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Q acoustics harsh high end

Please help.
Just bought a Pioneer network reciever and a pair of 3050s. I realise this isn't top end equipment but at any sort of volume the upper frequencies are harsh,  very noticeable on female voices. The last system I had was started back in the late 70s with a pair of MA4s, then a denon amp, 50W I think, then I added a mid range Marantz cd player.
I remember having absolutely no issues with the sound quality. I have tried placing the system in a different room. I have tried a different amp (Marantz 63KI). I have tried a different Cd player but all sound the same, bright, harsh top end. Im begining to think it's the speakers but the reviews are almost unanimously brilliant. I'm wondering if I should get some second hand MA 352s
Any advice would be welcome

John 
jlj

Showing 4 responses by twoleftears

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
The moral of this story is that you can't trust at all reviewers' characterizations of equipment's sonic signature.  *You* need to hear it.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Many "modern" speakers sound that way.  It's the fashion these days.  You'll need to look out some of the few remaining more forgiving brands.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Yup.  In a few weeks your ears will break in to the way the speakers sound.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
@jlj  
No, it's not you, it's them.  p3ga uis right.  The fundamental truth is that the majority of loudspeaker manufacturers today have shifted to a sonic signature with, basically, a brighter top end or some version of that.  These demo well for a short period in stores (like turning the TV sharpness control to max in Best Buy), but many find them fatiguing over the long term.  Evidently Q is one of these.  Fortunately, there are still a number of brands that don't pursue this goal.  It's not necessarily that you need more expensive, just different.  Vienna Acoustics and pretty much all of the *classic* BBC designs come to mind (this excludes the Spendor D series), and there are others.
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