This is an audiophile question rather than a strictly musical one but, since it applies mostly to classical music, I thought I'd post it here.
I am experiencing excessive harshness, brightness and what I'd describe as distortion in higher passages for violin sections in listening to my system. The harshness becomes present around the F-A (2nd above middle C, so freq of ~750-1000Hz). It is an issue for string sections only. Individual violins sound great up there, as do high winds, so it isn't a problem with my treble.
For reference, here is my system: CD player -> Audio GD Digital Interface re-clocker --> Metrum Octave DAC -> Passive preamp (Lightspeed Attenuator) -> W4S ST-500 amp (Class D) --> Magnestand (Gunn'd) MMGs.
Here are my leading theories:
1) Digital recording of high string sections is still a problem.
2) The Class D amp adds noise at higher frequencies. (I'm channelling morricab here.)
3) Room interactions. (My room & set-up is normal and symmetric although there are two intrusions into the room.)
4) Jitter. (The re-clocker should help a lot with this issue but the Audio GD is not a state-of-the-art unit like an Off-Ramp or such.)
What are your theories about what is causing this problem? Any hints on diagnosing or solving the problem?
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Topic - Classical music listening issue - high strings - jult52 10:22:01 06/28/12 (49)
- RE: Classical music listening issue - high strings - lesleymorley@yahoo.com 15:50:19 07/12/12 (0)
- That is merely a symptom of a system wide problem I like to refer to as "audioitis." You're merely hearing - tinear 09:18:09 07/12/12 (0)
- I wanted to thank everyone for their - jult52 04:18:40 07/01/12 (5)
- Lots of problems - layman 11:07:00 07/01/12 (4)
- layman - jult52 09:04:47 07/02/12 (3)
- Reducing distortions - layman 19:06:29 07/02/12 (2)
- Do you like how the violin section of an orchestra sounds live? - Teresa 03:46:38 07/01/12 (19)
- You're Actually A Guy, Aren't You? - Mike Porper 08:21:27 07/03/12 (2)
- No, I'm a woman. - Teresa 16:27:09 07/03/12 (1)
- Hear me ROAR!~ - kuma 18:38:47 07/03/12 (0)
- Next she'll tell us she's sold all her Paavo Jarvi recordings - flyingdutchman 17:06:54 07/02/12 (4)
- Actually - Teresa 19:33:23 07/02/12 (3)
- Sorry - genungo 20:55:29 07/02/12 (1)
- Thanks //(*_*)\\ (nt) - Teresa 21:36:31 07/02/12 (0)
- RE: Actually - flyingdutchman 20:32:32 07/02/12 (0)
- RE: Do you like how the violin section of an orchestra sounds live? - flyingdutchman 17:04:42 07/02/12 (0)
- Teresa - EXPOSED FOR ALL TO SEE!! - krisjan 05:24:34 07/01/12 (7)
- Thanks I changed argo to arco. - Teresa 17:11:35 07/01/12 (2)
- Teresa - Nice to have you back - have the sanctions against you here been lifted? [nt] - Chris from Lafayette 18:52:57 07/01/12 (1)
- Been back for over a year, however - Teresa 19:00:28 07/01/12 (0)
- really? - Analog Scott 11:44:01 07/01/12 (3)
- Correct I didn't use the word "harsh" once in the post krisjan responded to - Teresa 18:57:15 07/01/12 (0)
- RE: really? - ahendler 18:29:08 07/01/12 (1)
- RE: really? - Analog Scott 23:29:29 07/01/12 (0)
- Hi Teresa - me again - jult52 04:16:45 07/01/12 (1)
- Oh well, just an idea. Back to the drawing board. (nt) - Teresa 16:53:01 07/01/12 (0)
- RE: Classical music listening issue - high strings - briggs 09:33:26 06/30/12 (0)
- RE: Classical music listening issue - high strings - josh358 20:05:44 06/29/12 (4)
- Josh - as always I appreciate your comments. - jult52 09:08:30 07/02/12 (1)
- RE: Josh - as always I appreciate your comments. - josh358 10:19:06 07/02/12 (0)
- Parametric EQ - Bob Stern 00:11:29 06/30/12 (1)
- RE: Parametric EQ - josh358 07:26:29 06/30/12 (0)
- Do you have an analogue source to compare to? - David Smith 12:02:07 06/29/12 (0)
- Personally, I like different speakers when I listen to classical music... - genungo 21:08:18 06/28/12 (0)
- Read Robert E. Greene's articles - hesson11 20:26:41 06/28/12 (2)
- RE: Read Robert E. Greene's articles - jult52 09:34:25 07/03/12 (1)
- RE: Read Robert E. Greene's articles - hesson11 15:59:13 07/03/12 (0)
- RE: Harshness in treble - Paul_A 20:02:18 06/28/12 (0)
- Do you have any recordings of strings in simple stereo - Timbo in Oz 19:54:56 06/28/12 (0)
- RE: Classical music listening issue - high strings - Todd Krieger 17:04:35 06/28/12 (0)
- Any Possiblity You Have A Blown Driver? - Mike Porper 15:29:33 06/28/12 (1)
- RE: Any Possiblity You Have A Blown Driver? - jult52 09:33:30 07/03/12 (0)
- Please list specific recordings, if you can - John Marks 10:34:44 06/28/12 (4)
- It's been happening across a wide range of recordings - jult52 10:38:42 06/28/12 (3)
- RE: It's been happening across a wide range of recordings - pbarach 13:13:05 06/28/12 (2)
- pbarach - That's a legit question - jult52 13:54:57 06/28/12 (1)
- RE: pbarach - That's a legit question - pbarach 14:05:23 06/28/12 (0)