[Glady86]

 Listening to some old classic rock and pulled out an ABBA Greatest Hits cd. The recordings mostly sound great, that unique wall of sound mix. Though at some points when the girls are singing I hear distortion, pretty annoying. I’m not listening too loud though I’m using a low powered 2a3 SET recently, but shouldn’t be running out of “juice”.

Is it the higher resolution of my system picking out the flaws, or could it be an issue with system?

[nlitworld]

I've heard mic distortion on a few Adele tracks so I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case for you as well. Or perhaps someone running a margarita blender in the studio while mixing tracks 

[tremrej65]

When I hear distortion on my system, I go listen to the same track on a different system. In my case I use my headphone setup: different amp, different DAC, same track. And most of the time, the distortion is in the track.

[Glady86]

 I don’t recall hearing it so much with my solid state amps, also I’ll try 300b tubes in the amp. It’s strange that only happens with heavily mixed louder vocals. When the vocals are more in the background I can’t hear it.

[Glady86]

I tried 300b tubes same thing, tried different CD player and Amazon music tracks same thing. Put a different speaker beside the NX Otica, same thing except less defined crappy affects. I put it down as the recording style and my ear is sensitive in that range were the crappy artifacts reside.

[tremrej65]

I get what you're saying. I notice more of these "distortions" since I have my X-LS Encore: much more resolution than my 20 years old Paradigm Studio 100.

[Early B.]

Could just be crappy recordings typically found in pop music, especially music from the 70's and 80's. I don't listen to classic rock or R&B music on my main system for that reason. No point spending thousands on an audiophile system, and then ruining it with poorly recorded CDs. Aside from the increasing cost, this is the biggest downside of the hobby.   

[KTS]

If you’re referring to this one, I get the same. It seems this CD was mixed pretty hot on the vocals.

[Glady86]

Yes that’s the cd. The tracks I listened to on Amazon where from the same mix.

[Glady86]

Here’s an update. I have mild tinnitus in my left ear, but my left ear is overly sensitive to sounds in the upper mid lower treble range where some vocals and other instruments can aggravate it. Sounds like a breaking up type of distortion. Other speakers I owned were much more offensive compared to the NX Otica. That’s One of the reasons I like them so much. I listened to my NHT speakers with some tracks that cause it, and they are mostly unlistenable at any decent loudness level.

[AllanS]

Here’s an update. I have mild tinnitus in my left ear, but my left ear is overly sensitive to sounds in the upper mid lower treble range where some vocals and other instruments can aggravate it. Sounds like a breaking up type of distortion. Other speakers I owned were much more offensive compared to the NX Otica. That’s One of the reasons I like them so much. I listened to my NHT speakers with some tracks that cause it, and they are mostly unlistenable at any decent loudness level.

I experience what I imagine is exactly the same in my right ear.  Certain violin and piano notes hit what feels like a resonate state inside my ear.  It sounds like a tweeter having the come aparts inside my head.

[Glady86]

I experience what I imagine is exactly the same in my right ear.  Certain violin and piano notes hit what feels like a resonate state inside my ear.  It sounds like a tweeter having the come aparts inside my head.

I think my condition is worse than yours. I can’t listen too loudly anymore, but at least my system sounds fine at low to moderate levels. Any kind of live music without earplugs will run me out of the place.