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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
Ag insider logo xs@2x
bhvf
210 posts
 

Scott, @verdantaudio, mentioned it above. Swap components out.  Doesn't the Oppo have volume control? Or does it get disabled with the mods? If it still has the volume control remove the preamp and see how it sounds using the Oppo as the "preamp". I find it hard to believe there isn't something else going on with either a component or the speakers so I would sub out preamp first, then amp (if you have anything at all, even an old receiver) then sub the source. I have those Harbeths and have used Pass stuff with them. You could use dental floss as cables and it won't sound as bad as your saying. No way any decent quality cable will make that huge of a difference unless your listening at like 110dB. There's something else going on.

tomcarr
1,531 posts
 

OP- are you measuring the back or the front of the speakers from the front wall?

mofojo
2,304 posts
 

@cymivka,

The DAC is the Musician Aquarius. There's some reviews out there but not a whole lot. If you watch the youtube review by Tharbamer my dac is the actual one in his video as I made some trades with him. 

tomcarr
1,531 posts
 

Several have mentioned if you place the speakers close to the front wall you will decrease the depth of your soundstage.

I have found that to not be true in my dedicated listening room with acoustic treatment all across the front wall, side walls, rear wall and ceilings.

Plus, there is no TV between the speakers (remember it's a dedicated listening room), and no rack of gear between the speakers.

My speakers are B&W 803 D3s with the backs of them 8" from the front wall and get a wonderful 3D soundstage if the recording is done well.

ps
760 posts
 

Schitt Audio has a few inexpensive passive EQ devices.  I use Roon, which conveniently has a built-in DSP function.  Guaranteed to ameliorate audiophile angst and make listening a lot more fun.  😁 

A more costly, but effective device is the DSpeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 which has gotten high marks from Robert Greene @ The Absolute Sound, and others.

There are no perfect audio components, rooms, recordings, or ears.

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