advice on brightness


i just set up my first system and although the excitement hasn't worn off, i have become aware of a pronounced brightness and sibilance in the sound.

my set-up is very modest and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Audio Refinement Complete integrated

-Harmon Kardon dvd25 (not the best for CDs, but it does have a good DAC: Wolfson XWM8740 Delta Sigma 24-bit/192kHz, same one in Arcam CD82)

-Athena AS-B1 bookshelf speakers

-AudioQuest Type 4 speaker cables (terminated with bananas)

-Straigh Wire Symphony II interconnects

i'm hoping i can resolve the brightness with different interconnects. my budget is around $150.

thanks!

~derek
mrdereklee

Showing 1 response by paulwp

Speakers - according to the NRC's measurements, your speakers have a broad peak from about 750hz to 1500hz. This will overemphasize high vocal fundamentals, like sopranos, and instruments in the same range as a soprano voice and will more likely be perceived as brightness than a peak in the treble higher up. After dipping into the treble, there was also an on-axis rise from about 7khz up through 10khz and beyond from which you might perceive some sibilance or sizzle.

Walls, doors and windows reflect everything. So does the ceiling. Height of speaker stands. Toe-in. I wouldn't toe them in. Furniture. Leather and wood are reflective.

It isnt your amp. Your amp is a pretty good one to use with those speakers in fact. Nor can cables add any excess energy. Maybe there are cables that can function as tone controls in quieting the top end some, but there aren't any that can deal with the problem in the upper midrange (old school definition of midrange). I really doubt that your cd player is a problem either.

Drapes, soft furniture, room treatment. Or replace the speakers.