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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
tomcarr
1,816 posts
 

Before you spend more money, try facing your speakers straight ahead (no toe-in) and placing your listening seat closer to the plane of the speakers compared to the distance between the speakers. That should reduce the treble energy you're hearing and may take care of your concerns. It will also enlarge the size of the soundstage, as a bonus!

zlone
1,319 posts
 

@mojo771 Can you give us an update, did some break-in time resolve your issues?

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,447 posts
 
@orthomead 
Glad you're found a better balance! You can probably refine more with the tube selections over time. The 300's are by far the most "chameleon" VAC amps I've had so far. They are VERY dynamic as you noted. Lots of bass impact, slam, wallop. They sound LARGE. Their sonic balance is also wildly different in mono vs. stereo mode, and very also different with different KT power tube types.That's very interesting you can mix rows! I hadn't thought of that, neat.

However yes the stock voicing in stereo mode (Russian KT88 and 6SN7) was too aggressive / forward for me. I've kept the stock Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB in those V2 slots because they're driving the KT tubes, and I feel that these stronger modern tubes retain more dynamics in this slot. But using sweet-sounding vintage tubes in V1 slots is a very good choice. I'm more a fan of Tung-Sol round plates (black glass), 1940's Sylvania, or Hytrons. I never got on that well with 5692's (in the past, different amps), and their voltage & power rating is much lower than 6SN7GT tubes, which in turn is much lower than the GTA/GTB tubes that the 300 has been designated to use - this could wear them out fast in V2 slots. Might ask Kevin about that to be sure.
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