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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
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,550 posts
 
The tube certainly could be the problem, Oliver. However, I would suspect that the re-orientation in the room has more to do with it. I rotated our system from one wall to another, and I would have thought that we'd changed at least one of the components. Also, each time you have listened since returning, the amp has had 25 minutes or so to warm up, correct? And you're using all the same cords/cabling as before?
Hope all is well with you,
Howard
rsjm80
196 posts
 
sounds funny but.... have you made sure that all the contact points have been cleaned on the cables and equipment? Have your actual room changed in it's treatments in some way unlike that which had been before? In the new set up has the placement of the speakers changed in the dimentionality? such as from short wall to long wall? Just some added things to could make a difference for you.
trelja
3,215 posts
 
I also think it's the room...

See if you can put things back to the way they were previously. Once you do that, you'll know if it was positioning or if your tastes have actually changed during this time.
aball
1,994 posts
 
I think the system was cold. Reevaluate after a day or two of leaving it on and see.
newbee
4,093 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.
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