How to reduce birghtness? (1 Viewer)

[Ryan Cruz]

Is it alright to tinker with the settings of the receiver it's hooked up with, or are they other ways to slightly reduce overall brightness?

 

[Bob Sheen]

We're probably going to need a little more detail here to help you out ?

What's your setup ? But not knowing that, you may want to tinker with speaker placement and see if that helps first.

Bob

 

[James Edward]

If they're toed-in, face them forward. Sometimes this will help. Sometimes brightness is related to a lack of bass. So, play a little with both the bass and treble controls a little; a little bass boost might work better to your ears than a treble cut.

Also:

If they are speakers on stands, try just listening upside-down, so the mid-woof is on top, and more directly radiating toward you.

 

[John Desmond]

Often depends on the room. A room that is very "live", full of hard, reflective surfaces, will often sound very bright. Carpets, throw rugs, bookshelves, drapes, plants, furniture, etc., will all help absorb and diffuse some of the offending high frequency reflections.

 

[John Garcia]

If they are speakers on stands, try just listening upside-down, so the mid-woof is on top, and more directly radiating toward you.

Yep, standing on your head is a very good way to reduce brightness.

 

[Frank_S]

I've read on other forums where people have placed thin material over the tweeters to absorb some of the upper frequency harshness, check the archives or go to this site.
www.audioasylum.com

 

[Larry B]

Frank:

I've read on other forums where people have placed thin material over the tweeters to absorb some of the upper frequency harshness, check the archives or go to this

site.

Good Lord! I hope the speaker designer doesn't hear about this. Perhaps those individuals should get new speakers (or new electronics, or both).

Larry

 

[Jeffrey Chin]

let's not overlook the obvious here folks.

don't use silver cables or ICs if your system is already bright. copper will definitely sound warmer.

 

[Marc H]

If, when sitting in the stereo sweet spot, you cup your hands over your ears with them open towards the speakers and the brightness goes away, early side wall reflections are the culprit. Try more toe in to avoid that.

 

[Frank_S]

Try room treatments at the first reflection points, behind the speakers and on the side walls. You can find DIY panel
designs on audioasylum(ala Bob Crump)or you could try Echobuster panels. I bought Echobuster panels last year, they were good enough to give me a 30 trial period so I tried their absorber panels and Bassbusters.I kept some of the panels that helped tame mainly the first reflection points and 2 Bassbusters.
Room treatments can get expensive so being able to return them is a must, IMO.

 

[Larry Hoffman]

How long have you had the speakers. Tweeters usually warm up over time. Also, if you removed the grills, put them back on...at least until the speakers have broken in for a while. Of course, depending on your particular situation, all or some, of the previous recommendations will help.

One other thing, a bright source, with a bright amp, with bright cables, mated with bright speakers, will probably sound bright no matter what you do. Proper component matching is also important.

Larry.

 

[Russell W]

Ryan,

Everyone here has given you some great advice. If your speakers are broken in (80-100 hrs), you have toed them in, and have some room treatments. I would definitely look to the wire used as someone else mentioned. IMHO this will be the greatest equalizer to reduce the briteness.

Russell Woolfolk

AV123.com

 

[Ryan Cruz]

Thanks for all the great inputs guys. I have a Mission 774 and my room's flooring is mostly made of hard Narra wood with wallpapered cement walls. I do have them toed-in, and just had them for one week, and took off the grills. So I guess I'll be following all your advices. Since it's pretty new I guess I would have to break them in first

 

[Manuel Delaflor]

Ryan, sometimes people think their speakers are bright because they are accustomed to muddy speakers. Let your ears spend more time with them. Also, try to increment your bass levels (a sub?), that can be the reason for the brightness.

 

[Dave_Olds]

Good Lord, no wonder it sounds bright....Almost any setup would sound bright in this room....I think DIY or acoustical treatments of ANY order are required...!!!

 

[Marc H]

Double check they are in phase too. Those speakers should have smooth treble and ample bass.

 

[Greg_R]

There is no reason to spend a lot of money on fancy cables or treatments. Use some large plants or bookshelves (w. books) at the first point to reflection to break up the high frequencies. Also use decorative carpets or other thick material (on floors or walls) to absorb the highs.