2. analog
  3. 1031922482

Vinyl and slurring S'es

I have been listening to a lot of vinyl for the past for months and have been considering a new turntable. But I have a question. I have noticed that when listening to my vinyl the s'es sound "slurred". I'm not really sure how to put it any other way. This is with new and/or older records. My question is; is it the recording? Do I have something set wrong on my turntable (anit-skating, ect)? Or is it my electronics. I don't notice this when listening to CDs. I have several on CD and vinyl and the CDs are crisp and clear. I have had two tables in my system in the past two weeks and both do it; a Denon 47F and a Basis 1400 w/300 arm. On both tables was a Grado Sonata cartridge. I am using a Black Cube running into a Classe CP60. The amp is a McIntosh MC300 and Thiel 3.6 speakers. I really prefer the sound the vinyl gives but those s'es can really make it fatiguing sometimes. Any insight someone can give on this matter would be appreciated.

Thank!
Tim
mitcheft

Showing 2 responses by bear

bear
141 posts
 
You won't believe this! But it's true. The problem is most likely the interconnects between the TT and the phono preamp!

Really.

I sell interconnects under my brand name BEAR Labs, so I do have an interest in this issue. Many times, I've demo'd the complete transformation of the "sibilance" from Lp to clear highs by merely switching in one of my interconnects and making no other changes.

The sibilance problem with Lp bothered me for many, many years, and I never found an adequate explanation. Then virtually by accident in the course of routinely changing out my interconnects when I first developed Silver Lightning I was really shocked to hear a lack of sibilance, and the appearance of nice smooth clear highs! I reproduced the improved sound at every audiophile's house I could find and was completely convinced, but surprised.

I still don't know exactly what the cause is, but there it is.

Regards,

_-_-bear

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bear
141 posts
 
Marakenetz, it's not an ad! It's true. Been there and done that too many times now. I agree that it is important and even critical to set up the arm, and the tracking exactly right.

It's also a good idea to take a 10x eye loupe and inspect your stylus. That black stuff caked onto the diamond is vinyl. Remove it. It's amazing how dirty the stylus can look when you can *see it*!

But after that is all done, and everything else checks out - then when I have switched cables to my Silver Lightning, everything cleared up and the slurred sibilance resolved itself into clean clear highs.

You ask how and why? I really do not have a scientific explanation for the obvious result. One factor *might* be the low capacitance of my design, but I do not think that is all there is to it, since other low capacitance cable does not always do the trick. But, you can try it for yourself and decide! Very little to lose.
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