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Taming the high frequency

Looking for ideas/suggestions to tame high frequency harshness. Recently installed a Lexicon MC 12 processor after my Krell decided to go to the electronic graveyard. Since I did not have this issue before I'm assuming the Lexicon is more revealing. My dedicated listening room is 15X23x8 and is treated with GIK 244 and 242 panels along the front and rear wall at ceiling junctions and Accurex bass traps in the corners floor to ceiling. Along the front wall behind the speakers are some decorative thick blankets for absorbption. No slap echoes anywhere in the room. Room is dual purpose H/T and 2 channel stereo listening with separate systems. Systems consist of Proceed Pre, Adcom 555II Amp and B&W 803d speakers for 2 channel and Lexicon Pre/pro, Polk speakers for H/T and Emotiva XPA amp. How can I diminish the high frequency harshness I'm experiencing? Any ideas or realistic suggestions?

128x128gillatgh
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,599 posts
 
Tissue paper over the tweeters a la Yamaha NS10s in the studios back in the day!

gillatgh's avatar
gillatgh OP
381 posts
 
Ghost, thanks for your input. Thinking about it even with the Krell there was some harshness at certain high frequencies regardless of the source. It is possible that the Lexicon is more adept at identifying the problem. I’ve never used any room correction software and may have to try that. Someone else also mentioned cardas to me. It may be a solution.. ... yes all been in use a loooong time. This is very frustrating.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,599 posts
 
Can’t the Lexicon be adjusted to tailor the sound? Looks like it has all sorts of settings. Reading around, I see a comment about it being harsh. The Adcom is pretty bright and B&Ws can be a bit up there too. And it’s a digital source. If no good results from adjustments, try your rig without the Lexicon.
williewonka
3,072 posts
 
@gillatgh - what speaker cables are you using?.

Your amp looks like a high current design?

If so - it may be experiencing an oscilation reaction with the speaker cables - i.e. if the cables have a high capacitance value it will staret oscillating - which will impact the sound

Selecting a speaker cables that has a capacitance of 10-20 pf/ft should eliminate the high frequency oscillation - if this is the problem

Van den Hul D352 or NAIM NAC A5 are two affordable cables that are low capacitance in the 10-15 pf/ft and they are pretty good performers.

By comparison - Cardas Golden Cross has a capacitance rating of 154 pF/foot.

A friend drove both his Ayre and Gryphon amps to destruction using high capacitance cables - not good.

Solid State amps having a High Current design will have this issue - whereas tube designs WILL NOT have an issue with high capacitance cables.

For high quality/resolution cables that will work very well with high current designs take a look at the KLE Innovations product line. I have reviewd many of theri products and they are first class and they work extremely well with my NAIM 5i - also a high current design.

Hope hat helps - Steve

gillatgh's avatar
gillatgh OP
381 posts
 
Thank you all for your input. It's all well received and valuable. I was hoping for room treatment correction if possible as that is the least costly but........
I will try an old standby solid cable to see if there is any improvement.........or not since it is already available. Lord I hope I can stay out of the cable experimentation scenario.

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