What integrated can replace over -bright exposure 3010?


Just got an Exposure 3010S2.,paired with my Spendor A6s.Its supposed to be a great combo. Its a lovely amp , fast( really fast) dynamic, good resolution, provides insight into the performance, BUT it is very forward,  distinctly bright and can get hard when you raise the volume. As a result I can't relax in front of the music.
Any suggestions for a better amp  which offers much the same qualities without the brightness-under $3K new?

rrm

Showing 5 responses by rrm

Thanks to all  for the suggestions. Troy:  The rest of the system is: sony 5400 CD/SACD player; gyrodec with shelter 501 cartridge; DNM cables and interconnects.
The exposure was a dealer demo and well broken in. Previously I had a Plinius 8200( warm but a bit slow) so the DNM cables which are a bit lean and clean ( like the exposure) matched very well. Perhaps its a speaker cable /amp mismatch (too much lean and clean??).I hope not since I need flat cables with a long run under the carpet and there are very few affordable options.
Based on your suggestions that the speaker cable might be the problem I tried swopping out the long DNM runs and replacing it with my older cables: A) generic solid core copper cable-very little shielding and B )stranded copper cable( LINN K 20).In both cases the brightness/glare was reduced to acceptable levels but much of  the vitality was stripped away. Everything seemed more deliberate, less bubbly and somewhat slowed. Reverting to the DNM cables restored the effortless transparency and PRaT but also the brightness. I cant win.
I think I need to replace the DNM cables, for tonal reasons,but I need 23ft runs to go under the carpet. DNM cables are flat which is why they were chosen but very few others are- except Nordost which are too expensive.Would love suggestions for a flat or small diameter cable which retains the transparency and timing of the DNM, without the brightness.
thanks to all
Let me know how your cables work out.What cables are you using now?
I was convinced that the DNM  cables were the problem but I  just borrowed a different integrated (Parasound) and the brightness vanished; so maybe its the amp after all and the cables are simply transparent to the amp used.
Unfortunately the Class A Parasound  lacks vitality and clarity  compared to the super clean/agile Exposure.
update:
Since others think this amp is not bright I thought: what else  do I have that they don't?
Answer : a different power cord. So I swopped out my after-market Pangea cord and repaced it with the generic-looking cord that came with the amp.
Result: brightness/glare  toned down a bit, at the cost of a little bit of impact/prescence.
Why?? I have no idea!
I knew power cords could affect the bass response but never thought it would affect the treble.....
Troy,
can you give a few suggestions for a power cord under $300 that I could try?  There are so many out there I wouldn't know where to begin.