Somethings wrong in my perfect world!

In my last post I've used the word distorting, I think that best describes the type of sound problem I'm getting. I will be putting some soft furnishings on the floor as Jandl suggested and see if that helps. Foe information you can se in the photo the touchscreen monitor, behind that is the ps for the reclocker (it has a fancy coloured weight on top, also on the same shelf is the Topping D30 dac and of course the amplifier. On the shelf below, you can see the mini fanless pc, what is not so obvious is the Oelhbach reclocker

are you absolutely sure you biased the valves correctly? check again if any of the bias settings have altered its a sure sign one of the valves is on the way out.

I've put out a few pillows and stuff, taken off the speaker grills, then replaced them and the problem is still there, but maybe not as severe as before, it is right at the top end, were especially female singers sound like they are 'screeching' rather than singing. I have sent Oli some more photos to which I am grateful for him posting on my behalf  

Thing is Antonio you're 100% correct, the plenty of experience on this forum will already have given you an explanation of the issue in one of the replies so far I would have thought.

There isn't really going to be any EUREKA moment of a wire being crossed over another wire it shouldn't be crossing or a speaker being inadequately supported. These things may contribute to, and exacerbate an already present issue, but they are not enough on their own to be a route cause of any high frequency distortion you describe.

The crux of the matter is you could have a bad tube/amplifier/dac/speaker/cable/connection (literally could be anything) along with a room that looks like it may exaggerate high frequency issues. 

Sorry I know that's not what you want to hear but I think you will have to try different tubes (check the bias of course) as well as a different amplifier and/or speakers. Without changing the potentially faulty components, you (we) will be chasing our tails somewhat and simply guessing as to what it could be.


- A bad tube (or another component within the amplifier) or one on the way out could certainly cause high frequency distortion -

- If the issue is coming from both the speakers it is unlikely to be the speakers (unless they have both been affected by humidity changes ((or similar)) in exactly the same way at the same time) (unlikely). -


As I said before, disconnect everything and clean the connections, reconnect carefully. If the issue persists and you can't replace each component with a 'spare' to test then it's literally guesswork as to the problem pretty much I'm afraid.

You have my sympathies but I'm trying to tell it to you like it is mate!

Best of luck.


- WOW JUST ACCIDENTALLY LIKED MY OWN POST WHILST TRYING TO 'EDIT' IT . . . . WHAT A TW*T . . . -

Lets go through this logically and methodically.

We can rule out the amp as that has already been swapped for another and the problem remains.
We can rule out the room since the distortion can be heard coming from the speakers.
We can rule out the cable dressing since that has been attended to.

This leaves
DAC
Reclocker
Mains supply
Speakers
dodgy connection/cable

Of those the mains supply seems unlikely. If this was the UK I'd say no chance but it's Cambodia. But I would still think that's not the issue.

Speakers could be the issue except both going bad at the same time is very unlikely plus as a single driver unit there is no xover to go bad.

This leaves the DAC, Reclocker or a dodgy cable/connector.

The reclocker seems an unlikely culprit but that can easily be tested by removing it from the chain.

With that done that leaves the DAC and the cables/connectors.

It's possible a component has gone bad in the DAC, maybe in the analogue output stage. Buy a cheapo DAC and swap that in.
Cables - buy some cheapo cables and swap them in.

I can't think of anything else to suggest.

Yes good idea that.

Another thought-maybe try temporarily setting the speakers up like a pair of nearfield monitors/headphones and sit between them, on lowish volume that should rule out most room interactions.


Whilst searching for a suitable image I came across this, had to share it  

Can't help wondering if the masking tape in the pic keeps the leading edge crisper and better defined or if Gorilla tape would be better suited to this application, for a tighter, more cohesive sound.

Seriously though, hope you get this solved, it must be driving you nuts.

I started off by listening to headphones, the problem was still there, moved back to speakers. I moved the mini pc and external hard drive onto a stool, this did not improve matters, then removed the re-clocker, still no improvement, changed usb cables, unfortunately this didn't help either. I asked my girlfriend to come and listen, nearly had to drag her in the room kicking and screaming, tried to explain to her what I wanted her to listen for, "they sound ok to me" Time to go out shopping and take a breather, and later went to play pool. While playing pool there was some music playing and believe it or not I could hear the same problem, now the speakers were small and cheap, and most probably were distorting at the top, but is it me? I have checked the bias on my amplifier, set to .35v, but to be honest I'll leave it for this evening and try again tomorrow.
Nearly forgot, did try going through the headphone output socket, there was no sound, looked at settings and could see nothing for headphone output. With all the problems I have had with drivers in the past I thought better not to mess about with the pc settings.
I know there was a few comments made about the room and, "you'll never get great sound in there", I'm not looking for that, just to be able to enjoy my music at a reasonable standard, I think you might be surprised at how good I have had the sound and if you look back a few pages you will see a photo of the first room I stayed in, I had no complaints regarding sound quality. I have been very impressed with these Mark Audio Cesti speakers, you can place them close to the wall or move them out into the room, they're not over fussy, probably 30-40cm is optimal.

Em, wondering if it is worth considering that angle though not sure what physical issue might have that symtpom. Perhaps go to a mate's place or Hifi shop and have a listen. If still present, go to an ENT doc or an Audiologist for a hearing and perception check.

I plugged my headphones straight into the amplifier, it does have a very good headphone output, and still heard the problem, but not as severe. This could be because my AKG 702's are a touch rolled off at the top end, also plugged them into my smartphone and streamed from YT, no problems there but you are not getting the full spectrum so I don't think that was the best test.
Ok, to this morning, I have moved the mains extension onto the floor, the amp is now on the floor also, the pc and hard drive are sitting on a stool with the dac and reclocker on the main shelf. This has spaced everything out, hopefully any interaction between cables has now been eliminated so let's get some music on. Bugger, still have the same problem, but after 5 or more minutes and a change of music it is sounding more to my liking. I have now been listening for 30 minutes and the problem I had seems to have gone away, except for an odd moment, but is that all in my head, I don't know.
Jerry, looks like I will have to go and have my ears checked, don't know where I will find a ear specialist in Phnom Penh, but I guess that's what I will have to do. I've read before, having your ears syringed can be the biggest upgrade for your system, although I didn't think I had a problem there.

I would like to thank everyone for their help and advice, certainly been a strange one, but I will keep you updated. Now what do I do, keep the extension on the floor which will cause me problems in setting everything up positioning wise due to length of cables, or revert back to how I had it?