Trade offs?

Well, I disagree somewhat with Plato. If the majority of your CDs sund harsh, it could be that the majority of your CDs are poorly recorded and your resolving system is exposing their flaws.

I have far fewer well recorded CDs in my system than I do poorly recorded CDs (and the same applies to LPs).

As a system becomes more resolving, it more clearly reveals flaws in source material.

If you want more of your CDs to sound less harsh, then I suggest moving toward a less resolving system intended to please your ears rather than providing the absolute truth of the recordings.

I guess I can agree with Tvad that it is possible that the majority of your recordings are poorly recorded.

That said, there is also the possibility that you have poor AC power or a component (even wires) that is making your system sound that way.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to investigate the cause. If it's a particular component, or trashy AC, those things can be addressed. If it's simply the poor quality of your recordings, you can buy some better sounding ones. If nothing is wrong then you can move to tubes or a less resolving system to help soften the harshness.

I used to find that many of my CDs were poorly recorded. Then through many system iterations, support changes and tube changes, I have arrived at a system that makes music no matter what.

I can still easily tell which CDs are well recorded and which aren't - that hasn't changed - but my level of enjoyment has risen to a level where the recording quality doesn't matter as much as the music: the subtle details of playing style, the communication between musicians, dynamic shading etc. I no longer hesitate to play a CD that isn't a great recording. I now simply listen to the music.

How I got to this point is, unfortunately, too complicated to put into mere proclamations. It is a collective difference of many interrelated parts and not one or two magical modifications.

After having owned tons of equipment and played with setup execution for zillions of hours, it is my belief that a highly accurate system does not necessarily mean poor recordings have to sound poor. Quite the contrary actually - a system that is setup just right will get the essence and the emotion of the music to the point of transcending recording flaws. I am very happy to have finally reached that point, and I hope you will too someday. All you need is luck, persistence and patience.

Arthur

My experience has been increases in system resolution comes in two phases. The first phase often involves increased resolution that may sound more analytical and unforgiving. The second phase is all about refinement of that increased resolution, this is the more difficult to achieve.

I'm at the point where I don't think there is any limit to maximizing both resolution and musicality. Evolution of one's system can likely go on indefinitely.

Get a quality turntable, stylus and phono stage. You won't like the CD's after listening to it.