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Rethinking Listening Fatigue

Listening fatigue to me has always been a sure sign that something was wrong with an audio system.

It is a useful test of a system, because it is not always immediately apparent - a fact which has undoubtedly helped Dr Bose get rich.

I have always thought fatigue was mainly a product of digital, overly bright tweeters, and/or a sonic signature that puts too much emphasis on "resolution" and not enough emphasis on high quality midrange.

But lately I am wondering if I have been oversimplifying things.

As you can see in my system link, I am using a pair of ATC SCM 7's with a pair of Behringer amps used as monoblocks for my desktop and PC audio.

Recently, I have added a Hagerman Technology USB interface box, which goes into an Audio Research DAC 5.

To my ears, the ATCs have a slightly laid back, non fatiguing sound typical of many English products which suits my tastes just fine, particularly for very nearfield listening.

What is curious, however, is that I am starting to realize that this system sounds really different depending on the volume and/or the time of day.

At times, this little system sounds wonderful. I feel I can listen to it for hours, with the speakers < 3 feet away from my ears and in many ways, I enjoy it more than the big system.

Detail for both music and movies is very clear and I have especially noted that I am better able to discern dialogue with these speakers, without ever feeling like the sound is too "etched' or embossed.

At other times, however, I feel quickly fatigued and suddently overwhelmed with an unpleasant this is way too loud, the music is congested and I must be bothering my wife sensation.

No one I know has ever described ATC monitors as fatiguing, so I am starting to wonder:

1) Despite relatively high power of the Behringer amps in a monoblock configuration, is it possible that they are overdriven and distorting at not terribly loud levels?If so, would this type of distortion, rather than overly hot tweeters, be a more obvious culprit for fatigue?

2) Or could grunge in my AC also contribute to listeners fatigue? Would some of you recommend a line conditioner rather than an upgrade to the amps for this desktop system?

The fatigue I am trying to describe always manifests itself as 'this is uncomfortably loud' sensation.

Thank you for your thoughts and comments on this and the topic of listeners' fatigue.

cwlondon
cwlondon
johnmcelfresh
97 posts
 
I know that, when I moved to a new home, my listening enjoyment was greatly reduced and I thought my new listening room must be the culprit, a hopeless cause. Then one day (a couple sad years later) I was talking to someone at an audio store and he challenged me to try power conditioning, offering a 30 day, unconditional, money-back guarantee.

I took the offer, and it was the most significant upgrade I ever did for my system. The power in my house was so bad that it was ruining my system's sound. I have since upgraded considerably and run dedicated circuits, etc, but continue to use the power conditioning equipment, as most of the problem is probably generated in my own home (motors, computers, plasma TVs, etc.)

You don't have to spend a fortune. Even a $200 Monster Power Bar can have an amazing impact. Try it - from a store that offers a 30 day trial.

BTW - my system is now 100% digital (though it wsn't when I first bought the power conditioner) so don't let anyone tell you digtal has to be fatiguing. No one could possible call my current system fatiguing.

John
undertow
1,032 posts
 
POWER delivery... I had a home with problems on the Grid.. at times during the day between about midnight and 7 in the morning, (mostly when people were asleep) the system was in its best buttery and hi current delivery state, with no listener fatigue, however listen between about 4 pm and 10 pm at night and it was much more forward and thinned out sounding.. Obviously it has to do with the transformers and supplies to everybodys homes and all the appliances etc.. running during the peak times.. I could tell this just about everytime. Fixing it can become somewhat a messy solution to many and expensive.. Listen at midnight and then at 12 noon the next day on a saturday or something and see what you find out!!
Good Luck
cwlondon OP
1,198 posts
 
Thank you, everyone.

Jax2, I am a little confused. Yes, I am using the inexpensive Hag Tech box, but I have assumed it was converting USB to SPDIF only, which I then input to my Audio Research DAC 5.

Is there some reason that signal chain is worse than I thought?

Undertow, from an intuitive perspective your comments make the most sense. We live in a small village with old and stresed infrastructure, frequent power outages and regular line fluctuations from 110-120 volts, according the volt meter on my power strip.

Re Power conditioners, I have just looked at the PS Audio "regenerators".

If, in fact, this type of device can take erratic, noisy electricity and regenerate it into a perfect power supply, does this mean it would be no longer necessary to run a dedicated line, dedicated sub panel etc?

Thanks for all ideas.
sns
653 posts
 
I agree that your power is the first thing to look at. Why, because you seem to like your sound sometimes, ie. variable power or recording quality sounds like the culprit.

First of all, no power conditioner is perfect, they all have their own sound, you may have to experiment with a few of them. I also would suggest you not run your amp on them, most agree with this.

It is still best to run dedicated lines, the more optimum power you supply the power condtioner the better your system will sound. You don't have to run a dedicated sub panel, just run all your dedicated lines off the same phase in the main panel.
undertow
1,032 posts
 
Cwlondon, well I can tell you my explanation is the most real, because it is fact... This is an issue nobody really thinks about, and with audiophile'ism most get very caught up in components themselves or better quality thinking they will automatically hear it all.. last thing they think about are the two most basic and primitive realities, your Room environment(acoustics etc...) and your Electrical power making all this happen are the most sensitive and most complex to work out, and is probably in the end for most the most expensive to sort out as it has to do with now a Whole home, environment and intrudes on actual living vs. a couple of components sitting on a stand...

As for power conditioning, or re-generation, well it can be better in your case and worse in somebody elses that don't have your issues, only thing is you need to take a shot and see what happens.. But I highly suggest buying new so you can have a decent no question asked return policy on any product you try.. I have had ZERO luck with Conditioners.. But bigger Isolation transformers or possibly a decent re--generator could be effective in your case but not a guarantee, however much more expensive than most conventional methods..

Dedicated lines are nice as well.. But this is gonna be permanent and costly too, so you might do this after you see how a device that you can return might help you first without permanent install and then decide how far to go with things.
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