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sibilance in system

It has been a long while since I have posted here.  I have recently changed my system and am having a not huge issue with sibilance.

System is: Nottingham Spacedeck, SME 309 arm with cable upgrade (not silver), Zyx ultimate 100 cart, vacuum state JLTI phono stage, Cayin A300B SET *WPC integrated with tube upgrades (EML tall mesh 300 B, vintage tubes in other sockets), Omega Super 6 AlNiCo floor speakers.  Interconnects vary, mostly anticables and also Speltz Zeros in line with speakers, pair Omega deep hemp subs.  I only have about 25 hours on the Zyx (had an Airy 3 before, but that went away due to damage, don't ask) and only about 35 hours on the Omegas.  So maybe I should just wait a while?

It is not a huge problem, and varies with the recording.  Tube rolling helped a bit.  I am considering other cartridges or possibly other speakers. 

My listening preferences (what I like in music), wide deep "holographic sound stage.  inner detail and separation, good imaging and proper instrument timbre.  I don't care much about base slam, or what I think folks mean by "musicality".  I listen to a wide range of music, mostly 1960's 1970's rock, and folk; orchestral music; some world music and jazz thrown in.

Any ideas would be welcome, including ways to improve on the preferences listed above without spending more than what my car cost...

Thanks for the bandwidth.

 

oceanica
erik_squires
16,004 posts
 

You may be too close to the tweeter axis.  Try reducing the toe-in,and/or moving the speakers closer together.

Also, of course, check your room for recent changes. Sibilance is often caused by too any flat reflective surfaces.

rar1's avatar
rar1
1,758 posts
 

Hi -

What are your thoughts on your main speakers ... the Omega Super 6 Alnico floor standers?  Omegas take forever to break in.  

The Omegas are praised for how well they do vocals, yet I never warmed up to the Alnicos.  I have owned a number of Omegas over the past 20 years and thought that the Super 7 MK2 were the best of their line.  

Rich 

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,554 posts
 

Lowering the VTA (SRA)might be a good place to start! That always worked when I had a sibilance problem!

https://www.sound-smith.com/faq/what-are-causes-sibilance

corelli
955 posts
 

Not sure if this might be indirectly helpful but I own a pair of the Omega Super 7 mk2 noted above and they have no sibilance issues driven by a 6L6 SE amp.  Wonder if a call to Louis might be helpful on how the Omega Supre 6 Alnicos compare in regard to the problem you are having.

knotscott
845 posts
 

Cables, tube rolling, and strips of 1/2" felt around the tweeter in a star pattern helped in my case. Specifically, Furutech FA-as22 between the pre and the amp, and Tung Sol 7581A outputs, but YMMV.  It's always about synergy.

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