I purchased the Arcam 300 8 months ago as the first major upgrade to my system. I agree as my intial impression was that at times the highs were high and bright was a word I was familar. If I had to explain why, I think much of this was due to the associated equipment I was using at that time. As such, I began to look to purchase other system upgrades with a "neutral" type of sound.
I ended up replacing a Denon 2900 universal player with a modified (Upgrade Co) Marantz 9600 universal player and replacing Axiom bookshelf speakers (often labled as bright) to Dali Helicon 400 speakers.
At the time I purchased the Dali's, the dealer stressed the need to use complimentary cables. I was skeptical due to the cost$, but was allowed to demo a pair of biwired Cardas Neutral Reference cables for my mains. I'm not a cable pundit, but do believe that there was a positive difference when using these cables. Subsequently I purchased these Cardas cables as well as the main speaker interconnects.
Looking back and I may be totally off base with my choice of equipement, I think that trying to find complimentary equipement was the key to attaining a better sound.
I ended up replacing a Denon 2900 universal player with a modified (Upgrade Co) Marantz 9600 universal player and replacing Axiom bookshelf speakers (often labled as bright) to Dali Helicon 400 speakers.
At the time I purchased the Dali's, the dealer stressed the need to use complimentary cables. I was skeptical due to the cost$, but was allowed to demo a pair of biwired Cardas Neutral Reference cables for my mains. I'm not a cable pundit, but do believe that there was a positive difference when using these cables. Subsequently I purchased these Cardas cables as well as the main speaker interconnects.
Looking back and I may be totally off base with my choice of equipement, I think that trying to find complimentary equipement was the key to attaining a better sound.