Upper Midrange Glare problem


I am seeking advice to eliminate hard upper midrange glare. I spent alot of money and the sound improved, but the glare is still present. Is there something wrong with my set up, or etc? My systems is as follows:

Counterpoint DA 11.5 transport with Shunyata King Cobra.
Sonic Frontiers SFD 2 MK II DAC with Shunyata Black Mamba.
Sonic Frontiers SFL 1 Signature Pre Amp with Shunyata Viper.
All above components connected to the PS Audio P300 with a Shunyata King Cobra attached to it.

Bryston 7B ST Mono block with PS Audio Lab Cables connected to two Ultimate outlets which is connected to XLO Type 10 powercords to the wall outlet.

Speakers PSB Stratus Gold, placed 3 ft away from rear wall 2 1/2 ft from side wall, room is 15'wide 21'deep
8 1/2tall. Listening distance is 9 ft away from speakers.

Cables:
Digital - Illuminati D60 - BNC and Illuminati DX-50 - XLR
Interconnects - AudioQuest Diamond X2 - RCA
Speaker Cables - AudioQuest Dragon to highs and Clear 3 to bass.
All Cables are raised by ceramic tiles.

Brights star foundation platforms, tip toes, for each component sitting on a Stand design rack, set of room tunes corners, side walls and tune stripes.

New additions will be XLO limited edition XLR digital cable and Siemens CCa tubes for SFD 2 MK II. Will be here shortly.

Very fraustrated. Any suggestions will be openly noted, thanks.

bowlerds

Showing 4 responses by jcbtubes

Bow- You are bound to have a slightly different suggestion from every poster. You have obviously attempted to assemble a high quality system and have given thought to each choice. None of the suggestions above, or mine, are meant to belittle your efforts. I agree with others that you have a couple of components that may contribute too much in this area when combined in your system.

My first recommendation is a thorough evaluation of your room since alterations can be accomplished relatively easily. Could there be sidewall reflections or hard, reflective surfaces on any wall contributing to the glare? Have a friend/family member walk with a mirror along the sidewalls while you're seated in the listening location. If you can see the speaker in the mirror, this is an area that could be contributing to early reflections. Also, I strongly suggest playing with speaker tilt as well as toe-in. Changing the tilt of the speaker can have significant effects upon the tonality.

Next, consider using the Sakura OTA cable kit. It isn't well known (yet), and is relatively inexpensive. It provides enough cable and IC terminations for three pairs of interconnects and at least one set of speaker wire, all for around $600. Don't let the price fool you. I currently have over $10K in speaker cables and IC, and this stuff is equal to or better in many areas. One of it's strengths is a marked reduction in midrange strain or glare, yet offers marvelous detail, tonality and palpability. At the price, you can't go wrong.

Next, I would be experimenting with different sets of NOS tubes for the SF equipment. This can have dramatic effects on the sound, but can become expensive.

All other suggestions that I offer will effect the sound but aren't targeted for just glare reduction. I'd offer, though my preference is for tube amps, to investigate into a better tube pre-amp. Your system appears to be at a crossover point between good to very good. Having owned this piece, I would recommend seeking a higher standard. Some may hear this as a putdown of the SFL1 Sig, but it isn't intended as such. It is a fine unit and well built, but sonically, there are better with less contribution to your current problems. (With modifications, it can be significantly improved, but most people tend to want only stock equipment). This change will likely not be inexpensive. You might consider an integrated amp approach which would eliminate the need for a separate pre-amp and interconnects and power cords! There are some exceptional products available which might make this approach more cost effective. However, this can require a complete re-evaluation of the speaker/amp relationship.

Good luck with your quest. As always, Just my .02.
Aragain- Though I don't discount your view on cables, my experience in my systems have suggested otherwise. I guess it comes down to the term "subtle effects." In absolute terms, you're quite right. However, in terms of musical appreciation or increased emotional connection to the original musical event, the differences can be quite profound.
Synergy is the key within the contexts of the system. Numbers, including price tag, and manufacturer's hype won't guarantee a great match. You have to personally experience the sound in situ and then decide.
Dekay- I usually start with about a 1 ft width, 2"-3" thick piece of Sonex that's about 4 ft in length. Position it so that the top of the Sonex is about a foot above the baseboard.

Just my .02.
Hey, Dekay - Does the miniature, giant gorilla (oxymoron intended) on the E.S.B. throw off the imaging?
Bow- The Herron is an excellent choice for a pre-amp upgrade. Once it is fully broken in and you have a good feel for how it sonically fits in your system, be sure to play with different NOS tubes.
Also, I'm sure that you've already thought about it. But, if you don't have separate, dedicated A/C feeds for the system, definitely check into it. The gains can be significant, even though you're using the PS.

Aragain- I certainly agree with you. I've had system configurations that were tolerable, but gave no enjoyment at all. In several instances, otherwise good cables were the culprit. The tough part is knowing where the imbalance lies. Too many systems have been built using nothing but "Stereopile A" rated equipment and cables with no real insight for synergy, and sound like it.