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I have NOVA V's and I am not happy

I have a Mark Levinson 585 and a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica Nova V's and although I admittedly have some room acoustic issues that I am working on I am not happy with the sound. 

I listen to music LOUD. This Pairing thru a pair of Kimber Cable 8TC's gets bright in what I think is the 2 to 4 khz range and the sonus faber nova's seem to mute the lower end of female vocals, artist like Macy Gray or Tina Turner dont seem to have the same drive in the lower octaves. At the same time the upper end of vocals like Sheryl Crow can get too bright and cause fatigue (I am assuming this is in the 2 to 4khz range) I have tried every speaker placement you can think of, toe in, toe out. distance from front wall and I am adding acoustic treatments as fast as they can be shipped. 

Here is my question, I had Mark Levinson 436 Mono Blocks in the past connected to a pair of B&W Nautilus 802's thru a pair of MIT Shotgun bi-wire speaker cables and I never noticed that system to be bright. Granted that system was in a different room in a different house. Everyone is telling me that B&W is a brighter sounding  speaker by far over Sonus Faber. If I decide after all my room treatments that I am not a fan of the Sonus Faber sound where should I turn for my replacement speaker? Or is it Mark Levinson's Fault? I want Rich Lush Loud Musical sound. I like a decent sound stage, I also really love it when when you hear decay from the instruments. I don't really care if that's what is neutral or not that's what I like :) 

Where did I go wrong and what can I do to fix it?

Thanks Lee

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nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 

My first suspect for the listening fatigue at loud volumes would be the room acoustics. The issues with the lower end might be related, but I have a feeling they are not be based on my experience. If even after significant room treatments (hard to know what your situation is without more details about the room) you still aren't satisfied with the sound, then I would look at new speakers before anything else.

If possible, you should go audition some other speakers and maybe bring your Mark Levinson N°585 with you to minimize the variables. If you are asking for specific speaker brands to consider, then I'd personally recommend Acoustic Zen (which wlutke also mentioned), Magico, and Vivid Audio. Focal or Rockport could also be closer to what you're looking for.

gs5556
1,232 posts
 

Could also be the Sonus Fabers are reproducing the recording with all its warts. I have the same issue with my Thiel 3.6’s. On great recordings they are unbeatable; on poor recordings the performance better be great for me to tolerate.

If you’re on Qobuz, go to a recording of sopranos Francesca Aspromonte or Sabine Devielhe. May not be your cup o’ tea but just listen to their vocal range and see if there is the same harshness in the upper registers.

erik_squires
16,014 posts
 

The best way to tell is to move your seating position next to the speakers.  Like put the speakers together and your seat 3' away.  The difference between that and what you hear when 8'-10' away is the room.

Another,, less easy way is to get some blankets.  This type of compression in the midrange often happens in the floor between/behind the speakers.  Do some cheap experimentation.

erik_squires
16,014 posts
 

Sorry for splitting my post.  Compression-like artifacts are often cuased by excess bare wall reflections.  It's like the noise part of the signal-to-noise ratio finally rises to the point where your ears can't ignore it.

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