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Sound quality vs. volume

Looking for a bit of expertise here:

I recently made a few changes to my setup and while overall pleased with the results, I’m on the quest for better.  I’m hoping you all can help me diagnose an issue I’m hearing.

When listening to music at lower volume levels - say less than 1/2 total volume, the clarity, imaging and dynamics come across far more coherent and “in focus”.  To use an often over-coined phrase “It’s like I’m there in the room”.  As I start to push the volume up a bit, closer to live-performance levels, the sound becomes increasingly “mushy”.  I know, a highly technical term, but the best way to describe what I am hearing.  The bottom-end loosens up - getting a bit boomy, the crispness of the mid-range and highs fade and the imaging falls out of focus.  These are all incremental with volume until I get to the point where it’s just unbearable.   

I’m no expert by any means but feel it might be room acoustics.  I already know I have a less than ideal setup with a nearly square room (21x20ft) with 60% of the surface covered with clear birch wood paneling. Some things we can’t change (easily).  I do not have any acoustic treatment, just lots of soft furniture.  What I find interesting is that my old setup (Magnepan 1.6) didn’t suffer to such a degree.  Maybe with the new setup there is more to loose?  A mystery.  

For a bit more context:  
Speakers:  Dynaudio Contour 60
Streamer: SoTM sms-200 Ultra
Amplifier: Peachtree Nova500

Within the 20x21ft. room, my speakers are 4ft. from the wall, I am seated 13ft. from the front wall (a bit back from room center). Speakers are 9ft. apart.

Any thoughts?  


wanderingmoo

Showing 7 responses by geoffkait

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Unfortunately, distortion sets in way before high volumes are reached. There is distortion even at moderate levels. But the higher the volume the higher the distortion. You’re just used to it, that’s all since it’s always been there. You’re unaware of the distortion until it’s removed. It doesn’t have anything to do with amplifier distortion. It is more mysterious. Much more mysterious. it’s not really a secret because no one knows about it. 😲
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Problems with the system itself producing distortion or congestion is actually probably better described as a dynamic range issue as opposed to a volume or loudness issue. That’s the primary reason why CDs in particular are frequently overly compressed - higher loudness levels can be achieved without producing certain types of distortion such as clipping.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Some things off the beaten track to reduce compression, distortion and congestion at moderate-high volumes:

1. Remove all unused electronics and cables from the room.

2. Remove all musical instruments from the room.

3. Remove all CDs and LPs from the room.

4. Remove all books and magazines from the room.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
“It’s what I choose to believe.” - Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, science officer, Prometheus

It didn’t work out too well for her, did it? Mistakes in judgment oft stem from not knowing all of the facts or denial of reality.

”You may think you know what’s going on, Mr. Gittes, but believe me, you don’t.” - Noah Cross to Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) in Chinatown.


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
These are the times that try audiophiles’ souls. This phenomenon of distortion and congealed sound arising when the volume reaches more than a moderate level is a symptom of something that audiophiles haven’t figured out. It’s not only newbies that experience this. At least judging from the number of rooms filled with Tube Traps, walls covered with SONEX, blankets and carpets on the walls, mattresses on the walls, egg crates on the ceiling, thick curtains covering all the windows. Ten pounds of crystals on the walls. Changing equipment and changing cables incessantly. Getting bigger and bigger amps. Isolating and damping everything. Yet the distortion and congealed sound persists. They even have a name for it. Audio Nervosa. It’s enough to make audiophiles pull their hair out. 😩 As Bob Dylan says at the end of all his songs, good luck to everyone. 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
It’s not really an either/or situation 🔛. It doesn’t have to be either the speakers OR the room. I.e., when you’re sitting 3’ from the speakers and the sound is still distorted, congealed and irritating what’s the next theory? 😬 The trouble is we’re very used to the distortion and lack of clarity because that’s how it’s always sounded. You get used to a certain amount of distortion. Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “But it sounds good to me.”
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Unfortunately, a lot of the reasons why systems generally become distorted and congealed at higher volumes is beyond the scope of this forum. Suffice it to say that even with the best you can do with ordinary means, you know what I’m talking about - room treatments, damping, vibration isolation, suspension of cables, cryogenics, aftermarket fuses, CD treatments - distortion of the sound remains, and dynamic range compression and a loss of musicality when the volume is pushed up past moderate levels. There’s nothing wrong with your system. It’s got nothing to do with dynamic headroom. Electronics generally don’t distort when only at 3/4 full power.

It has to do with LOCAL effects that are independent of the system, including the electrical grid, electronics, cabling, room acoustics, house wiring. It’s a long way to Tipperary. You have to take algebra before 🔙 you take calculus. The reasons for the distortion are for the advanced class. You could call it extra sensory perception. An ordinary man has no means of deliverance.
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