A question on sibilance ... More prone on preamp, amp or something else ? ...

joeinid

joeinid

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Is there any one component more responsible for sibilance than any other? Preamp, amp or cables? I tend to notice it more with solid state gear than with tube gear. Thoughts?
 
To me, I think the room brings more into play than the equipment on start up. I poor room will make the best equipment sound like it's underachieving.

Once the room is conquered, then I would say SS vs tubes be, amps, pre-amps, tube DACS will lend their sound to the users preferred listening taste. I can change a tube out and get a new "sound", without having to unsolder a component in a SS device .

Cables, be it copper vs silver I've always enjoyed copper but that's my taste.

I think it all comes down to what someone likes or prefers. For example,, I like a source components with Wolfston dacs, maybe its the combination of all the components together that I like which provides me with the sound I like ( analog).

To me its matched equipment, amps to speakers feed by a source that lets the music speak as close to live or the recording as it can be.

And maybe it's just my ears and hearing that is really whats key, but that's a huge topic of its own.
 
I'm with you Chris, Cables can and do have a big effect on sibilance. I find Copper easier on the ear as far as sibilance goes.
 
I am ignorant of this... The dictionary defines 'sibilant' as characteristic of a hissing sound. I have heard this term in audio circles but don't understand how you all are using it? The replies don't further my understanding at all. Please explain.
 
Bobvin said:
I am ignorant of this... The dictionary defines 'sibilant' as characteristic of a hissing sound. I have heard this term in audio circles but don't understand how you all are using it? The replies don't further my understanding at all. Please explain.
Click to expand...

Got a point there
Webster :
[h=2]Definition of SIBILANCE[/h] : a sibilant quality or sound

[h=2]sib·i·lant[/h] adjective \ˈsi-bə-lənt\ : making or having a sound like the letters s or sh

: having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash
 
My vote is that sibilance (hissy S's) comes from the source recording and is exacerbated by Inner Groove Distotrtion (IGD). Bright phono stages, cartridges, preamps, amps and speakers accentuate it and warm ones smooth it over. I run a warmish Grado Gold on my second table in my main system for sibilant records as well as those thrift finds with increased surface noise.
 
....everything I think I know about sibilance...in so many words or less.

Some recordings, just seem to have too much SSSSS, I've always assumed it was a production/microphone thing.
I've got some rebecca pidgeon recordings that are utterly supurb, not a hint of over etched SSSS, but very detailed nonetheless. Melody Gardot's recordings seem to have a bit more SSSSS, but, in her case the SSSSS is not the annoying "electronic" SSSS. or said another way the sibilance sounds natural.

Still other recordings are just so over etched that the sibilince sounds electronic, annoying or utterly distracting.

My own un-scientific testing over the years has revealed at least to me....

Silver interconnects and/or speaker cables can sometimes "enhance" sibiliance in a less than natural way. although I have used silver interconnects that don't seem to have any of this. e.g. the HGA DNA Interconnects.
Natural sounding sibilince can be fine and not annoying.
YES, room acoustics! ,,,can be critical.

I've noticed as I've experimented with more "refined" gear, not necessarily more expensive, but yea, often there is a price to pay for refinement...I'm able to have natural sounding sibilance. as an example, I owned a tube-preamp for years, it was a great preamp, but, sibilance sounded un-natural. wheras my GAT is just wonderful at maintaining detail and at the same time providing natural sounding sibilance.

...and, as always, some recordings are just made to sound that way!...in which case you have two options, listen and ignore it, or not listen. :)
 
Sibilants are louder than their non-sibilant counterparts, and most of their acoustic energy occurs at higher frequencies than non-sibilant fricatives. has the most acoustic strength at around 8,000 Hz, but can reach as high as 10,000 Hz. [ʃ] has the bulk of its acoustic energy at around 4,000 Hz, but can extend up to around 8,000 Hz.
What the hell does all that mean? I don't know, but judging by that info sibilance resides in the higher frequencies so I'm thinking one of three things:
1) The recording (If the source is a vinyl record I would check the turntable set up, particularly the cart alignment and tracking force, but first try a different record to see if you get the same issue before dealing with all that TT setup mess).
2) The speakers (tweeters, crossover, etc)
3) The room
If I had to start someplace, I'd start with the recording, then if that don't show something I'd check the room, lastly the speakers.
However, if I were a betting man, I'd have to go with the recording.

Just my take on it, but I'm no expert.

~Eric
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
I've always considered sibilance to be a recording issue; usually more prominent when vocals are too closely mic'd.
Click to expand...
I think you've nailed the most common source of the problem with this post. Of course sibilance can be exacerbated by issues like mistracking in analog playback, high jitter in digital playback, and/or the overall brightness of a system.
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
I've always considered sibilance to be a recording issue; usually more prominent when vocals are too closely mic'd.
Click to expand...

audio.bill said:
I think you've nailed the most common source of the problem with this post. Of course sibilance can be exacerbated by issues like mistracking in analog playback, high jitter in digital playback, and/or the overall brightness of a system.
Click to expand...

I agree as well. As always, it starts and ends with the recording.
 
When I make an "ssssssssss" sound into the microphone on my RTA, there is a distinct peak between 5000 and 8000 Hz.

That's where sibilance falls in the sound spectrum.
 
Sibilance is a recording/loudspeaker issue. Some recordings have it embedded, usually due to poor vocals mic'ing. Some speakers will enhance it, some pass through as is, others suppress. It is mostly a sound power issue and thus can be actively mitigated with EQ centered around 8Khz region, Q (bandwidth) speaker dependent. There may be more exotic causes like inductance modulation, but that's beyond the scope of the discussion.

cheers,

AJ
 
My Magnepan 1.6's are a definite source of SSSSSSsibilance. I don't think the 1.7's are as bad and the new 3.7i's are even better. I can tame it some by using resistors in the tweeters that Magnepan supplies to tone down treble a few dB for hot rooms.
 
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