How to tame a bright system?


Hi all,

I have been facing a problem, the brightness of my system:

Bluesound n130  --- Chord dave ---- audioquest fire (xlr) ---- Etude  ---- copper wire ---- B&W 606s2.

 

The brightness shows up, particularly after I upgrade the cable from the chord company clearway (RCA) to the AQ fire (XLR).  AQ fire really improved everything. However, the high frequency is too cristal to my ears (especially the "ding, ding" sound from the piano, I believe most of the people would love it but not me .... ).  I like the cheap clearway, but it does not have the excellent bass and the dynamic offered by fire. I also tried with AQ Mackenzie (copper) which gives a proper sound but lacks space. I also found the vocal of fire is a bit forward (I am not really big fun of forwarding vocal).

Can someone help to recommend a cable that has everything of clearway but more dynamic and extension at the low end? I think this would be an ideal cable for my current system.

 

If possible, please help to focus on the cable rather than the other components. I know there is a lot to improve, but not at the moment.  Thanks a lot guys!  ;-) 

 

 

 

tension255

@snarfie23

 

- the particular type of rockwool that I used has no formaldehyde.
- unlike fiberglass, which has sharp edges in its fibers, rockwool is beaded.
- it is completely covered with burlap.
- I waited for about 2 months before moving in to see if it “exhaled” dust. Finding almost none, I felt safe

- the safety record of the material is - so far (20 years) - good. No OSHA documented cases of cancer with this product 

 

 

@unreceivedogma

Ok than it’s probably Isover consisting of fiber materials that had to be coverd.

 

 

Acoustic - use absorbers at the back & ceiling. Electrical - use gold plated connectors. Use shielded power Cords. Placement - less toe in, some tilt, closer to the wall. Cabling - Audioquest earth as interlink. Vibration control - isoacoustics, nobsound. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's obvious that the recording engineer adjusted the frequency response at 2:39 to emphasize the song's presence (upper mids & treble). If this is the rare song that is too bright; find a better version. If you object to the brightness with many songs; I suggest replacing your electronics to a rich warm sounding tube amp & preamp. There's nothing wrong with your B&Ws, they play what they're fed. There are many to choose from; eg. Conrad Johnson has a warm house sound as do most EL34 based amps. After over 50 years mixing & matching and finally landing on a PX25 with horns, welcome to the merry-go-round (part of the hobby).

As others have said, it’s your speakers.  Switch your speakers to classic spendor/harbeth/stirling and your problem will magically go away. I’ve heard the Chord/spendor combo many times and they are a perfect match.  Maybe they are voiced together.  I think they share the same distributor.