Cables to settle brightness

Also, I’d keep the amps plugged into wall. 

I should add that the DAC that I criticized was the DAC2 inside my MA12000. I think this DAC competes in the $1000-$1500 stand alone DAC range, but we each have our preferences/bias for what we consider musical. You might want to chat with Juan (blisshifi) in that I believe that he shares this bias and he helped to get my system where I wanted it.

If vinyl doesn't have the problem, it is in your dac.  Some DACs have a voltage setting. Turning down the voltage can reduce harshness.

I keep saying that cables aren't tuners and many disagree.  But you're spending a lot of money swapping out the wrong component.

Jerry

+1 on upgrading the DAC.  Your amp, preamp and speakers ae al in the 'not bright at all' category (to me). 

Many will recommend the dac and or streamer /dac they have.  Plenty of smoother DACs out there, and you have expensive gear.  Demo some!  And yes, most find all copper smoother than silver or silver blends for interconnects, power cables and speaker wires.

CARDAS CLEAR REFLECTION. (the improved successor to the prior GOLDEN REFERENCE model…)

I had an email conversation with Josh Meredith at CARDAS on this very issue. He referred me to his own experiences. His wife, Angela Cardas-Meredith,(… daughter of George Cardas and the current prez at CARDAS …) personally stepped down from the top CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND to the CLEAR REFLECTION speaker cable model in her home, to successfully tame the excess brightness produced by an audio system in large room with a lot of glass windows.

I followed that key advice personally too this past month in like manner, and I swapped out NORDOST FREY (silver on Cu) to all-Cu CARDAS CLEAR REFLECTION speaker cables a few weeks ago, to tame my own unwanted brightness.

- Success - the unwanted brightness is gone, presentation is a touch warmer, and all with no loss of details and slam.

PS: I have all CARDAS CLEAR interconnects for all components, and a mix of both CARDAS CLEAR and GOLDEN REFERENCE power cables …FWIW..

My Equipment:

REGA ISIS VALVE cdp/ DAC

REGA OSIRIS integrated amp

BRYSTON BDP1-USB digital player/ streamer/ server

BRYSTON BDA2 DAC

HARBETH M30.2XD standmount speakers on TonTraeger stands

PHILLIPS 630 tuner ( fully rebuilt )

interesting reads :

Angela Cardas (Cardas Audio) @ RMAF 2018

https://youtu.be/xpzgwLzzV2E

This is the BEST video about LOUDSPEAKER CABLES that you will see all year

https://youtu.be/PW3QHfH9Nho