Gregfisk
Re-reading throughout the thread I saw where you noted the Monster cables, and one other sort. Before I plunked down serious money to replace good items with other good items, Id strongly suggest you check out just two power cords. A Voodoo Black Dragon, or a Shunyata Taipan helix VX both of which if attached to that DAC will completely ease off the bite you are getting in the highs of your rig both should run you under $375 or so. The VooDoo new should be a bit less.
If using the stock pc on your Butler, simply adding a sunami pc there will help too about $170 or so.
If $$$ for ICs is an issue, the Audio Art ICs arent bad at $100 per pair, and for still less, the Micro pearls from Goertz are severe over achievers and were listed on Stereophiles preferred cable list. The AA are a bit rounder sounding than the MPs. Used Pearls run around $50 or so per pair. Kimber hero might help too in the budget cable area at about $100 per pr. But Ive not heard them.
Id also spend $25 on some Vibra pods and put them under either the Capri or Link III.
The Cable Co. can give you more options and afford you a better perspective for a small investment, which you can recoup on any subsequent purchase.
Almarg
Interesting observation, Jim. I suppose that a reason for that is that it's hard "at a distance" to have a feel for the DEGREE of excess brightness, and if everyone had first-hand exposure to the sound, opinions would probably be more convergent.
Definitely.
I so commiserated with the title:
How to fix my detailed, accurate but BRIGHT system
having been in that exact spot previously, albeit with differing gear and room. Noteably gear which did not have any of those inherent characteristics, and a far smaller less reflective room!... yet the same or likewise end product was my own dilemma! It astounded me.
The fix was some investigations into and acquisitions of, power cords, interconnects, racks, isolation, and devices which attended to signal integrity and its transmission, along with addressing power line artifacts and their control or suppression or elimination.
What I ultimately wound up with was the best sounding rig Ive ever owned. One I promptly sold off a week later. lol. I did that so I could investigate another haunting auditory experience pertaining to an all tube set up. To that end, Im not regretful well, not much.
Personal experience has few peers. Yet my own experiences seldom emulate someone elses identically.
My position on system formulating and tuning turns an eye towards those areas that affect the balance and voice of a rig with as much or nearly as much impact . As do its major devices. Once, of course, the prime components are in place.
Another factor for me is operating without the resources that allow for wholesale interchangeability of the main parts.
So much of the gear made today is very very good, and only the flavor of it gives us possible consternation, as we go about mixing and mating a this .with a that. Barring outright poorly mixed scenarios and I dont see this one as such; a finger pointing out causality might rest itself on those other contributing aspects of the systems entirety. Although there can be some preconceived notions which preclude thoughts pertaining to investigations of these areas, Ive found for a thing to be true, it doesnt require my belief in it. It is true with or without me.
Some folks simply dont believe accessories or peripherals amount to providing much if at all, any tangible influence to the sound or performance of their audio rig. Hanging it all onto the main players, sources, power train, and speakers.
Consequently, these non main stream areas roll along almost completely ignored by a good many. Developing technology has conjured some powerful magic into these areas since the 60s & 70s, and they all merit more thoughtfulness these days. Not to mention their costs remain usually well less than the owners main appliances.
I know, because I did exactly that I ignored or devaluated the import of wiring, attendance to power line purity, acoustic treatments, and mechanical isolation. Only thru the ongoing nagging of a friend I met here did I even begin to consider all these items did I realize substantial gains, and the genie was then out of the bottle.
Hearing a lesser powerful Butler in my home recently on more stodgy and less benevolent speakers, given the 7Bs numbers, Im pretty sure racing off after another amp might not be the most efficient move to bust right now. Nor would I suggest it as the initial one to take. Especially as the OP said hed prefer not to as he likes the combo.
Richlanes post made a lot of sense. Mentioning the addition of a sub or two. Great idea Richlane! AS well, moving things into a more conducive room though I bet some thinking went into selecting its present location and that will likely precluding further relocation.
TVAD
It wasnt an indictment, ya know. Sheesssh. Touch-eee!
My statement regarding your truncated list of options is quite valid, nonetheless. It didnt contain all of the avenues listed herein to that point . Merely those paths and people you felt were more appropriate to the mix. By so eliminating other as noteworthy and genuine efforts, you diminish them all as you confirm others. Nothing did you note about mechanical isolation, power conditioning, or possible electrical troubles being present either. You simply made up your mind as to what was or is prudent and listed it.
If you are going to preface a list of options by assigning positive accolades to those people whose options are on the list, you as well lessen those who are omitted from it.
Everyone here offers something compelling from time to time, albeit, personal exp, levity, technical expertise, or simple unforeseen or heretofore unimagined perspectives.
One other item which could be embarrassing to some, is your cavalier attitudes towards the in home trials of major components you offer as paths for solutions so regularly. Its more than presumptuous. People who are buying, or have bought much if not all of there gear pre-owned, likely arent about to put up 2, 3, 4, or 5 thousand dollars for a look see in home trial which will likely include both shipping and restocking fees as well, if the item is rejected following the preview. Probably not just the $50 to $75 or more for shipping costs alone. Ask the folks at your Wyred 4 sound option if they will charge such fees . and they do as I was recently told.
There is too the subjective position on sonic artifacts . Is your own definition of bright, that of anothers? AS you prominately wrote you were in this thread the only other past owner of the aerial 7Bs they werent owned with the same gear, or room and oh, yes, the same ears as the OP has. More importantly though, you might also indicate publicly far more often how easy you are to please, sonically speaking that is. Some might mistake the vast amounts of gear youve owned or previewed as mere curiosity otherwise.
Theres more than one way to build a mouse trap.