2. misc-audio
  3. 1126481561

Suddenly, things are sounding awful...

So I hooked my system back up after about a 6 month absence (though the speakers were seeing constant use in another system for much of that time). 6 months ago, the tonality was fantastic. Things sounded rich and detailed. Now, the system sounds extremely bright (especially on top), very grainy, and much of the detail is gone.

I did indeed change the system's position in the room. But Everything has been repositioned very carefully, and I don't see why there would be any major acoustical problems.

The equipment is as follows:
Silverline SR15 monitors.
Audio Refinement CD Alpha
Audio Aero Prima series 1 integrated
Analysis Plus cabling

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps my NOS tube in the Prima is dying. But could that cause brightness and graininess? Those aren't the symptoms I would normally associate with a failing tube.

Suggestions, comments?

Thanks!
lousyreeds1

Showing 3 responses by newbee

newbee
4,816 posts
 
"Everything has been repositioned carefully". Does this mean that you put it in a new location, but carefully, or does this mean that you changed it back to the old position. If it's in a new location, no matter how carefully set up, its bound to sound different because of the way the room treats the sound waves and reflections.

I changed from the speakers in front of the short wall to in front of the long wall and I couldn't believe it was the same system or the same room.

Probably a good time to revisit room induced acoustics.
newbee
4,816 posts
 
Lousyreed, Re, "Perhaps thats not right"........

It's not right. The room and speaker positioning in it has a far more dramatic effect on the sound than most folks recognize. Even some of the folks that do, still underestimate it. Life (for us thats audio) should be so simple. :-) Trelja's idea is a good one if you can still do it, at least you will know if you have a piece of equipment that has changed. PS I don't think its the tube - when they age they get dull, lifeless, and noisy. New tubes can be a bit bright for 24 hours or so.

One of the many things that can happen when you rearrange speakers, for example, is in the new position you may well completely change the frequency respone curve in the lower mids and/or bass because of the rooms dimensions. Thin out the lower-mids and the highs will now 'seem bright' even though they may not have changed at all.
newbee
4,816 posts
 
If you are trying to tame the highs, cross the axis of the speakers well in front of you and put something diffusive or absorbant on the wall between the windows. And, of course, put the drapes back down. That might well solve some of your problems with the highs. Looks a bit odd, but it can really work.
More to discover