My setups sounds too bright, Kimber or Nordost?

[Chr78]

Hi guys.

After somewhat of a hifi journey, i have finally (i think) found my system. It is kef ls50 and the new Marantz Hd amp 1, it really did magic on my ls50´s. My speaker cables are nordost red dawn. Eventhough my systems sounds good, it is a bit bright though. i have heard that kimber 8tc, would brighten/smoothen my system a bit down in a good way, and still keep the details and air i have now.

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

It has to be said, that i prefer a opener, brighter, detailed system than a really warm one.

 

[iceman16]

Hi guys.

After somewhat of a hifi journey, i have finally (i think) found my system. It is kef ls50 and the new Marantz Hd amp 1, it really did magic on my ls50´s. My speaker cables are nordost red dawn. Eventhough my systems sounds good, it is a bit bright though. i have heard that kimber 8tc, would brighten/smoothen my system a bit down in a good way, and still keep the details and air i have now.

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

It has to be said, that i prefer a opener, brighter, detailed system than a really warm one.

Can you try Tellurium Q black?

 

[TrevC]

Hi guys.

After somewhat of a hifi journey, i have finally (i think) found my system. It is kef ls50 and the new Marantz Hd amp 1, it really did magic on my ls50´s. My speaker cables are nordost red dawn. Eventhough my systems sounds good, it is a bit bright though. i have heard that kimber 8tc, would brighten/smoothen my system a bit down in a good way, and still keep the details and air i have now.

What do you think? Any other suggestions?

It has to be said, that i prefer a opener, brighter, detailed system than a really warm one.

Can you try Tellurium Q black?

He's wasted more than enough on pointless foo. How about a sensible suggestion? I would suggest balancing things out with a BK sub.

 

[Andrewjvt]

Change speakers as amps and cables wont change the brightness

 

[pyrrhon]

After somewhat of a hifi journey, i have finally (i think) found my system. It is kef ls50 and the new Marantz Hd amp 1, it really did magic on my ls50´s. My speaker cables are nordost red dawn. Eventhough my systems sounds good, it is a bit bright though. i have heard that kimber 8tc, would brighten/smoothen my system a bit down in a good way, and still keep the details and air i have now.

You cant balance much with cable, it makes a very small difference so youll end up spending and having a bright system again. the ls50 is IMO a bright and clear hifi style speaker. I would put at least 100 watts to get a better bass. You should rather try something like proac studio 118 for balanced pleasant sound.

 

[lindsayt]

Try changing the angling and then position of the speakers.

 

[Andrewjvt]

After somewhat of a hifi journey, i have finally (i think) found my system. It is kef ls50 and the new Marantz Hd amp 1, it really did magic on my ls50´s. My speaker cables are nordost red dawn. Eventhough my systems sounds good, it is a bit bright though. i have heard that kimber 8tc, would brighten/smoothen my system a bit down in a good way, and still keep the details and air i have now.?

You cant balance much with cable, it makes a very small difference so youll end up spending and having a bright system again. the ls50 is IMO a bright and clear hifi style speaker. I would put at least 100 watts to get a better bass. You should rather try something like proac studio 118 for balanced pleasant sound. 

Kef r300?

 

[chebby]

35 Wpc amp with 85dB speakers having impedance that dips to 3.2 Ohms.

Get more sensitive speakers (around 90dB or more), or a more powerful amplifier.

 

[Vladimir]

Kimber 4TC. Nordost sounds thin.

 

[gasolin]

Supra ply 3.4 or van den hul clearwater they are NOT bright sounding

 

[TrevC]

In the Tellurium Q range, it is the Blue Diamond that mellows bright systems.

How? Do they have an equalizer built in?

 

[DocG]

Try changing the angling and then position of the speakers.

+1. Start with a firm toe-in.

And some carpet and/or tapestry at the right spot might work wonders too (use a mirror to find the spots: the first reflection points).

I have the LS50s myself. They are not bright (in my room, with my source and amp).

 

[abacus]

Just turn the treble control down, thats what its there for.

Bill

 

[CnoEvil]

If you believe cables make a difference, I would also suggest TQ Black.....make sure it can be returned if it doesn't deliver what you are looking for.

 

[davedotco]

Just turn the treble control down, thats what its there for.

Bill

Exactly, try smallest possible decrease at the treble end and if needed an increase at the bass end too, give the amplifier a very gentle overall down tilt.

 

[antskip]

can you try Tellurium Q black?

