Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
02AN, are you talking about the Focals? Are they bright with all sources? I haven't listened to them yet but a dealer here does carry them. I'll have to check them out when I get a chance. I've always heard that they were more polite than the Dyn's though. I heard the CA-50 with B&W's and didn't notice the amp being over bright but with a pair of Martin Logan I found it to be so.

You have a nice amp. Have you ever experimented with a better CD player? Not that it would cure any brightness, it's just with an amp of that capability your system would show the benefits from better players. Not that the MH is a bad player just that a better one could take your system to a higher level of resolution.

That Basic stuff you have is good. You probably know that. It's just not the typical Kenwood though.
Yes...the bright ones are the Focals. They're a great speaker overall, but I have often experimented with ways to soften the highs. At the moment, I have tissue paper hanging on the inside of the grille to block the direct path of the tweeter. I've also occasionally used open-cell foam in front of them. They sound nice with the tissue, so that's been there a while now. I'm currently searching for speakers, especially looking for something with great midrange. I'm leaning toward ProAc, a British brand that seems very popular there but less so here.

As you noticed, my CD player isn't up to the level of my amp. I'm working on that, too. I've been impressed by the Rega players, so that is looking good to me, right now. The Music Hall doesn't have as much of an edge as my Adcom, so in that regard I'm pretty happy with it, as long as I'm listening to vinyl or the tissues are in front of the tweeters. With the turntable running through the Tube Box, it's not nearly as bright as the CD.