System tweaks to make treble softer/silkier/sweeter?

I'm currently trying out a power amp with treble that is a bit fatiguing after extra long listening sessions, and I was wondering what kinds of things I can do to smoothen out the higher registers. So far, I've replaced the Sylvania 6SN7 in my Saga with an RCA red base, but I'm open to more options.

Thanks!

 

Have you addressed the acoustics of your room?

 

I have 4” broadband panels in the corners w/thick blankets stuffed behind them, 2” panels at first reflection points, and a QRD diffuser on the front wall.

I think it bothers me most because I have an M-22’s sweet sweet sound to directly compare it to. The only thing is the M-22 doesn’t have the slam and grip I sometimes want.

 

It may not be up your alley, but applying a bit of de-essing works for my sibilance allergy: https://www.dmgaudio.com/essence. Assuming of course a digital source, and its sibilance that's grating and not tonality.

 

That is interesting. I think it’s a mixture of sharpness (possibly artificial?) and a lower treble hump compared to my M-22. I’ll keep it in mind but would like to try more old-fashioned tricks first before digital ones. Thanks though!

 

Maybe tube pre for smoother sound and more gain?

 

You’ve probably already considered this, but it seems like a natural application for Loki

 

I was hoping for tweaks of smaller commitment, if possible. If they won’t do it I should probably just try another amp.

 

Hm, that might do it. Thanks for the reminder about that little box.

 

Great points. Thanks @Hands. I’m wondering if it’s worth trying to work around this amp as well.

Truth is, summer's coming and I'm afraid my M-22 is going to overwhelm my little room with heat, so I was looking for something that runs cooler but doesn't make me feel like I'm missing too much compared to the Pioneer. This little Nuforce STA200 surprised me with sharpness, bass slam, and grip (more class A/B power) even if it lacked the finesse and a bit of inner detail compared to the M-22, so I was wondering if I could make it work.

 

What happened to the Van Alstine amp?

 

Are your speakers on stands? In the past, for me, raising the tweeter, above ear level, sometimes does the trick. That science is free

 

After hearing a FirstWatt at @sphinxvc’s next to the Van Alstine, I knew it had to go. I sold it after my friend restored an M-22 that I’d picked up.

 

They are. And the effect should be even more pronounced with it being an MTM configuration. Thanks for the idea. Is raising the stand on cinderblocks a silly idea?

 

IME the red base 5692 is pretty neutral up top, in my Freya feeding the same nuforce. You could try an older Sylvania 2-hole 6SN7GT like this one; I found them to be a little rolled off and sweeter than the RCA 5692s, but still keeping good bass response. Another thing to try for cheap (if you're running dome tweeters) is a felt diffraction ring around the dome. Also, play with toe-in on the speakers; if the speakers are voiced for slightly sloping response off-axis, you could take advantage of that.

 

I'm not saying you should live with it that way, but maybe just as a temporary science experiment. Speaker elevation always made a huge impact with me...

 

Per @Hands recommendation, I also recommend a NOS DAC. Holo Spring L1 is the perfect counter point to Yggdrasil A2 and it won't break the bank while still offering excellent sound quality.

 

Turning your speaker on and off axis is a classic trick to vary the treble. Typically speakers will produce more treble on axis (they face you directly) than they do when facing straight into the room. And a thick rug in front of the speakers tend to help too.

http://www.acousticfrontiers.com/speaker-off-axis-understanding-the-effect-of-speaker-toe-in/