Hard to say for sure until you can generate a frequency response graph, but it could very well be the speakers. What make/model are they?
Regards,
Wayne
Noob Alert! - Help With 2KHz Spike
This may be the wrong forum as I haven't even run REW yet having only just discovered it. However:
I only run a two channel stereo setup but have struggled for some time with a harshness in what I think are upper mids that gets worse with volume increases. This problem has continued through amp & speaker changes so today I played around with some fixed frequency test tone WAV files. This has shown that at 2KHz something odd is going on as 2KHz sounds much louder than 1KHz or 4KHz & I'm guessing this is my problem. I will start to gather the hardware required to run REW to get some proper measurements but wondered if I could get some pointers as to possible causes & solutions in the mean time?
The room is 18' x 12' with carpet over a concrete floor.
Walls are bare painted but the problem also existed when they were papered.
The problem also exists regardless of speaker position.
The only glass is a double width sliding patio door with small windows either side. This occupies some 12' of one of the 18' walls. There are fairly thin curtains that run the full width & it doesn't seem to make any difference whether they're open or closed.
I'd be extremely grateful for any pointers even if it's just other threads/sites to read up on.
I only run a two channel stereo setup but have struggled for some time with a harshness in what I think are upper mids that gets worse with volume increases. This problem has continued through amp & speaker changes so today I played around with some fixed frequency test tone WAV files. This has shown that at 2KHz something odd is going on as 2KHz sounds much louder than 1KHz or 4KHz & I'm guessing this is my problem. I will start to gather the hardware required to run REW to get some proper measurements but wondered if I could get some pointers as to possible causes & solutions in the mean time?
The room is 18' x 12' with carpet over a concrete floor.
Walls are bare painted but the problem also existed when they were papered.
The problem also exists regardless of speaker position.
The only glass is a double width sliding patio door with small windows either side. This occupies some 12' of one of the 18' walls. There are fairly thin curtains that run the full width & it doesn't seem to make any difference whether they're open or closed.
I'd be extremely grateful for any pointers even if it's just other threads/sites to read up on.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Hard to say for sure until you can generate a frequency response graph, but it could very well be the speakers. What make/model are they?
Regards,
Wayne
Thanks but as I said, speakers (& amp) have been changed several times because I too thought that was the cause. Mission M34i > Acoustic Energy Neo 3 > Monitor Audio RS6 > Spendor A6. All have displayed this tendency to a greater or lesser effect with the Missions being the worst & the Spendors being the best.
Amp is currently a Leema Pulse III & I've previously had Arcam A85 & Rotel RA-1062.
Edit
I played with a signal generator app this morning. Manually sweeping between 1KHz & 5KHz, there seems to be audible ringing (for want of a better description) between 2.5KHz & 3KHz that peaks/intensifies at 2.7KHz. This is just by ear & very small movements of my head increased/decreased the effect significantly.
On with the search for a decent mic as there doesn't seem to be much available for a reasonable price in the UK, other than the real cheapo Radio Shack.
Amp is currently a Leema Pulse III & I've previously had Arcam A85 & Rotel RA-1062.
Edit
I played with a signal generator app this morning. Manually sweeping between 1KHz & 5KHz, there seems to be audible ringing (for want of a better description) between 2.5KHz & 3KHz that peaks/intensifies at 2.7KHz. This is just by ear & very small movements of my head increased/decreased the effect significantly.
On with the search for a decent mic as there doesn't seem to be much available for a reasonable price in the UK, other than the real cheapo Radio Shack.
Then it could likely be an acoustics issue (although I can’t rightly say I’ve heard of one of this nature). REW can help you trace that down, with help from some of the folks here who are well-versed in that area.Thanks but as I said, speakers (& amp) have been changed several times because I too thought that was the cause.
Alternately, it could simply be that your ears are particularly sensitive to that frequency range. Again, a frequency response measurement with REW could tell us if there is actually a measurable spike in the 2 kHz range or not.
An easy fix would be outboard parametric equalization, but that would require you moving up to full separates.
Yeah, such is the nature of sine waves in that frequency range. They really aren’t the best test signal for determining a problem like this – at least, not by ear.Edit
I played with a signal generator app this morning. Manually sweeping between 1KHz & 5KHz, there seems to be audible ringing (for want of a better description) between 2.5KHz & 3KHz that peaks/intensifies at 2.7KHz. This is just by ear & very small movements of my head increased/decreased the effect significantly.
You might check with Cross Spectrum (see the sticky thread in Mics/Meters Forum) - I think they’ll ship internationally.On with the search for a decent mic as there doesn't seem to be much available for a reasonable price in the UK, other than the real cheapo Radio Shack.
Regards,
Wayne
Thanks Wayne.
The ringing doesn't occur on headphones or if I move very close to the speakers so it does seem like a room issue rather than my ears. Can you give an example of what you mean by external equalization? I'm guessing a DSP based equivalent of ye olde graphic equalizer sitting between a pre-amp & power?
The ringing doesn't occur on headphones or if I move very close to the speakers so it does seem like a room issue rather than my ears. Can you give an example of what you mean by external equalization? I'm guessing a DSP based equivalent of ye olde graphic equalizer sitting between a pre-amp & power?
Yes, something like the Mini DSP or a pro-audio parametric EQ (current-model or vintage) of adequate quality.
Regards,
Wayne
I just finished the Get Better Sound book and video by Jim Smith and he discussed rooms with carpet over concrete. He says that concrete sub-flooring it is generally a bad idea acoustically but he gives treatment options. I don't know if this will help your specific problem but having just finished the book and DVD I consider it a essential resource regardless. Hope this helps.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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