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Can "Dark"Sounding Speakers Be "Brightened"UP???

One of my buds has a pair of the original Sonus Faber Concertino speakers(bi-wireable)partnered with a Peachtree Audio Decco,driven by a HP Laptop & cabled with all Audioquest copper cables(usb,power & speaker).While listening to my new Toy Monitors & Peachtree Audio MusicBox driven by an Asus Laptop recently he commented that he was able to hear treble frequencies(especially cymbals)on my system much better than on his & wondered if anything short of changing speakers could be done.
I have read that Silver Plated Copper cables tend to sound a touch brighter than all copper & was wondering if you folks think switching to all Silver Plated Copper(i'm thinking Nordost or DH Labs)cables might bring the treble up a bit in his system?
Thanks for your input,take care...
freediver
timlub
2,041 posts
 
just looked at this post if this has been answered...sorry.
If the crossover has an Lpad, with any pad on the tweeter, yes, you can reduce the amount of tweeter pad without changing the crossovers function. If the crossover has no pad or if the pad used was a single resistor figuring its resistance into the tweeter, then no, not easily, you would change the crossover design.
mathewm
23 posts
 
Back in the late 90's when I first heard the Concertinos at a Tweeter store, they were driven by a Marantz receiver (no idea on the model). Listened to a variety of material and I heard plenty of "sparkle" in the treble. Flash forward ten years and I finally purchase a used pair. I paired them with a VTL tube amp. Unfortunately, I heard much of what your friend describes. So basically I'm thinking that Concertinos are picky about amplification.
deep_333
1,508 posts
 

Get a Schiit Loki max analog eq. You can make all kinds of 'synergy' happen between different amps, speakers and so on!!

https://www.schiit.com/products/loki-max

perkadin's avatar
perkadin
286 posts
 

What you are describing is the difference between the soft dome in the Concertino and the ring tweeter in the Toy.  Cables won’t make any actual differences however like any placebo they can be effective if you believe in the change.  Changing amplification or using tone controls will alter the sound and may get them a little closer to what they are looking for.  In my experience tube amps can add a bit of realism to instruments like cymbals and that can liven up a soft dome tweeter.  It’s subtle so don’t expect it to shimmer quite like a ring or metal dome tweeter, but it should be a step in the right direction depending upon the amp/tubes.  My experience is with Dynaudio speakers (soft dome) and the Willsenton R8.  

erik_squires
16,289 posts
 

Cables are the most expensive form of tone control.

Room acoustics and actual tone controls are usually far more cost effective solutions.

Having said this, if the user is fond of certain brands of cable like mid range Wireworld he may do much better going to more neutral wiring like Mogami.  A lot of big brand cables are, IMHO, deliberately darker, though they do seem to image a little better in exchange for that.

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