CA 640 a/c combo....ermmm cables

[admin_exported]

Hi

I am still getting some sibilance through the Wharf 9.1's using the above combo. Not all cd's and not all tracks on those cd's.

I only have cables left to try and reduce/eliminate the problem....I have a £20 CA interconnect and speaker cable around £2/m which appears to be copper.

By upgrading these do you think it will help/do the trick on my sibilance?

Should I do the inter. first, followed by the speaker cable?

Maybe Chord or QED products....Any help much appreciated

 

[ear]

maybe just the cd? maybe tone the trerble down a bit?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Ear...

I only use 'direct' on the amp.

I have tried reducing the treble though and it didn't do much good.....Had to turn the treble fully anti clockwise to make any difference so not an option really.

 

[d_a_n1979]

Have a look at the Chord Carnival Silverscreen speaker cable and the Chord Crimson interconnect as well; both would work well with your system.

If you wanted a little brighter soundstage then consider the QED Silver Anniversary speaker cable.

As for other interconnects; the Black Rhodium Prelude or the Atal Equator would be worth looking at as well

Keep your eye on eBay for 2nd hand cables! I picked up 2 x 2.5m of Chord Carnival Silverscreen speaker cable last week for £20 inc postage! It was only 4 months old and hardly used (came with original receipt)!

 

[jimdonnelly]

Personally I would opt for a thicker/heavier copper speaker cable, but it might be worth disconnecting all the cables and cleaning the terminals first. Sometimes this can have a positive effect on a system (and it does not cost anything!).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies

I am trying to avoid taking my kit to RS which will a lot of effort/travelling etc so that they can test it.

At the moment the best info I have is.... Andrew E "when kit run in it is not sibilant"....Clare says it can be and better cables/inters will help.....RS people say there may be a fault on the amp.

There has been quite a bit of talk about this problem so the evidence is ...it might well be kit shortcomings.

Any further 640 combo owners and advice/thought would be much appreciated

 

[chebby]

Do you have another source with which to compare? (Tuner, DVD player, iPod or 3.5mm - 2 x RCA lead to connect laptop?)

If you have a DVD player connect it to the CD inputs and play a CD on it. Is that sibilant too?

Is it sibilant through headphones too?

Has it been sibilant since you bought it, or has it just started happening?

Have you tried better speakers? (Maybe the CA 640 stuff deserves better speakers.)

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Chebby

I don't have any other sources but i could try the cheap DVD player. No headphones I'm afraid.

The sibilance has always been there right from the very cheap kit thru to the CD5/A5 and now to the 640's. It has reduced a lot but it is definitely there and leans to being bright. At times it is just enough to annoy.

The only things I haven't changed are the cables and interconnect so I guess Fleabay needs to be visited for the Chord products thatn have already been recommended.

Will try this first and see what difference it makes as I am hopeful this will be money well spent....I haven't tried better speakers as I understood the the 9.1's were the least likely cause?

cheers

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

Not a happy bunny...there are too many people here talking about the problem I'm having.

I now have the silverscreen/crimson in place. I have better bass and openness but the sibilant vocals/brightness is now driving me nuts! It has only been reduced very marginally by the chords.

It is looking like a trip to RS to see if a deal can be done because I genuinely feel I should not have to put up with this (at this price point) I know its far from high end but nonetheless...

Grrr.

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

dnm reson speaker cable. avoid silver plated.

 

[Anonymous]

I think you've exhausted the cables angle. Take your gear down to Richer Sounds and try it with other speakers.

I've always found CA gear to be too bright for me, but never actively sibilant.

 

[Blackdawn]

The Chord Silvercreen isn't actually silver coated unlike the Rumour 2. You could try changing the cable to someting else but as its already just copper I don't know what to suggest. I think the main problem is your not getting on with the CA kit so the best bet is to swap it for NAD or Arcam. I think the brightness is just the norm for CA products, judging by the reviews. Some people see it as bright others as more detail or definition.

 

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't swap without first trying with other speakers. It could be a fault with the gear, after all.

 

[Anonymous]

Nooby:
The sibilance has always been there right from the very cheap kit thru to the CD5/A5 and now to the 640's. It has reduced a lot but it is definitely there and leans to being bright. At times it is just enough to annoy.

Will try this first and see what difference it makes as I am hopeful this will be money well spent....I haven't tried better speakers as I understood the the 9.1's were the least likely cause?

cheers

Mike

As you say you have noticed this problem with all the equipment you have owned, maybe it is the CD's themselves (as ear said), what are the titles and tracks you notice this on most?

Maybe someone can comment on the CD's if they have those discs.