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.

[Lou-the-dog]

Room treatments don't have to look obvious. Curtains (even if they don't cover a window), possibly pictures made out of woven materials or attractively framed acoustic traps are a possibility. Check out the diffferent options and possibly it can be made to fit into your wifes design goals.

Randy

[MichaelG]

My basement is an issue for brightness and I used 2 of the GIK 244 panels to help, however, Wife Acceptance Factor might be pretty low. There are DIY treatments you could make if your wife is in to crafts. Another possibility, based on what I have read, might be to use Bookshelves with mixed items in it to diffuse the reflections. There is a lot of materials you can read on the internet that might give you some ideas.

Michael

[locomo]

Finally tried all this in a smaller room but one with carpeting and drywall.
Still sounds bright at VERY high volumes. Probably will try the Emotiva ultra lights.

[Dave Nelms]

I have a B&K receiver, the 507. I have found that the sound is, the only way I can describe it is, laid back. I am comparing it to the sound of my acurus amps. Also when I purchased the receiver I listened and compared the sound to NAD, Rotel, Denon, and Integra. The B&K had a more laid back sound than the others. The dealer told me, and I cannot say if this is true or not but, that the American designed amps do temd to sound less bright than the ones made in Japan and other countries.

Anyway, just a few thoughts.

[bikeman]

The dealer told me, and I cannot say if this is true or not but, that the American designed amps do temd to sound less bright than the ones made in Japan and other countries.
This was the standard line even 35 years ago and I believed it for alotta years but I'm not so sure anymore. I think the Japanese engineers got the message a long time ago but the perception remains. And perception effects our senses big time.

David

[locomo]

Does anyone besides B&K still manufacture in the U.S. ?
I just ordered the Emotiva UltraLites. At least their designed in the U.S.
Will report once I receive them.