Anyone using Weiss 501/502 De-esser to tame sibilance?

@hk_fan 

Thanks for your comments. 

Sorry, I have not used the Weiss products, but FWIW, if sibilance is a significant enough issue in your system, I would examine the whole chain to see if it is being caused by a specific component. I have no detectable sibilance in my system, but then my ears aren’t what they used to be on the higher frequencies. 

I have a lot of customers using Weiss DACs and have mixed responses on the DSPs in general.  The D'Esser, like analog mode, is a mod and some people like and others just hate the concept.  It undeniably works but ultimately via the removal of information.  

The one DSP almost everyone seems to like is the crosstalk cancellation.  It increases depth, clarity and coherence. It is like a simple BAACH dsp.  

Yes it works. I have used it on some tracks, but I find I don’t need to bother after sorting cabling- the biggest last sibilance-killing piece were the Silversmith Fidelium speaker cables, I found they removed some remaining sibilance I didn’t know was there. 

It is very handy to use, along with the other DSP functions such as room eq.- you set the program on the remote, store it, and then simply press the button 1-9 to employ the setting. The next track doesn't need it, hit the remote button again to remove DSP's. You just have to remember which button does what. 

 The D’Esser, like analog mode, is a mod and some people like and others just hate the concept.  

Similar to tone controls. Funny though, how many of these same people’s favourite recordings have already been mastered/remastered using Weiss pro tools, and perhaps the same "mods" they claim they hate. 

@zlone 

I would examine the whole chain to see if it is being caused by a specific component. 

Yes; I did that and found that removing the concrete pavers under my speaker stands instantly eliminated the sibilance. A year later, after getting the caps replaced in my cross-overs (system was sounding dull) the highs came back, with sibilance. I’ve just recently noticed I hear sibilance when my wife speaks, so I can only conclude it’s now a hearing issue. Having said that, some gear makes it worse, as I discovered when I auditioned a well-regarded DAC in my system. 

@verdantaudio , @mclinnguy 

Thanks for your responses.