SB sounding too bright

[stone]

It's been a couple of months since i got the SB2 now. At first i used the supplied interconnects, without being too impressed. When i retired my CD player, letting the SB inherit the interconnects, somthing changed. All in all sound quality improved quite a bit, but also a slight tendency towards brightness was revealed. This combined with excellent detail in the soundstage, is actually quite tiresome to listen to.

Any suggestions to what might be wrong here? Is the SB very sensitive to the capacitance in the interconnects?


Setup: Monitor Audio silver 7, Electrocompaniet ECI-3, with Nordost solar wind interconnects

S.

[Heimiko]

I also have an Electrocompaniet ECI-3 (greatest amp I ever bought) and I'm awaiting the arrival of my newly purchased SB3. Since it's technicaly the same as SB2, I fear that my listening results would be the same as yours. However, I have serveral different kinds of interconnects laying around to try it with. As soon as I get my box, I'll start expirimenting, I'll let you know the results.

[PhilNYC]

I found that upgrading the power supply/wall-wart to the Elpac linear power supply eliminated the sibilence that I was hearing from the SB2...

[)p(]

I found that upgrading the power supply/wall-wart to the Elpac linear power supply eliminated the sibilence that I was hearing from the SB2...

Interesting. I got my sb3 yesterday and also felt it sounded a little to bright and harsh compared to my cd player especially around voices. I guess i'll have to search for a similar linear power supply here in the Netherlands.

peter

[Buckyg4]

nordost cables are very revealing and bit on the bright side.

[krzys]

I bought an SB2 after reading that some of the forum/fellow audiophiles have dropped their CDPs (sometimes very good ones).
I now had it for two months. Sadly I must agree that the SB sounds rather bright compared to a CDP. I compared mine to a Cayin 15 and a CAL Delta both used as transports vs the sB2 using only the digital coax out. The sound of the SB is more "spectacular" but leaks the balance of the others, is rather hollow in the mids and the soundstaging even if wider is not as naturally "organic". I much prefer the more dark and relaxed presentation from a CDP. I would rank the SB in the mid-fi category of transport/players costing 500/600$. Conclusion: I will keep it for convenience but will reserve the CAL or better transport for serious listening.

Before you ask, I was using Flac files ripped with EAC. My system is rather sophi/complicated. Heavily tweaked Behringer DCX as a DAC and three tube amplifiers (one PP and two SET) powering Klipsch Cornwalls. The SB is fed with a linear PS.

I curious if any body else has similar experience?

[crooner]

too bright?
Try a snap-on ferrite RF supressor from Radio Shack. For $5 you can't go wrong. Attach the device to the power supply cable right at the connector. Secure with nylon wire ties if necessary.

Your digital harshness will dissapear!

[)p(]

After upgrading from 6.2.1 to 6.2.2 the analog out sounds much much better. Looks like I am very sensitive to the rounding error bug with the volume control mentioned here: http://bugs.slimdevices.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2557

peter

[RadioClash]

The 6.2.1 needs to disappear. Why is it still available for download if it is 'broken'?

[crooner]

I'm running 6.2.1 and I can't hear any problems in the sound. I am using the analog outputs at full volume (40) regulating the level at my receiver.

I wonder if I should upgrade to 6.2.2. It's not official yet and I don't want to introduce other bugs to my system....