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Help! Treble Trouble!

Ok, cognoscenti, put your coconuts together.

The system I've put together at the house I stay in while working out of state has a problem. I have nonexistent treble at my listening position, particularly cymbals, high hats, etc. Not a toe in/toe out room problem as I can sit right in front of either speaker and stick my ear two feet from tweeters and hardly anything. Can hear it ear stuck right up to them. My high frequency hearing is fine. This happens with any source, digital or analog. Not the speakers as it happens with either the two sets I have here. Happens with to different amps also, Odyssey Stratos with plenty of juice and a Belles Aria integrated. The common denominator in this I think is my dac. Is it possible my trusty old Mytek is somehow conking out and causing this? 

Mids and bass are smooth and clear, just missing a lot of highs and it's mucking up my listening enjoyment. So, what do you guys think?

Gear here:

Odyssey Stratos amp,

Belles Integrated,

Mytek Stereo 192-DSD dac

Living Sounds Audio LSA20 signature speakers

Avance Epsilon980 speakers

Denon dp-57l turntable

LeJonklou Slipsik 7.1 phono pre

Audiolab 6000cdt transport.

Thanks!

 

 

thecarpathian
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
8,080 posts
 

@thecarpathian 

Few questions 

1. Did this just start or that’s the sound you had from the first moment you set up the system in this house?

2. Does it happen with belles integrated with mytek completely out of the loop?

3. Have you tried connecting your system in another room?
4. Tried connecting it to another outlet? 
5. Have you checked outlets to make sure they’re installed correctly?

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian OP
6,198 posts
 

@audphile1 ,

1. Had it set up for a while, but just started doing more critical listening. No idea why I didn’t notice it before. My only defense is everything else sounds really, really good. 

2. Happens with Belles in the loop by itself and when solely using it as a preamp to Stratos. Happens with Belles out of the loop. Just checked with an old receiver and CD player: I now know it happens with Mytek both in and out of the loop. 

3. I have it in the only room it can be in. I have them dialed in where everything sounds great from where I sit. Can’t be room as I literally gotta stick my ear up to the tweeters to hear the treble.

4. I have the Stratos plugged into its own outlet, and everything else into a Fuhrman in a separate outlet. Both newly installed commercial grade when I set it up. Honestly everything else sounds great and can go louder than I’ll ever listen. Just missing that cymbal crash, etc. 

5. Outlets installed correctly.

The speakers aren’t 6 years old. I can’t believe a simultaneous failure in both crossovers. Plus, it happens on two different pairs speakers.

thecarpathian's avatar
thecarpathian OP
6,198 posts
 

@viridian ,

I passed the key jingle test!

douglas_schroeder
3,363 posts
 

Given the symptoms, my first thought is to swap out the digital cable. I have seen/heard some weird things when there is incompatibility or compromise with digital cables. 

Revisit all settings on the DAC. 

Also, remove the Furman from the chain to ensure it is not the culprit. 

 

mashif
481 posts
 

I would use an RTA app to check visually for HF rolloff. They're not that precise but good enough to show if there's a problem. Play some Pink Noise. There a numerous streaming releases for that. Hold up your phone and see what's happening. 

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