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

If you don't like the sound, the problem is your room/acoustics or the speakers themselves, not the amp.

I had a similar experience upgrading to VAC 300 Mk II's from the VAC sig 200's. The sound was much more detailed but seemingly more at the upper end with a significant level of harshness.  I had never experienced listener fatigue, but I know what it is now.  I had used the swiss digital fuse boxes on the 200's and had not installed them on the 300's.  I spoke with my dealer who said that in his experience, upper end glare is a power issue.and he recommended using the fuse boxes on the new amps.  I use a gold infused copper sluggo in the swiss digital fuse box which is the warmest of the sluggos.  This immediately made a big difference.  A lot of the glare was removed, but not all.  I added a power conditioner which has further improved the sound.  There is still an incredible amount of detail, but it's not glaring as much and is much more listenable.  There are still occasional piercing sounds, but I think with more hours on the tubes, that it will mellow out.  There are still some albums that sound hot, but I listen to them a lower levels.  With the 200's increasing volume always seemed to make the sound better.  With the 300's there seems to be a ceiling on certain recordings where increases in volume make the experience worse.I think that with time, my brain is adapting to all the new sonic information it is receiving and the system is breaking in.  I'm not at 100 hours yet, so there is room for further improvements.  So my advice would be to look at the power aspect of things.  My dealer lent me a conditioner to try-perhaps yours will do the same.  These amp upgrades do tend to show a lot more in systems, good and bad. I don't have any silver in my cables, but if you do, that may be playing a role in your sound as they are known to be detailed and bright. The Cable Co has a lending program and I wouldn't buy new cables without test driving another set first.  Almost certainly though with time alone, things will improve. Good luck  

@orthomead I also went from a pair of 200iQ to pair of Master 300 iQ (prototype versions). I’ve noticed these amps all vary their sonic balance quite a bit in stereo versus mono, and also with tube type KT88 vs 120 or 150. 

A pair of 300 sound perfect with the stock KT88. With 120 it’s a bit too rich. However, in stereo mode the single 300 amp is a lot more forward. A LOT. I don’t like it at all with KT88, but it’s a really nice balance again with KT120. 

I do seem to recall the 200iQ in stereo was pretty well balanced with KT88 but there too I preferred KT120, and in mono mode the 2 tube sets were a close call. 150 will be darker than 120 with even more emphasis on bass.

In short I’d try popping KT120 or maybe even 150 in your stereo 300. A power conditioner or cables are not going to get the balance where you like it nearly as effectively as a tube swap.

being tube amps it’s hard to optimize one config for stereo, mono, 4 ohm, 8 ohm all at once. I use 8 ohm Tannoys btw (96dB)

@mulveling In the 200's I actually preferred the KT 170's over the 150's.  To me the KT88's sounded a bit anemic. The current sound is actually quite well balanced but there is a little too much sizzle on the upper end.  Some snare drums explode out of the speakers.  In truth, my ears have always been sensitive to upper frequencies though.  Also the dynamics are much more pronounced with the 300's, which is taking a little bit of getting used to.  I don't quite have 100 hours  on the tubes.  I did talk to Kevin and have changed the stock 6SN7's to my NOS RCA 5692's which has also helped somewhat.  I do like the idea of changing to KT120's but I don't have them anymore-they went with the 200's on the trade in.  I still have eight each of the KT 150's and 170's.  I guess I could change a row in each amp to see how that does. I would check with Kevin first. My speakers are early Magico S7's (89dB).  Appreciate your input.

s

@mulveling I talked with Brent who confirmed that rolling should be done row by row.  Actually he said I could mix and match with no ill effects.  I switched the first row out with KT 150's.  Surprisingly little change.  Then I switched the back row out with 170's (my preferred tube in the VAC 200) and that took the majority of the shrill sound out, but it seemed overall a little "muddy".  I switched the first row back to the KT 88's and this seems to be the best compromise.  I've learned some things in this current upgrade.  Alll prior upgrades did nothing but add good to the system.  I could turn up the volume with impunity on almost all recordings. Everything sounded better. I believe this current upgrade shows the "truth" in the recordings and some recordings are just best not cranked.  The detail and staging is incredible  now and well worth the time and energy to sort it out.  I'm adding a Shunyata T30 Typhon and hoping that will also add further improvements.