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what causes the sss in words like 'thisss'?

I run apple lossless codec -> airport express -> recently purchased musical fidelity x-dac & tube buffer -> rotel 1056 receiver -> Quad 22L floorstanding speakers . I have also tried a cheap cd player source but no luck.

So what causes those annoying sss sounds in words? Source? Amp? interconnect? I'm considering returning the musical fidelity stuff and spring for a naim CD5 and nait 5i combo. Thoughts?
Ag insider logo xs@2xmonstachuck
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monstachuck OP
5 posts
 
This weekend I got a naim-recommended power strip - the wiremold L10320 - http://www.naimusa.com/2004_site/html/power.html

Is there a power conditioner you'd recommend instead?
misterx0d62
1 posts
 
Congrats, you have a great system. I noticed the same thing with mp3 sources. I think its a poor source coupled with high resolution playback where you have no high frequency rolloff.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Sorry, I forgot to mention that proper line conditioning can only rectify the negative sibilance induced from dirty AC.

Obviously it cannot eliminate negative sibilance permanently recorded into the medium.

-IMO
jeff_jones
418 posts
 
CD players.
eddaytona
216 posts
 
This is digital sibilance. You probably hear it most strongly on female voices on CD recordings. I found the best way to get rid of this (I too hate it.) It is sooo anoying is to;
1) Buy a more expensive CD player/digital source with better anti-jitter, clock, and DACs and that is tubed, and;
2) Go to tubes from solid state gear, or;
3) Go back to vinyl (best option IMHO)
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