I found tests on the 804S on another forum and the tweeter rise from about 6KHz, reaching 5 dB hot at 10KHz. Many B&Ws seem to do the same, the "detailed" house soundNo, it isn't.
So this is my second system - a Naim 180/82 into B&W 804s, which is used only for background social listening. At the moment I use it to play Qobuz via Roon through Chromecast Audio. I would like a better DAC than the Chromecast audio, but the Chord one I tried provided a very detailed presentation which somewhat grated my ears. I suffer from hyperacusis - in my case a low threshold to loud harsh sounds - think kids screaming or dishes clanking, and the Chord and cheap-as-chips Topping seemed to accentuate those attributes of the sound. My main system is fine but that is a very much smoother Vitus/Boenicke set up which is rich and warm and doesn’t aggravate my ears.
Plenty of spdif converters out there like the Schiit Eitr or the Halide Bridge I have in a cupboard but I’d go for an RME-ADI 2 and tune to taste.Thanks for the suggestion. I should have said - I’ll be bringing in a usb-only bridge. There is a bargain Octave on eBay but I note no usb.
Wrong test from the 804 S?I found tests on the 804S on another forum and the tweeter rise from about 6KHz, reaching 5 dB hot at 10KHz. Many B&Ws seem to do the same, the "detailed" house sound
...or the room treatment? The room has the biggest influence on sound but people underrate it because it is easier to swap components instead of getting the basics right.Personally I’d look at the amp and or speakers
Try and get a listen to any NOS (non oversampling) dac , these often seem to have a warmer sound.
This is where a tone control may have been useful but they have been banned by Brussels or something.The tests I found
https://hometheaterhifi.com/volume_12_3/b&w-804s-htm3s-speakers-8-2005-part-2.html
The in room measurement is bright, the MLS is REALLY bright
If the DAC has a low output resistance, a shelf filter network on the output will tame the excess.
470R in series, followed by 1k in series with 22nF shunt to ground
This gives 3dB cut to the 10kHz
Much cheaper than DAC swapping or buying an old Quad preamp