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Have I forgotten what music sounds like?

Help, symphony experts. I have gradually been upgrading my system – new ARC LS-25 Mk II preamp, new Denon DVD-3910 – and I have noticed something interesting or maybe broken. I am not sure which.

I listen almost exclusively to classical music. With large-scale music, symphonic or choral I hear what can only be described as a “thrumming” sound from low frequency tones, mostly from brass instruments and the occasional pipe organ. Sometimes I think it is coming also from the double basses, but I’m but sure about that. It always occurs with sustained notes; that is, holding down a key on an organ or holding a note on a brass instrument.

When I first noticed it about ten days ago after adding the LS-25, I though for certain that there was something wrong with my system. So I did the engineering test thing, replaced every item one at a time to attempt to isolate the problem to a particular component, and always using the same couple of pieces of music. In every case that characteristic I’ve described remained present. I also attempted to identify any ground loop issues, and found none; it’s not really a 60 Hz hum in any event. I should say also that I never hear this with high frequency or fast transient sounds – violin or tympani.
I have pretty much convinced myself that this is really in the music. It’s been more than ten years since I’ve heard any live orchestral music – my bad – and it appears I have forgotten what the real thing sounds like!

I’d like to hear from any regular symphony goers out there, is it the music? I know it’s a kind of dumb question, so I promise as penance for asking it I’ll go to a concert. And yes, I know, this is audiophilia run amok – obsession with the sound of the system rather than focusing on the sound of the music.

Rest of the system; ML Aeon i speakers, Krell Showcase Amp, Meridian 568.2, and Audioquest cables throughout.

Bob R.
rmrobinson1957
ozfly
887 posts
 
I'm not familiar with the ML speakers. If they have cone bass speakers, you might want to check to see if they are blown by turning off the amps and then gently pressing the bass speakers back with your fingers placed around the diaphram -- i.e., pressing on the cone, not the middle part. If you hear or feel parts rubbing together, you may have a blown bass speaker and you will want to contact the manufacturer or retailer for further instructions. Don't press them too far in, but they should move 1/4 inch or so. They will come back out naturally because of the magnetic charges.

If that's not it, you may want to listen to the parts of the room that might be resonating. Sometimes, the resonance does not come from the speaker itself but from something in the room that is being affected, like a heating duct, a vase or a loose board.

If that's not it, you may want to move the speakers around a bit to see if that may not lessen the bass interactions from where you sit.

The sounds you describe are not something that I found typical to live symphonic concerts. I have heard that from time to time from some (but not many) poorly recorded cd's.

Good luck.
mdhoover
695 posts
 
"Sometimes, the resonance does not come from the speaker itself but from something in the room that is being affected, like a heating duct, a vase or a loose board."
-Ozfly
That's a very good point. This happens with our piano consistently when hitting certain keys. (It's a traditional piano, not electric.) Vibrations are activated at the noisemaker's resonant frequency, like during the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse we all saw in school.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,781 posts
 
"and (I) always using the same couple of pieces of music."

I'd try listening (to this music) thru headphones for the mysterious "thrumming".

A friend of mine played a first-generation master tape of organ music on my system. I heard, unfortunately, the sound of the church's forced-air heating on the tape and pointed this out to my friend (he hadn't heard it previously).

The point is that this limited sample of music may be flawed (i.e., contain the thrumming noise) and you are hearing it because your system now has the resolution to reveal it.

jaybo
4,478 posts
 
it could be the recording or rcordings, but sometimes the weakness of hybrids and horns is exposed by dynamic, large orchestra, classical music. old fashioned acoustic suspension speakers generally are the best at this....then transmission line
rmrobinson1957 OP
57 posts
 
Hello all,

Thanks for all your responses. I have been studying up on acoustics and room modes, and have tried the test with the headphones. It seems as though what I am hearing is an inherent part of these recordings if not a part of the music itself. I have also contacted Krell and Martin Logan and their responses have echoed what I've heard here. I've have some suggestions from them for a few inexpensive things to try to decouple the speakers from the space and to test whether there may be any issues with the equipment.

Bob R.
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