what causes sibilance?


other than bad recordings, that is. I recently bought a VPI 17F record cleaner and began cleaning records with Disc Doctor Miracle (hand wash & rinse, then rinse with vacuum) Amazing difference! Using an EAR 834P phono pre, AR LS-15 pre, Mesa Baron w/Siemans EL34's, Infinity Compositions speakers, mostly MIT cables, and never heard a trace of sibilance before. Upon cleaning a MoFi version of the Dead's American Beauty, all of a sudden there is voacal sibilance. What's going on?
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Showing 2 responses by johnnyb53

Several things can cause excessive sibilance.

Another source: I get increased, spitty sibilance when the VTA is set too high.

I have a Technics SL1210, so I can play with VTA very easily.
Don't forget to keep the stylus clean. That was my first experience with spitty sibilance 35 years ago--a big ball of fuzz stuck to the needle. Use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and then a soft brush to remove the Magic Eraser residue.