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Listening Fatique- componet or speaker issue.

Hello everyone. I've been posting various questions in other topics trying to solve a problem that couldn't discribe until now. I jumped into the audiophile hobby these last few months full head-on. I got the best that I could for about 1200 and finally ended up with as my first set-up.

Totem Rainmakers (straightwire octava II)
Nad c320bee
Source (pc m-audio,foobar) will be (modded squeezebox2)

In the begining (sounds like the bible I know) after I hooked it all up I was estatic. I've never listen or owned any quality audio eq and this was a huge leap for me. The sound was or so detailed, huge, realistic and plain great. This only brief sessions. Now that all the newness factor is gone and I actually live with these I seem to be in a delima.
Normally I play my music at low levels simply because during the week days I come home late and I live in a tenant building (rules are rules). At lower levels I can listen to the music for a fair amount of time no problem. No real hint of fatigue.
Now my fatigue seems to occur at normal or slightly higher than normal listening level. I don't get seem to get headache as most other people. My ear mostly feel "tired" and occasionally I do get a ring. The sound coming out also sounds compressed and boxy.
I don't know if it's a speaker componet (source, amp, or room) but it's really getting me bumbed out. I brought my new setup so I can listen to more music and make it a more consistant part of my life as a musician (gotta study the greats) not so my ears ache and feel tired.
When I changed the source from my dvd to my computer (m-audio foobar) it became better but it's still there. I posted a thread about my amp changing but know now that I didn't ask the right question.
Now my Rainmakers are rated at min 50w at 4 ohms and maximum is 100w I think. I decided on the nad mainly on suggestion on this and other threads and read that a couple rainmaker owners match them. I like the amp quite a bit its warm and quite detailed but can this fatigue I am experiencing also be occuring because of the amp. Could this fatigue be just the normal distortion created by my speakers not being driven well at higher levels?
Or are the rainmakers just naturally fatiguing and harsh when pushed? I need advice from the higher ups.
daimbert

Showing 5 responses by daimbert

daimbert OP
56 posts
 
I didn't know a room can have that big of an effect. It's my bedroom/listening room (no choice). I had no carpets, just finish renovating (taking out plaster putting shetrock) and does have quite a bit of echo. I guess I've learned to live with it. Come to think with this whole apartment has alot of echo.

As for the source the squeezebox is not wired into the computer but streams Flac files wirelessly to my setup. Sound a hell of alot better than my last sorce (thosiba dvd. The squeezebox has it's own dc and can also be hooked up to an outboard one. Sending it out for modding to hope address this issue (harsh).

Gmood- you mean they color the sound a bit?

I'll try room treatment. I guess amp o.k then. If it's still hars after then speakers gotta go.
daimbert OP
56 posts
 
I didn't know a room can have that big of an effect. It's my bedroom/listening room (no choice). I had no carpets, just finish renovating (taking out plaster putting shetrock) and does have quite a bit of echo. I guess I've learned to live with it. Come to think with this whole apartment has alot of echo.

As for the source the squeezebox is not wired into the computer but streams Flac files wirelessly to my setup. Sound a hell of alot better than my last sorce (thosiba dvd. The squeezebox has it's own dc and can also be hooked up to an outboard one. Sending it out for modding to hope address this issue (harsh).

Gmood- you mean they color the sound a bit?

I'll try room treatment. I guess amp o.k then. If it's still hars after then speakers gotta go.
daimbert OP
56 posts
 
My speaker cable are straightwire octava II bi-wireable. My interconnects are from my source to amp are analysis ovals (1 meter). I actually did change the amp/preamp jumpers with a spare straightwire my friend had lying aroung (it's 1 meter though).

As for power coditioning I am planning to do that in the future and I agree could be adding alot of junk in my sound. My tenant extremly old. I also know I need to get a unit that filters because this building does have a common ground. Due to my room constraints my speakers are in my bedroom with my computer. So on one wall I have my computer then speakers then t.v. then speaker. Not the best set-up but can't get around until I move out.

I think echo is a big part and I need to address that. Also think the my bedroom being my listening and computer room is not helping matters. My room has a huge amount of echo actually that I've learned to live and ignore. By the way my room about 12x18x10.
daimbert OP
56 posts
 
Higher than normal listening for me is above comfortable speech.
daimbert OP
56 posts
 
Nope...I don't know how to gauge spl level. To me on my Nad comfortable speech level would be about a little over a 3/8 of the way. Not half way quite a bit below. Hope that helps it's the best I can describe.

BTW...I never experience the same effect on headphones. Since I mostly use ear canal headphones (Etymotics, Shures) I normally don't need to crank it up. Also I am quite sure I may have some but very very little hearing lost...I am a brass player :)
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