I tried the Tellurium Q Black, but found it transparent but unforgiving. In comparison I found the slightly more expensive Tellurium Q Blue Diamond (the old "Green") did reduce an existing brightness. But of course every system and situation is unique - specific listening is only way to know.

 

[ID.]

Just turn the treble control down, thats what its there for.

Bill

Exactly, try smallest possible decrease at the treble end and if needed an increase at the bass end too, give the amplifier a very gentle overall down tilt.

it depends on the amp, but I usually find the treble control is too low to fix brightness and the bass control is too high to fix in room boom.

Lose the Nordost

 

[TrevC]

If you believe cables make a difference, I would also suggest TQ Black.....make sure it can be returned if it doesn't deliver what you are looking for.

It won't deliver anything that a cheap copper multistrand 4mm can't.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

I definitely wouldn't be shelling out for cable,the differences are miniscule,I reckon the amp is having trouble keeping a firm grip on those ls50's.So it's either a amp or speaker change I'm afraid if you want to truly sort it.

 

[TrevC]

Just turn the treble control down, thats what its there for.

Bill

Exactly, try smallest possible decrease at the treble end and if needed an increase at the bass end too, give the amplifier a very gentle overall down tilt.

it depends on the amp, but I usually find the treble control is too low to fix brightness and the bass control is too high to fix in room boom.

Lose the Nordost

The Nordost is made up of 20 strands of 28 AWG silver plated cable. This makes it slightly worse resistance wise than the bog standard 2mm stranded tinned copper stuff used on car speakers, so it will sound like that.

 

[drummerman]

Imho, very thin cables can lack in high frequency energy as well as not allowing the amplifier to adequatly control bass drivers.

As the OP has small bookshelf speakers the latter will not matter to greatly plus the lack of HF extension/energy will probably help.

So, rather than going for boutique bling (nothing wrong in a well matched system ... which the OP's clearly is not) I'd plump for something like QED's Original. A thin, well made cable for a about 3 quid a meter.

Not something I'd normally recommend but it should do the job.

 

[TrevC]

http://cdn.stereophile.com/images/1212KEF50fig1.jpg.

The impedance curve suggests that the biggest impact will be at the low bass end, so I would use a thicker copper multistrand cable, perhaps 6mm to err on the very safe side.

Like this.

http://tinyurl.com/jh4vgs2

 

[ID.]

Just turn the treble control down, thats what its there for.

Bill

Exactly, try smallest possible decrease at the treble end and if needed an increase at the bass end too, give the amplifier a very gentle overall down tilt.

it depends on the amp, but I usually find the treble control is too low to fix brightness and the bass control is too high to fix in room boom.

Lose the Nordost

The Nordost is made up of 20 strands of 28 AWG silver plated cable. This makes it slightly worse resistance wise than the bog standard 2mm stranded tinned copper stuff used on car speakers, so it will sound like that.

silver! Everyone knows silver is bright

everyone knows Nordost can exacerbate brightness

The real question is, is the OP actually using speaker cable that costs almost as much as the speakers?!?

 

[Vladimir]

http://cdn.stereophile.com/images/1212KEF50fig1.jpg.

The impedance curve suggests that the biggest impact will be at the low bass end, so I would use a thicker copper multistrand cable, perhaps 6mm to err on the very safe side.

Like this.

http://tinyurl.com/jh4vgs2

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about.

Speakers are like musical instruments and the cables are like finely tuned strings that make them resonate with music. You can't comprehend this by looking at bunch of graphs and specs. Just buy and listen. If you are unsure of the sound, let it burn in for few months. If still unsure, upgrade to new cables next year. And we are all going to be OK!

*dance4*

 

[TrevC]

Just turn the treble control down, thats what its there for.

Bill

Exactly, try smallest possible decrease at the treble end and if needed an increase at the bass end too, give the amplifier a very gentle overall down tilt.

it depends on the amp, but I usually find the treble control is too low to fix brightness and the bass control is too high to fix in room boom.

Lose the Nordost

The Nordost is made up of 20 strands of 28 AWG silver plated cable. This makes it slightly worse resistance wise than the bog standard 2mm stranded tinned copper stuff used on car speakers, so it will sound like that.

silver! Everyone knows silver is bright

everyone knows Nordost can exacerbate brightness

The real question is, is the OP actually using speaker cable that costs almost as much as the speakers?!?

Could have bought a nice BK sub for that money, complete with Antimode eq. It would have sounded wonderful. Mine does.