2. amps-preamps
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Sibilance how do I get rid of it?

Hello
I am currently experincing a problem with sibilance in my system,I must admit I know that unless I set up a overly dampened ( lack of Hi's ) set up, I'm almost always going to have some degree of siblance,I listen to mass produced commercial cd's so I know that this is atleast 40% of my problem , and my listening room 26'x14'x8' is relatively live,,lanolium floors..no dampening,,etc,,
But somewhere in the back of my mind I hear "you need to do careful system matching,
My system consisits of:
Cal Aria MkIII CDP
Conrad Johnson Pv10a Pre
& Conrad Johnson PV 14L Pre
Llano A100 SS Amplifier
Dynaudio Contour 1.3 2 way's "GLORIOUS Midrange and Presence"
JPS Labs superconductor FX Ic's
Tara labs Time and Space with TFA Return speaker cables
Transparent Power Plus Power cord &
MIT run of the mil powercord on the Llano power amp
I have no power conditioning whatsoever except some hospital grade junction boxes in which I have the CDP & Pre's hooked up-AMp straight to the wall.
Now I have experimented with various IC's and speaker cable Discovery,Cardas,Transparent..etc
I don't want to address this problem thru cable choice
I have changed the tubes in the CDP as well as the PreAmps
the Jps labs provides me with the transparency speed and extended Hi frequencies,,and resolution, but with noticable
sibilance could it be the Ac line conditioning or lack of it that is introducing the stridency and graininess to the sound? if so where can I start?
What brand power cables offfer the best shielding or get's the GRUNGE out? I've heard good things about coincident
I knwo that I should ( and AM in the process of)addressing the room itself carpet is in order and some accoustic paneling to kill the early reflections,should I do this first? then get the ac conditioning? has anyone had any experience with Marigo Powercords, shuyanta, Coincident etc.
Please offer me your suggestions
braab8
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,212 posts
 
There is no denying that improved electric quality will improve system induced sibilance, but there is no evidence whatsoever that such upgrades will have any effect upon the sibilance that is already embedded in recordings. Please note that Braab8's listens to "mass produced commercial cd's" which he readily acknowledges is a major part of the problem.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Onhwy61, I do not believe anybody here, especially me, has given any indication whatsoever that improving the electrical would actually remove sibilance previously embedded into a recording.

It's odd that you would insinuate someone would issue a silly statement like that. Especially when several posts above clearly address that exact issue.

BTW, nice system you have there.
cdc
1,773 posts
 
Stehno I did not just "simply calling something a farce does not make it so". I gave a reason for my statement.

Further, just look at a circuit panel and you will see there is no electrical isolation between circuits. Or your neighbors refrigerator. The only benefit I can see is distance. Maybe 100 feet from the neighbor helps. But 12 inches between circuit? I doubt it. Any ideas on what an electrician would say?
Does a dedicated circuit reduce power contamination? Probably. But by how much? A couple of percent?
You seem to agree that there is a lot of sharing on the circuit panel. So how much can a dedicated circuit really isolate? Everything is connected together. I don't get it.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Hi Chuck I was skeptical too.
But having read so much here about the benefit I had to try it & they are SO right.
Not completely understanding something doesn't make it worthless; very few of us would even be driving automobiles if that were the case.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Cdc, okay, after you emphatically stated that cleaning the electrical for sonic improvements is a farce, you did state your one reason why.

However, I believe the reason you provided was poor in that 1. it was an abnormal occurance (when something like a light bulb blows) and 2. You spoke only hypothetically even though your light bulb may really have blown. You did not cite one practical experience where cleaning up the electrical would have any positive or negative affects on the sonics of your system.

Correct me if I'm wrong but was it not too long ago and yet even today, some to many claim that audio cables are all the same and make no sonic difference. Some say that about amplifiers too. All amplifiers simply amplify. With your stance on the above I must assume that you are in these camps as well. So are most electricians.

Your stance reminds me of the scientist proving that a bumble bee cannot fly theory. But that's all it is, a theory. Well, the bumble bees are flying and obviously some to many audio enthusiasts are experiencing greater pleasure with their systems than you are with yours.

As for asking an electrician anything along these lines? Unless it's Glen, I'd rather ask the kid at the drive-thru window at McDonald's.

An electrician is not an electrical engineer. And of course neither am I. But I play one in my house and here on audiogon.

-IMO
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