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Help me to tame brightness

I recently changed my Paradigm Reference Studio 100 v.2 to v.3. My source is Sony DVP NS999ES.,then Bryston SP-1.7 and Anthem MCA 50. All connected to 2 dedicated 20 amp. lines through API Power Wedge 114 ( power amp directly to the wall).All cables, including PC's are Signal Cable. I didn't feel much brightness with the V.2 Studios, so didn't I initially with the V.3. Everything seemed to change after a burn-in period of about 40-50 hours. Now it sounds very bright and fatiguing. What is it? inherent brightness of Paradigms? ( i was under impression that V.3 should be an improvement over the older one), the room? (basement 21x14x8, carpet over concrete)?, CDP?, Pre-Pro?, Power Amp? a combination of everything, my ears?.
What would you suggest I should try taming the brightness, short of changing everything?
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Regards.
maril555
brauser
525 posts
 
Mapleshade.com has some remarkable tweeks that can tame
brightness in many cases. I have found that the more definitive the system becomes the more willing a person has to be in working with the source material. Fortunately, there are some great tweeks that can really help without major surgery to the system.
ritteri
223 posts
 
I doubt its the speakers fault for sounding bright. Put more of the blame on the room itself. All first reflection points should have some sound absorption material on it. If you have alot of bare drywall, the first reflection points are going to smear the soundstage really bad and make the speaker sound unnaturally bright. Your speakers and the room itself are the 2 biggest contributors/detractors of sound quality.
distortion
571 posts
 
Since you didn’t change your room, I would say the speakers are the culprit. I agree more time may be needed. 100 or more hours is probably more like it.

Without calling for equipment change, here are a few suggestions. No particular order.

1) Isolation for both the CDP and Processor.
2) Couple the speakers with spikes.
3) Try a different PC on the CDP/DVD.
4) Try placing either a ring or 2 vertical bars of felt around/beside the tweeter. Staying about 1/2" from the driver itself and being about 1/2" wide. You can buy an easily removable two-way tape and attractive black felt from Michael's.

Isolation can help. Coupling can improve cohesiveness of the bass/midbass which effects the overall sound. I didn’t have good luck with that PC on my CDP. I really wanted to like it, but I kept going back to a Transparent Powerlink plus until I got a Virtual Dynamics P3, this ones a keeper. The Signalcable PC was to bright. The felt ring/bars can help reduced reflected energy and help absorb some of the laterally dispersed energy. You can also use 1/2"x1/2" or so adhesive backed foam. A soft one. Like you might use to seal around a window AC unit. I would still cover the adhesive with a two-way tape designed for easy removal or you might end up with crappy adhesive bonded to your new speakers.
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