Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance???

Posted by JayTea (A) on February 14, 2007 at 17:28:24

In Reply to: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? posted by JayTea on February 14, 2007 at 03:59:26:

Hi all,
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic responses. To further discuss and find a remedy for this problem, i'd like provide some more information on my setup to address some questions that you have posted:

Phonostage: Manley Steelhead
Preamp: Manley 300b pre
Amps: BAT VK-150SE monoblocs
Speakers: Avalon Acoustics Opus Ceramique
CDPlayer: Ayre C-5xe universial player
Cables: Acoustic Zen Silver Reference
AC conditioner: PS premier powerplant.

I could safely say that my system is detailed but not bright either in CD and Vinyl playbacks, the room is pretty well-damped, so i guess speaker/room/tweeter/amp factor as suggested by some contributors could safely be eliminated.

Dont get me wrong, I dont mind sibilance, because it's part of the vocal reproduction. I just dont like the BAD one...ie DISTORTED one (Since i read the archive and there're so much discussion on which is considered Sibilance, or whether it is desirable in music reproduction)

My Koetsu Urushi is about 1.5 yr old...and i play one or two LPs/night, 3-4 nights/week..so i can safely estimate it has from 300-400hrs on it..roughly. I dont play old, beat-up records..only either new or mint ones. Stylus is cleaned very often. So cartridge worn / dirty LP isnt a problem here.

The tonearm is Origin Live Conqueror, and yes..it's a derivative of Rega to my knowledge (www.originlive.com)

Regarding the platform where the turntable sits on: I use Finite Elemente, and the Acutus is spring-suspending...very well isolated. It also use a round belt with no belt groove.

I guess i will go with the direction which Lenzkap, Paul Tobin and Marknoir suggested: Play around with Anti-skating. If this doesnt help, i will recheck everything again.

I never notice any distortion on other type of music as Classical, Jazz and some rock. This sibilant distortion is most obvious on Holly Cole " Dont Smoke In Bed", which i believe is a pretty good recording and my copy is rather new. I have tried listened to Patricia Barber "Cafe Blue" 's What a shame track in which Ms Barber produces rather excess sibilance ...excessive, but not distorted..and still sound clear and smooth.

There you have it...please post more suggestion to help me eliminate this..i would greatly appreciate it.

Also, as a side note: I dont think i'm up for catridge replacement yet..since I love the Koetsu sound (I was suggested the famed Shelter 90X when it was the top-of -the-line, but it left me indifference, so i returned it and gave the Koetsu a try...and there was love at first sound) I notice a few posts that said Koetsu is poor tracker...can anyone confirm this? If this is the case..then i'll just try to make the best out of it until it's worn out, then i'll seek another cart.

Thank you much.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - JayTea 03:59:26 02/14/07 (28)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - JayTea 17:28:24 02/14/07 (4)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - Stephen Murphy 08:36:30 02/15/07 (0)

Very impressive gear. - sser2 18:12:50 02/14/07 (2)

Re: Very impressive gear. - JayTea 22:32:37 02/14/07 (1)

Yes, that's what I meant. - sser2 14:44:42 02/15/07 (0)

I have solved it. - sser2 15:01:16 02/14/07 (1)

These things can contribute - but ........ - Paul Tobin 17:02:25 02/14/07 (0)

Re: If the OL Conqueror lets you, adjust the anti-skating like this - lenzkap 13:22:25 02/14/07 (0)

VTA? VTF ? alignment? Azimuth? -- All the above - grailer 12:57:20 02/14/07 (3)

Re: VTA? VTF ? alignment? Azimuth? -- All the above - JayTea 16:39:47 02/14/07 (2)

Re: VTA? VTF ? alignment? Azimuth? -- All the above - marknoir 19:41:25 02/14/07 (1)

Re: VTA? VTF ? alignment? Azimuth? -- All the above - JayTea 22:22:36 02/14/07 (0)

I've run into this on Piano, Soprano, Choral... - jdaniel 12:43:51 02/14/07 (0)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - Ray-o-Stat 11:08:10 02/14/07 (0)

One other consideration.....How many hours are on this cartridge? - tubesforever 06:27:43 02/14/07 (2)

Tubesy, I just talked a friend with a B&O 'table - Muzikmike 11:01:49 02/14/07 (1)

Wow 25 years on one stylus.....what a great bargain! - tubesforever 13:06:50 02/14/07 (0)

Like nighteyes below, sibilance is also my vinyl pet peeve. - olddude55 06:20:48 02/14/07 (2)

C'mon, sibilance isn't so bad... - Muzikmike 10:57:07 02/14/07 (1)

Like Emmylou Harris! nt - olddude55 14:35:28 02/14/07 (0)

Sounds like HF mistracking - Paul Tobin 05:54:03 02/14/07 (0)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - marknoir 05:53:11 02/14/07 (0)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - nighteyes0 05:49:46 02/14/07 (5)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - marknoir 06:01:26 02/14/07 (4)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - nighteyes0 06:21:35 02/14/07 (3)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - marknoir 13:01:09 02/14/07 (2)

Re: Decent advice but - lenzkap 13:30:11 02/14/07 (1)

Re: Decent advice but - marknoir 15:49:04 02/14/07 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - JayTea 17:28:24 02/14/07 (4)

Re: What contributes to distorted sibilance??? - Stephen Murphy 08:36:30 02/15/07 (0)

Very impressive gear. - sser2 18:12:50 02/14/07 (2)

Re: Very impressive gear. - JayTea 22:32:37 02/14/07 (1)

Yes, that's what I meant. - sser2 14:44:42 02/15/07 (0)

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