Finding source of sibilance

andbaron

The highs sound actively bad and sibilant. Is it possible that I installed the cartridge incorrectly, or is this just not a good setup?

If you're not sure that the cartridge is properly setup, then it's likely that it isn't. What tools did you use to align overhang, tangency and VTA? Did you align the cartridge body itself, or did you use a mirrored gauge and align the cantilever? Answers to those questions will help determine what might be going on here.

Clearaudio states that these tables arrive setup in a foolproof way so that no further adjustment is needed once it leaves the factory. All I personally did was attach the cartridge. Nothing else in my system has this issue, i.e. digital sources. I think I may have to find somebody in NYC that can have a look at it with a professional eye. Or, I simply need to wait until the system has settled through running it in for longer.

I've never had a sibilance issue that could be traced to cartridge break-in.

It is not clear to me that you know the issue is from the turntable.

Do you have another source which does not exhibit this?

Erik

It could also be the phono stage perhaps? It’s the Pro-Jext Tube Box DS. Digital sources through a streamer > DAC sound good.