I think it has something to do with something really spiritual. You should invite monk or priest to do some exorcism on your unit.
What you can do yourself is to have some good spirits and listen again. Maybe it will also fix issue.
New amp listening fatigue: Distortion or ??????
Hello All,
I recently acquired a used Denafrips Hestia/Hyperion amp/preamp combo for my second system. I traded a low power 300B amp for it. It’s class a/b with 80 w/c 8ohms and 150 w/c 4 ohms. I thought it would go nicely with my Denafrips Pontus2 and it does. My first listening session was about 1.5 hours long listening to Beethoven symphonies which I know quite well. My initial impressions were positive. The new amp produces a huge, well defined soundstage and effortless ability to project dynamics. Bass is strong and well defined. Treble is smooth and clean sounding. The mids are rich and accurate, but much more energized than the bass and treble. After an hour, my ears felt pressurized and were ringing and I couldn’t listen anymore. I usually listen around 75-80 dB max. I never heard any distortion or anything suspicious. I repeated the session next day with my other speakers with the same results. Is it possible that there may be distortion present that I can’t hear? Or maybe this amp highlights certain frequencies that irritate my ears?
In years past I discovered I have a sensitivity to certain frequencies in the midrange somewhere around 600 - 1000 Hz and I used to use a graphic EQ to lower the mids. I’ve also gotten rid of any speakers or amps that have that hump in the midrange. My current, everyday rig is a Hegel H95, using the internal DAC for music and video played through Philharmonic BMR Monitors. I never get tired listening to this set up and can listen for hours. The Hegel is clean and clear with a balanced, neutral presentation. The new amp/pre combo has a warmer, stronger more muscular sound and unfortunately, creates listening fatigue. I’m thinking of adding a Schiit Lokius EQ to tame the mids in the new amp. Thing is, I’m also trying to simplify my gear, gravitating towards smaller, lighter weight speakers and components. Maybe just get another Hegel for my second system?
BTW I always protect my hearing when using or loud equipment or around any other loud sound source. My hearing has dropped off over the years, but I still hear up to around 9,000Hz.
Has anyone had similar experiences with a new/different amp?
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Change power cable to Pangea AC-9SE MKII, you will get significant improvement. Denafrips is made in China, tested on 220 volts. You need a better power cable in US. I recently bought Denafrips Terminator Plus, it does not come with power cable, so initially I used a regular cable from my desktop while waiting Pangea. Once I replaced the cable, DAC sounded ten times better. You can buy Pangea from Amazon, in different price range, this one is the best, as thick as garden hose, a little stiff but creates music nirvana. |
@drbay do you really believe they don't test their products at 120V/60Hz? 🤦♂️🤦♀️
Those Philharmonic BMR are going to experience a 1-3db peak with a low power 300B tube amp around 500Hz, some emphasis of mid-bass, and some comparative shelving of high frequencies compared to with the SS amp. Of course it is going to sound much different.
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Denafrips use an automatic converter switch between 220 and 110. How are you so sure that they test a product at 110 volt, as much as they tested at 220 in China. Even if there were some differences in terms of sound and distortion will be identical at two different voltage. Do you think Denafrips will not sell a product in US market, because there is a bit more distortion at 110 volt? I think trying a better power cable can make significant difference, I know it because it actually did for me. |
OP… “It seems as if the sound is too intense, if that makes sense.” That sounds like the bias in the amp is set too high. I got an amp on loan one time… it sounded terrible (high end audiophile amp of great repute) and it almost sounded like being in an auditorium when the gain on the PA system is turned up too loud… but no one is saying anything… it puts pressure on your ears. I returned the amp… the dealer sent it in… that was exactly the problem. Somehow in transport it changed.
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