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

Showing 12 responses by noromance

First off, you cannot trust factory set up cartridges. So forget that.
Second, I get NO sibilance on any records except for one or two where it is on the recording. 
Third, are you cleaning the records?
Cheers.
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.


So it appears that this is not a major issue at all. What you are experiencing is the limitations of your mid-fi components as they run into tracking and frequency response issues. Try your records at a high end dealer to get the final arbitration.
I have a good number of 50/60/70s recordings of female vocalists, I’ll listen to my Julie London and see if I notice anything. In the meantime, try your speakers with 14 gauge mains cable "Romex" and leave ground disconnected.
@audioguy85 The thing is this - I have had the same issue over the years and then one day, it stopped. I got things right.

Please try this as I have suggested before:
1. Replace (as a test) your speaker wire with 14g Romex. (silver-plated OFC can be unkind to sililant vocals)
2. Replace (as a test) your Marantz power amp with something else. (I’ve read comments about it being grainy and bright.)
Not sure why you are spreading youself so horizontally. Anyhow, it seems all is well except for a few worn or poorly pressed LPs. 
To do so would entail curtailing the high frequencies to the point where presence is lost, as well as detail in the higher registers....
No. Not so at all. Better tracking using a better table, better arm and cartridge along with better control of the signal using better phono amplification does improve how the system reacts to smearing and sibilance. I’m listening to an old fairly worn Decca recording Debut/Marcy Lutes amd can hear wear mistracking and hints of sibilance. I know this record used sound worse on my earlier rigs. My current system is pretty high resolution and there is no sibilance. So, to recap, fixing the issues does not mean rolling off the detail.
That's what happens when you're listening to the system instead of the music because something is amiss. Sell all of it and start again. 
Actually, no. It sounds good. Junk's in the attic. I was going to build a music room addition but decided against it as I like that the basement is silent and free of vibration.
Ha! That's nothing. You should see some of the other guys' rigs. We've been at this a long time, so yeah, it can become a bit of an obsession. While my gear is a little esoteric, it didn't set me back that much and was built up over the years. I will say though that it sounds pretty good.