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I'm putting to rest worrying about sibilance

I just ran a test on three different turntables I own. I played various recordings, each of which exhibit sibilance to some degree, mostly female vocalists. The three tables are pro-ject the classic with the hana el, music hall mmf7 with factory mounted eroica h, and my brand new thorens td 240-2 with the ortofon om10 also factory installed. My dilemma began with constant worrying about the first table (the pro-ject) as I thought I was hearing a bit of sibilance only on certain records. So I played the very same records, mostly used from thrifts etc, on all three tables and adjusting volume or gain for each. Well, I found that all three table and cartridge combinations exhibit the sibilance in the same parts of songs on each recording. My findings are that what I perceive as higher sibilance on the hana can be contributed to its (imo) better high frequency response. In other words, the other tables and cartridges had the sibilance, but to a lesser prominence, but it WAS there. So my conclusion is that it Is just inherent in the lp medium to some degree, and more so with used records. I have farted around enough with the hana el and I am no longer going to fret over it. I would have a hard time believing that all three tables and cartridges are that badly aligned etc to all cause some sibilance here and there. All three were checked and seem to be dead on. The only table I personally installed cartridge on was the pro- ject (hana el) also, three preamps were tried during testing, my marantz pm14s1 built in, a musical fidelity lx lps, and a pro-ject tube box ds2. Lastly the hana el was adjusted when installed to align with the cartridge body and not the cantilever (just easier imo) using a proper protractor, and the vta was adjusted so that the hana is a bit ass down, as I think the hana sounds right like that. So there is my conclusion. I’ve been reading forum after forum about the sibilance issue somehave, but I think I feel better after doing what I did as described above, and refuse to drive my self nuts any longer!😁
Just to add, the listening was first performed on the other 2 tables, the mmf7 and thorens, again both have factory installed cartridges, also checked by me. In doing so I ruled out the hana inscribing the record grooves with the sibilance in the event its mis aligned, which it is not....
128x128audioguy85
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
 So my conclusion is that it Is just inherent in the lp medium to some degree


Congratulations on figuring that much out. That is more than most. So far however you have compared the same LP on different rigs. But what about different copies of the same LP?

For years until recently I always assumed that aside from the occasional bad (noisy) pressing they were all otherwise the same. Now if you do the same test only playing different copies of the same LP I can just about guarantee you will find no two copies sound the same!

Some have truly awful sibilance. Some have none at all. I'm not talking any two, I'm talking two copies of the same recording! Like you it bothers me a whole lot less now that I know its the pressing and not a dirty stylus, misalignment, mis-tracking, or any of that. 

If you have any dupes in your collection I highly recommend taking the time to play and compare them side by side. The differences sometimes are huge, and involve a whole lot more than just sibilance.
bstatmeister
537 posts
 
+1^
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
That's a good idea to compare different pressings. Look at the matrix numbers to find the different production runs, pressing plants, or for reissues.

Discogs has every release listed.


noromance's avatar
noromance
9,821 posts
 
Something is amiss.
You have a number or "thrift" LPs - all showing sibilance.Difference preamps, tables, arms etc.What’s common to all? Amp and speakers, support, wiring, and your alignment efforts.
Have you tried mint LPs, or other copies, as millercarbon suggested?
I have sibilance on a few albums - an early Decca Julie Andrews comes to mind - but I believe it’s the recording, not the medium. I suffered from awful sibilance with an amplifier years ago - a Cyrus 2. Got rid of it, sibilance disappeared. I suspect a number of factors: worn media, a poor solid state power amp coupled with tizzy speakers and stranded cable.


audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85 OP
2,018 posts
 
I dont have too many duplicates, but yes I have heard really aweful pressings and then a really rather nice pressing of the very same record...quality control issues maybe...idk. I find that the older, and when available original copies sound best dynamically speaking. I guess to make if short, it’s the recording and not my equipment or set up. Also I did try various records of varying quality etc and managed to find sibilance, but mostly only here and there, and sometimes none at all. It stands to reason that if my system, ie turntables & cartridges, were ALL sibilant, then it would manifest itself on anything I played, but that is not the case. Some recordings simply sound wonderful with that Tubey full bodied super wide soundstage sound!
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