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My system's high frequencies hurt my ears

Well, to be perfectly clear it doesn't always hurt my ears but I've been getting a little fatigued at times and I'm trying to diagnose the problem. A few nights ago I was listening to a new 24/96 The Doors first album release and had to stop playback. I switched over to The Eagles Greatest Hits, 16/44, and found some happiness there but I wasn't completely satisfied. Perhaps some of this is psychological, maybe I was feeling a little extra sensitive, but I'm sure I've had some issues with high frequencies in the past.

Here's my setup:

Serving all music, ripped to WAV by Exact Audio Copy or downloaded via high rez sites, via Windows 7 computer running J River set to WASAPI output. Sending signal via USB to Audiophilleo USB/SPDIF converter to PS Audio Digital Link III DAC. From DAC using Nordost Baldur unbalanced RCA interconnects to PS Audio C-100 Control Amp. Speaker wires are Nordost Blue Heaven. Power cables are PS Audio Lab Cable from wall to PS Audio Duet Power Conditioner. From there I use another Lab Cable for the amp and a PS Jewel cable for the DAC. The wall plug is on its own circuit with nothing else connected. Speakers are my old but good Mirage 1090i's.

Aside from perhaps the age of the speakers do you guys see anything that stands out? I spoke to a technician from Mirage and he suggested I'm doing too much signal processing which could be a cause of uncomfortable high frequencies.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
robpriore
jdoris
852 posts
 
Is this a fairly straightforward speaker issue?

To repeat myself, yes, IMHO.

That said, Map and Newbee are wise to suggest some placement tinkering, which can have impact more dramatic than big investments in gear. It doesn't cost much to spend a couple of sessions messing around (perhaps with the aid of Smith's Get Better Sound).

If this fails (as I predict it will), I'd then look to change speakers. Of the speakers I commend above, both the Fritz Carbon 7 and the Selah Veritas hit your pricepoint. Both Fritz and Rick Craig are helpful guys to talk to. Hitting a show like RMAF would also be an excellent idea.

John
robpriore OP
35 posts
 
So I toed in the speakers a few degrees and now have the tweeters crossing about two feet in front of my nose. I played the same tracks and sure enough the difference is substantial. I have better bass response, the soundstage and imaging are intact, and the highs are far more comfortable. For the final test I served up Dire Straights Money For Nothing in 24/192 and took the volume way up so i could feel the drums in the beginning sequence. When Mark Knopfler rips into his guitar it's just as I wanted to hear it.

Does it make sense for me to increase the toe in angle any more? At some point the soundstage will collapse, at least that's my understanding. I think it's prudent for me to demo different speakers to compare. I have to say though that were it not for forum members I would have dropped a few thousand without a real sense of what was wrong with my setup. Thank you for that.
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Without knowing specifically what your set up looks like it is hard to tell when you will have maxed out the toe in but, assuming that you are listening in a traditional triangle set up, or something close to that, take a piece of paper and draw your triangle. Then draw a perpendicular line from the front of the speaker. Then measure the degree of the angle from the front of the speaker to the center of your listening chair. Then draw a line half way between the chair and the perpendicular line. Then measure the distance in degrees from to the 'middle line' to the perpendicular line. You should get something like 22.5 degrees. But, whatever. Now with the axis of your speaker pointed at your head (in the listening chair :-), you can toe your speaker(s) inward up to the degree you measured (i.e. 22.5?). Once you have done this listen for a while and start moving the speakers axis back toward your head, a couple of degrees at a time. For the fun of it I bet you end up with toe in about 15 degrees from your head.

Sorry for the length of this post. I'm sure there was a much easier way of saying this.
robpriore OP
35 posts
 
I'm having a bit of trouble with this. I have an isosceles triangle with two angles being 64.6 degrees and the angle of my listening chair being 50.8 degrees. The triangle sides are 120 by 120 by 103 inches. When I draw the perpendicular line from the right speaker I get another isosceles triangle. I'm missing a line somewhere.
newbee
4,093 posts
 
OK my assumption that your listening position was further from the speakers than the speakers are from each other makes my suggestion a bit obtuse. Lets see if this will work, rotate your speaker(s) until the axis is approximately 18 to 20 degrees past your head position. Listen for a while to the new sound (I would do it for some days - just getting used to hearing it). Then then start rotating the speakers back towards your head until the sound improves or deteriorates. When it deteriorates stop and go back the other way by say 50%. And so forth. You should find a sweet spot some where in the range.

Also, since the rear of your speaker is now likely pointed at the side wall/corner behind the speaker, you could temporarily hang a heavy blanket on the wall to see if deadening some the speaker's back tweeter will be beneficial to you. Or if that is not possible, you might try hanging a blanket or two on the wall behind the speakers helps at all. This is all trial and error stuff but if you find a real improvement you can always find domestic materials from bookcases with books, drapes, plants etc which will serve nearly as well as high end and ugly acoustic materials.

This is a slow process but can really be worthwhile.
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