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Likely culprit for harshness at higher volumes?

Hi,

I'm a newbie to higher end audio. I have a very modest system:
1) Pre-amp: Anthem AVM2
2) Amp: Adcom GFA-5400
3) Source: Sony CDP-X111ES CD player
4) Speakers: KEF C75
5) Toslink between source and pre-amp; cheap RCA cables from pre-amp to amp; 16 or 18 gauge speaker wire (Radio Shack?)

Room setup (10-ish feet x 20-ish feet rectangle):
1) 2 foot deep cabinets along one wall (20-ish foot)
2) Components stacked on top of small end table against rear wall (10 foot); centered between cabinets and opposite wall.
3) Speakers slightly in front of end table and about 2 feet from side walls and 4 feet from rear wall

Sounds good at about -45 to -25db; but higher frequencies get harsh at higher than -25db.

Appreciate your thoughts.
saru

Showing 4 responses by elizabeth

elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
As a solution put ferrite claps on the interconnects from the preamp to the amp.
get four snap on ones from Radio Shack and put one at each end of the interconnect from the preamp to the amp. about five inches from the RCAs at each end. (you see ones similar on various computer cords now and then)
If they are too loose when clamped down, wrap some tape on the wires to give the wire body enough volume to keep the ferrites from sliding around too much.
The Ferrites should help with the HF glare.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3012599
Called 'snap choke core now.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
four. One each on each end of each of the cables, separate on each cable, not both cables squeezed into one ferrite.
So FOUR is the number you want to aquire.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Glad some small tweaks could elp out.
you could experiment with the Ferrite, try taking a pair off an interconnect (a tiny screwdriver can pop up the clips if they are like the old ones I still use, bought them 20 years ago.. and have moved them around and around an all sorts of stuff. I must own two dozen of them))
And try one on the CD powercord.(or if new Radio Shack anytime soon, get one for the CD powercord.
If i was you, i would look foor a cheap used Adcom 315 power conditioner here . Or some other small conditioner, to use just for the CD player and preamp.
Not more than $100 used.
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