be a "fix" for you.  I think any changes on the front end and amplifier will be subtle compared to say a new speaker or alteration of room acoustics.  I personally would want to do an in home audition of any gear that is suggested.  Tubes can be wonderful but I have heard tube amps that were less smooth and more up front than some relatively affordable SS gear--so no guarantees that is the fix.  You would have to try it.  But will it be enough??  Only you can be the judge.      

Back 40 yrs ago (arghhh!) I had a pair of Altec Lansing Santana II's,  Great rock and roll speaker.  Would love to hear them again with some of my old LP's. While they sounded great with some recordings, they just had too much edge and listener fatigue with others.  It limited my musical enjoyment.  So on I went to a pair of Magnepan MG-1's.

So you said you "don't hate nor dislike" the speaker.  My question is do you love them!  If not, under current circumstances, maybe another speaker would allow you to enjoy all of your music.

But for now, keep doing what you are doing.  Tweak the damping of the speaker and horns.  Keep playing with placement.  Don't rule out fashionable or portable acoustic treatments.  Some can look pretty cool.  Lastly, I would look at associated equipment.  It seems to balance out a bright room and a bright speaker, any gear would have to be rather colored to accomplish that feat.  Would be really nice if you had a dealer or local audio buddies that could let you the benefit of home audition before you spend your $$.  Let us know how it turns out and good luck finding what you are after Peter.
With Horn / compression drivers, I have always preferred lower-power tube amps. Listening in close proximity to horn / compression transducers at louder levels can cause listener fatigue. With lower-power tube amps, the Forte should be much more tolerable and not sound quite so bright.
Update: All speakers and cabinets now dynamatted and sound a little better. The toe in helped, pulling them out to +/- 12" from the wall helped. Planning to stuff the bottom cavity with foam. Will hang blankets soon and update. Someone mentioned replacing the tweeters with another type but I can't find the post. Anyone remember?
Maybe leave out foam from Beth woofers?

Do you have an REW sweep of the room?
Update,. Hope you guys are still out there, I know it's an old thread now but ...Dynamatted all the horns / woofers. Ok, big job but covered all the glass in the room w/ sheets / blankets, 3 large sliders & windows, covered the large glass dining table, tile 1/2 wall, pictures w/ glass, stainless steel fridge, ovens, some cabs (kit open to L/R), 60" tv & glass fireplace front. And ............. all of you are correct, sounds much better, the shrieking highs are gone. Litmus test was Pink Floyd DSOTM time, and Gershwin, rhapsody in blue. Tried with everything coverd, sound great. Then with just the sliders / windows covered, last with nothing covered. Conclusion: drapes will eliminate 75%+ of the tinny sound. So now will investigate drapes, I saw some on amazon for a very wallet friendly solution. I always likes the dynamics of the Klipsch speakers they just need to be toned down. Nothing quite like them when playing Pink Floyd, Classical, or anything with a sax which I love like Sonny Rollins, not to mention rock. They are not perfect, they lack the lush, richness of some other speakers. But keeping for now. Thanks again everyone! p.s. thanks holmz, they do sound better w/o foam under them.