Any B&K or Emotiva users out there?

[locomo]

I have the 340SE's for RCL, and 170's in the rear, with the Hsu STF3 for a 5.1 solution.
I'm powering them with the Panny XR-55 and it sounds excellent for home theater.
I've been listening to a lot of hi res 5.1 music (SACD and DVD-A) music and the Panny is just too bright,
especially at high volumes.
I've tried a couple of different universal players and also run some KEF RDM3 Monitor speakers,
so I'm pretty sure it's the Panny.
So now I'm thinking of getting and Emotiva pre-pro:
http://www.emotivaaudio.com/lmc1.html
and either an Emotiva or a used B&K multi-channel amp or a B&K receiver.
Anyone run any of the above with their Ascends?

[bikeman]

Have you considered the listening area as a source of the brightness? I don't find the 55 bright even at high volume but I'm sure my listening area is partly responsible for that.

David

[1Time]

So would more reflective surfaces in a listening room like a hard floor contribute to the perception of brightness? And then conversely would surfaces like carpeting contribute to the opposite?

If not, what could be done to a room to reduce the perception of brightness when using Ascends and the XR55 (I have both I will be trying out for the first time today). Thanks

[bikeman]

So would more reflective surfaces in a listening room like a hard floor contribute to the perception of brightness? And then conversely would surfaces like carpeting contribute to the opposite?
If not, what could be done to a room to reduce the perception of brightness when using Ascends and the XR55 (I have both I will be trying out for the first time today). Thanks

Try it first. Don't fix what ain't broke. If you have issues, report back. We'll work on it. There's a corelation between expecting problems and having problems. So the first order of business is to relax. When I got my 340SE's, there were too many things going on for me to sit down and just relax and enjoy the speakers. I held off making any comments or judgements until I could give the 340's a proper audition. Made all the difference in the world.

David

[1Time]

Good advise. I plan on breaking in my 170SE's for a while before making changes anyway. I mostly was asking to learn for future reference. I'm impressed with how knowledgeable and responsive you and others are here. Thanks

After breaking in my Ascends for a while, I will be comparing them to my AR.com DIY bookshelf speakers with my two receivers, my new Pany XR55 and my H/K AVR630. I really don't know which combo I will like best for my set-up and needs, but I'm kind of hoping it will be the Ascends and XR55. Should be interesting.

[cyberbri]

One thing to reduce perceived brightness would be to treat the first reflection points with acoustic panels. You can DIY them, or check out GIK Acoustics (what I use), RealTraps, etc.

Basically this absorbs the side-wall reflections so sound isn't bouncing back off the wall and smearing the sound. You'd be surprised at the difference.

That being said, I have seen a lot of people say they turn the treble way down on their Panasonic receivers.

[locomo]

Yeah, I failed to mention the room has 3 walls of brick. But the 4th wall, that the front speakers are facing is wood panel. A few places I've read on the net say, brick is more of a problem for the lower end, not the upper.
Regardless, the wifey says no to any room treatments.
So that's why I'm gearing for a more "neutral" receiver or seperates.
(that, and the typical upgradeitis)
And I do have the Panny's trebel all the way down already.
That's why I asked if anyone was running B&K or Emotiva with their Ascends.

Thanks

[curtis]

I got a feeling that with any receiver, pre/pro-amp, you will have a reflection/room problem causing issues with the treble.

[locomo]

I got a feeling that with any receiver, pre/pro-amp, you will have a reflection/room problem causing issues with the treble.

For music, I might have to get a new room

[curtis]

For music, I might have to get a new room

Or just do room treatment.