Help. System sounds thin and bright or harsh


Hope this isn't redundant tried to post in Tech Talk

Just moved my system to a new home/sound room and it still sounds harsh and a bit thin despite supposedly "warm" sounding Harbeth 30.1 speakers. This issue is not new and I had put the blame on the old listening room.  Can't figure out what the problem is. I listen loud at 80dcbl or higher and sit nearfield about 8 feet from the speaker plane. (sound is thin and bright from afar as well) I have experimented in both homes with speaker placement, toe-in and the like. Speakers are placed a lil over 3 feet from the rear wall and about two and a half feet from side walls.  I feel something is off. Perhaps a component or two that is known to be tipped up in the highs and a lil bass shy?? Also, I leave all solid state components fully powered up 24/7. (not the tubes)

System:

Modwright/Oppo BDP 105 disc player  (all mods with tubed power supply and pricey NOS tube upgrades throughout)  Looking to replace once the harshness/bright issue is nailed down.

Parasound JC2 Preamp

Pass Labs X250.5 Amp

Harbeth 30.1 stand mount speakers

Puritan Labs PSM 156 power conditioner. (less "edgy" sound with it in system)

System is run all balanced with fairly costly Cardas interconnects.

All input is welcome. Thanks in advance.

Happy listening.

 

 

cymivka

Also mofojo may be onto something about the loudness level. I listen to rock jazz blues and some classical. Great recordings sound good to sometimes stunning. But listening at low level right now and there's just no fullness. Something I've noticed for years but always chalked it up to the other listening room

Also Ive never heard the Modwright modded Oppo but I had given up on digital until my latest R2R dac. Makes everything sound “right” even sh…y recording to a point of course. Waay more meat on the bones is how I would describe but still very detailed. No idea if it’s neutral but don’t care. 
 

I’ve never heard anyone say bright when describing anything Parasound. 

I'm going to say the Harbeths are just not cutting it. Small two way speakers seldom do (unless you like a lean sound). You need a bigger 3 way to get the warm midrange you are looking for. 

Depending on how handy you are, or your free cash…

Either build or buy some acoustic panels.

good video on diy:

 

Oh yeah, a good r2r dac, or even a ds dac with various “warm” filters (mine is a gustard r26, generally in NOS, which replaced an smsl -su 10) but those with more free cash can find something more expensive for a small improvement.