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Is my new amp TOO GOOD?

I recently took advantage of the McIntosh Upgrade program.  I traded my MA352 integrated hybrid for the C2800 tube preamp + MC462 ss power amp.  I have a large room with Revel Studio 2 speakers (with beryllium tweeters), and two SVS subs.  I also have some room treatments on the walls.   

I traded up because I wanted to see if I could more detail with the extra watts while keeping the tube sound I like.  

So now I have much more detail, but its sometimes too much.  Higher frequencies - like high pitched loud vocals, and some of the detail now sounds almost like static.  If I turn the volume way up I can hear that its another guitar or a background vocal.

I have turned the treble down from -1 to -4, and I can't listen at 90 db all the time.

Does anyone have any suggestions about adjusting the eq/

 

mojo771
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,635 posts
 

When we upgrade we think it’s an auto improvement? No , you have to wait till the new components settle , Be patience. When the system settle , you can slowly analyze the sound .Op even if you only change one interconnect  the sound of your system change. With the addition of new amp , you got so many changes.So slowly figure it out to match the new amp in your system? Maybe burn in is all you need.

facten
3,116 posts
 

@mojo771  I don't have your gear nor have I listened to it, but after you try some of the other suggestions e.g. break-in time, speaker placement you still find the top end to fatiguing  maybe swap the 12ax7s for lower gain 5751s.  

elliottbnewcombjr
7,706 posts
 

90 db is too loud, you WILL regret it later.

I suspect something was not quite right before, and now you are hearing things that were always there in the content, but not in the playback.

 

ghdprentice's avatar
ghdprentice
9,413 posts
 

@audphile1 "...What jumped out as a red flag for me is the speaker positioning. 
11 feet apart is a bit much."

+1 

I definitely agree, good point!

 

I had missed the 90db comment. There is something very wrong if you feel the need to listen at 90db. I haven't done that since the terrible electronics of the 70's. I suspect this is an attempt to make up of other deficiencies. 

Also... do you really mean "toe out"? Typically speakers are toe in or straight out... I don't think I have ever seen speakers that were dialed in toe out. 

I recommend taking some photos of your system and creating a virtual system under your user ID. It is easy to do. It is sounding like there are lots of improvements possible. It really helps when we can see what is going on. 

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