Power Conditioners to reduce Sibilance

Often times a tizziness, digital-like hash, or grainy highs can often be interpreted as an intollerable 'treble brightness'.

This can be the result of poorly designed ics and speaker cables, usually those that induce time-smear. Some silver cables will introduce a certain tizziness.

But unconditioned lines can and will also introduce its own sonic harm in much the same way along with the negative sibilance you mentioned.

If none of your components are properly conditioned and you're using a digital source, then there is an excellent chance that the bi-directional digital noise that is generated is also infiltrating your other components. For that you need to make certain that any line conditioner you purchase is also bi-directional to keep the noise from going back into the AC line back to the service panel and then into your other components.

So if you're concerned about certain aspects, don't assume that fixing one fixes all.

Not all line conditioners will reduce or eliminate negative sibilance or prevent digital noise from going back into the line. For this and other benefits, I would recommend the Foundation Research LC-1 and LC-2 passive and dedicated in-line power conditioners that come with their own built-in power cable. New they sell for $795 (for front end source components) and $995 for the amp. Used these should be right around your budget.

Among other benefits, the Foundation Research line conditioners should eliminate all negative sibilance induced by noisy AC. But keep in mind there are certainly negative induces occurences of sibilence embedded in the recording itself via the microphones or others. There is no line conditioner that can remove this type of negative sibilance.

With regard to ics and speaker cables and a grainy digital hash-like sound resulting from a time smear, some to many cables have this unwanted characteristic.

If per chance you are also experiencing these effects, then you might want to consider the Audience Au24, Paul Speltz' Anti-cables and Anti-ics, or the Audio Tekne lines of ics and speaker cables.

-IMO

The reason why I had originally thought of power conditioners as a solution was due to the fact that I entered 'sibilance' as a audiogon search item. A number of threads alluded to poor AC as a generator of this problem and I started this to read more into the topic. Thanks.

Hi Adam: I have indeed experienced successful results in taming sibilance / glare issues via AC line conditioning. Upgrade AC cords furthered the sonic enhancements. My line conditioners are the Chang Lightspeed 3200 ($250, 6 outlets, 15 amp capacity, for source components) & a separate Chang 9900-Amp ($800, 4 outlets, 20 amp capacity, for a large stereo power amp). Even the 9900-Amp would fit your price goal if purchased used; note that it does not constrain current dynamics.

Chang offers many different models such as the 6400, which would probably cover all of your needs in a one-box solution. All Chang models include integral AC line transient protection; look for this feature to be included in whatever line conditioner that you decide upon.

Adam,

While I, like Bob use Chang PC's (I have the 9600, HT 1000, and 9900 amp models in my two systems now), I don't know if that will solve your problem. Yes, for many of the reasons listed above, it may help, but I don't think your components are the main trouble. I have had this problem with B&W's speakers (I had the original 802's) and have always heard what to my ears is an over abundance of sibilance from their speakers ever since....

I live in the lightning capital of the world, and as such always use power conditioning... and hell even have UPC's on my Replay and cable box in the one system... but I suspect you will find your real problem is the B&W sound.

I think that you will find some excellent choices in the Balanced Power Technologies line. I am also very pleased with EquiTech though they don't have as many offerings at as many price points. Both are true balanced power units. Based on the research I did at the time, I wouldn't get anything else. Both are available used on the 'Gon. BTW if this is part of an HT room you won't believe what one of these will do for your CRT/plasma/LCD display.

There is little doubt that conditioning your power will improve your sound by reducing the noise floor. And as also has been suggested by filtering the line noise from the digital unit(s). As Bob suggests, improving power cords also helps, get one (or more) that is specifically designed for digital front end sources - again there a lot of them for sale here.

Depending on your setup, ie if you are feeding from a transport to a DAC, you might also consider trying a different SPDIF cable to see if some of the unpleasantness you are hearing is some kind of smearing or jitter