Wharfedale Jade 3 aluminium tweeter problem


Just bought a pair of Wharfedale Jade 3 standmount speakers, it looks very big, excellent craftsmanship in piano black finish, have been running them for 1 week, overall comment on sound:

Bass: I can't comment much on this, still think in the progress of write in, though I feel that no sense of strain, but I have problems playing some aggressive bass movement tracks, it seem the woofer hit the plastic surround...

Mid: Just fine, no problem

High: Though I will not say it's harsh, but it has too much sparkling and unwanted details, it seem no filter has been done, it makes a lot of tracks not listenable, it just sound not so comfortable bringing out some background noise, or piercing instrument too much

So far, this is my most disappointment in purchase Hifi speakers, I starting to wonder is this amp problem? I don't think so, I got several other speakers play just fine, include Wharfedale Diamond 122, Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary, Wharfedale Diamond 9.1. If let say power is not enough, I don't think so I can play track like Tutti! - Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird - Finale, with enough powerful omph without distortions, and most state of the art recording without problems, what's wrong here? The Jade 3 just does not work so forgiving in playing music?
128x128wim1983

Showing 3 responses by timrhu

Hopefully they'll get better with more break in. I had a pair of Paradigm speakers years ago that sounded so bad I seriously wanted to return them to the dealer. My complaint was similar to yours, the high frequencies were rough and ragged. It took three or four weeks for them to break in and become listenable. Good luck with yours.
I think that it's time to cut your losses and part ways with these speakers. Others may love them, but that doesn't mean you have to. I know that it's happened to me several times. Save yourself further aggravation and get back to enjoying music.
Roxy54

Agree with Roxy54. If an equalizer won't get you want you want, cables surely won't. If your dealer suggests putting tissue paper over the tweeters to tame them, you know you're in trouble.
If all else fails and you are stuck with the speakers here's my suggestion. Get a 2 ohm resistor and put it in line with the tweeter. This is what Magnepan recommends if a listener finds their speakers overly bright. They actually provide different values to try to tame the issue.
I tried it with Maggies and it really did the trick.