easy listening for small/medium bright room

norton - tx i think thats good advice on the tone controls - sheesh.

i have an mcintosh integrated at home - it has tone control....from about 2010 

its my favorite piece of gear (aong with its sacd player just damn good if a bit cliche) - i was setting up an office listening system a couple thousand miles away - got a good deal on the TT and the speakers and stands and so of course splurged for the croft.    that may have been a mistake. I blame the scotch.

I've owned several PMC speakers including the TB2 monitor and have never thought of them being harsh in the high notes, just the opposite actually as I have tinnitus myself and have never like overly bright speakers.

Now my current ones (PB1i) are a little more "lively" in the upper range and I cured that my using tone controls built into the pre-amp.

Of the replacements you listed, haven't heard two of them but have Monitor Audio and altho I liked their sound, they were too bright for me at the time but that was at a hi-fi shop so I couldn't control the treble.

Personally I wouldn't have an audio system WITHOUT tone controls.

@oldhvymec you forgot to ensure that all tubes test below 60% emission..

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Ops!

@rand24us Ah, around my age! Did this issue start when you added the speakers to an existing system? They get good reviews especially for detail. And that’s where your trouble begins. You might try to take the volume down and enjoy the detail. Your listening apparatus will adjust to the lower sound pressure level. Use a SPL app. Add a pair of REL T5x to give more power so you don’t have to crank it. Replace the JJ tube in the Croft with a Telefunken for less distortion (Mullard will cream off the high end details). Use solid core speaker cables.

I'm 56,  I am guilty of having listened to good audio gear since about 35 tho and perhaps it has caught up. These monitors are too harsh and I think monitors in general....for me at least. .  Too harsh. I will find something mellow in the top end in bigger boxes. My brain says that'll be easier.

@rand24us My guess is that you are under 35. STOP hurting your ears. Now. If you continue, that cicada noise will NOT fade. EVER. Tinnitus once the damage is done is forever. You are exposing your ears to too much high frequency energy over 80dB. This is common in small rooms, played loudly with higher resolution gear.

Tinnitus?  Lots of things can set it off, like loud noises, caffeine, alcohol, stress, etc. Mine comes and goes, and while I don't think listening to my stereo sets it off (I really don't play it loud) I do think I can set it off with headphones.  But, to your point, both of my audio systems have relatively laid-back speakers (Platinum Audio in one system and Elac in the other).  

@oldhvymec you forgot to ensure that all tubes test below 60% emission..

Watch the anti-inflammatories meds, caffeine and drink lots of water before a session. Watch the booze, and smoking too. an ENTs nightmare.

TURN the volume DOWN.

Get something with tone control.

Hang a micro fiber rag in front of the tweeters, one at a time..

Put a cannabis plant in the room.

Put up floor to ceiling curtains to help tame and dampen the room. 

Kitty corner the set up.

Turn the speakers backwards

Use earplugs

It’s all I got.. :-)

Regards

Could it be a bad tube in the Croft?

Seems like you’ve got a nice little system!

The pmc db1i will emphasize their low frequency output when placed nearer to a rear wall due to their rear port.

How loud do you listen?  Have you considered treating your room? GIK would be a good place to start. Speaker placement also may help. I would start with no toe in. I’m sure there will be more advice on the way.