Listening fatigue

Another thing that is well-known for causing listener fatigue is odd-ordered harmonics in trace amounts, something that is common to most transistor gear.

This will get more pronounced as volume is increased.

The reason is that the ear uses odd ordered harmonics to figure out how loud a sound is! If the equipment makes odd ordered harmonics it will come off as louder and brighter than the measurements would suggest.

Our ears are more sensitive to these harmonics than they are to human vocal frequencies- by quite a wide margin!

To get rid of the odd ordered harmonics, you might try introducing some tube electronics into the signal chain. Tubes are more linear, and make less odd ordered harmonics as a result. This is why they sound smoother in most cases.

I have no experience with the Mite, but judging by this measurement which I found from a Mite owner, it's easy to see what would be causing the fatigue - the top end is tipped up significantly, probably intentionally to give the sensation of more air and detail.

http://harmonicsreview.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/totem-mite-fr.png

Thanks, everyone, for weighing in. I played around more with the position of the sub and I think I'm on the right track – a foot and a half seems to make a lot of difference in that room. Soffit traps, no, but crown molding, yes – she might go for that, Davehrab.

In my experience with Mani 2s I once owned, the Totems are only going to play so loud before they start to compress. That may be what you are hearing at loud volumes even though is seems you have sufficient power to drive them.

OP-

you may need additional sound-proofing of your listening space.

Happy Listening!