How to get rid of vocal sibliance

[shafesk]

thank you, well I've had it less than a week and I hope what they usually say about tubes burning in is true in this case....I might also have to put better tubes than the current ones which seem shite to be honest

 

[matt49]

Shafin,

I've been having sibilance problems with a system I'm demoing at home. You can check out the last few pages of Cno's AMS35i thread. I'm just about the post the results of some stuff I did this morning to mitigate the room acoustics, with no success, I'm afraid.

I hope you get this sorted. My concern would be that it might be a system synergy problem.

:cheers:

Matt

 

[Tibor]

Mordaunt Short Mezzo 6 speakers (and many speakers with metal dome ) have a tendency to sibilance,even with high end amp+cd player. Change the speakers if you can.

 

[sthomas048]

thank you, well I've had it less than a week and I hope what they usually say about tubes burning in is true in this case....I might also have to put better tubes than the current ones which seem shite to be honest

No problem. Yes I would give it a week and try if possible to use the system every day for as long as reasonable. From what I gather some valve amps need running in for a week or so to really shine. Same with the tubes. My advice would be to give it a while longer, maybe try different tubes if there is no improvement at the end. I would definately recommend this first before considering any bigger more drastic system changing. Since it is the pre/power amp that has brought about this issue.

 

[manicm]

Shafin,

I've been having sibilance problems with a system I'm demoing at home. You can check out the last few pages of Cno's AMS35i thread. I'm just about the post the results of some stuff I did this morning to mitigate the room acoustics, with no success, I'm afraid.

I hope you get this sorted. My concern would be that it might be a system synergy problem.

:cheers:

Matt

+1, and more often than not it could be the source (be it CD player or streaming etc) that's the weak link, or the speakers. But I'd always look at the source first.

 

[the record spot]

I just got an audiolab 8000p and an icon audio la4mk3 preamp, the combo is great but I am experiencing some vocal sibliance especially for female vocalists....its a disaster because I mainly listen to female vocalists. I don't know whether its the pre or the power at blame but its certainly not the rest of the setup as I've had no such problems with my Cayin. Any suggestions? Its ruining an otherwise great setup.

Regards,

Shafin

From memory Shafin, the Mezzo speakers veer towards the brighter end of the spectrum (or more detailed, as you prefer). This may be a case of the contrast between the valve amp and the contemporary speaker sounds clashing. Depending on your musical taste, then you might find that some recordings are too bright as well. So it really depends on several factors. My gut feeling would be around the speakers and looking at something that has a more even-handed treble unit which is less fussy in what it's partnered with. I've not tried either of your sources, but the CD5004 wasn't reckoned to be a bright sounding CD player, nor the Denon streamer.

Have you tried a slight repositioning of your speakers out of interest? Nothing major, a few inches either way and change the angle of toe-in to a degree (or out even). Might be worth a go. And it's free!

 

[ear]

Its always the metal dome speakers that cause SSSSSSibilanThx

Better cymbals sound and sibilance (metal dome)or no sibilance and not so good cymbals (soft dome).

 

[Anonymous]

You're using 'passive' LC cross overs no doubt?
High pass for the tweeter. Low pass for the sub. Band pass for the mid.

You still cannot beat the natural resonance of wood enclosures though right?

T. W. Jackson
-----------------
Lunatic asylum (section c)

 

[Anonymous]

Resonance (when entity A = B / corner frequency)
It is the cancellation that counts right? Complex stuff speaker box design.

 

[BigH]

I prefer silk, have not noticed any sibliance. Cheap metal tweeters canbe a problem.

 

[6th.replicant]

It's always the metal dome speakers that cause SSSSSSibilanThx

Better cymbals sound and sibilance (metal dome)or no sibilance and not so good cymbals (soft dome).

Beg to differ. IME, metal tweeter Totem Forest + bi-amp'd Arcam A38/P38 = sibilance-free zone.

A pair of Totem Forests, yesterday

 

[AEJim]

Don't always look for the obvious - most tweeters are pretty well behaved through the sibilant region, it is however at the point where bass/mid drivers generally break up which can cause a "hissing" sound. It can be controlled but will depend on the design of the speaker/crossover as to how much.

 

[DocG]

Don't always look for the obvious - most tweeters are pretty well behaved through the sibilant region, it is however at the point where bass/mid drivers generally break up which can cause a "hissing" sound. It can be controlled but will depend on the design of the speaker/crossover as to how much.

Is this where active XOs come into their own?

 

[davedotco]

Don't always look for the obvious - most tweeters are pretty well behaved through the sibilant region, it is however at the point where bass/mid drivers generally break up which can cause a "hissing" sound. It can be controlled but will depend on the design of the speaker/crossover as to how much.

Is this where active XOs come into their own?

And today's winner of the wooden spoon award is....

 

[Anonymous]

Too much analysing on this site, just listen to the music!

 

[Macspur]

It's always the metal dome speakers that cause SSSSSSibilanThx

Better cymbals sound and sibilance (metal dome)or no sibilance and not so good cymbals (soft dome).

Beg to differ. IME, metal tweeter Totem Forest + bi-amp'd Arcam A38/P38 = sibilance-free zone.

A pair of Totem Forests, yesterday

I've heard that the Forests are supposed to be very good... did you demo them?

Mac

 

[davedotco]

There is a theory, common in another place, that suggest that sibilence and other higher frequency harshness is caused by tweeters that are opperating at too low a frequency, remember in two way designs the bigest challenge is to roll off the bass driver before the cone breakup becomes too severe so tweeters are used down to frequencies at the limit of their abilities. I think there is some truth in this.

Low order crossovers are an issue too, the tweeter rolls off slowly and can still be producing significant output an octave or more below the crossover point, distortion produced at these frequencies is usually harmonically related and manifests itself at higher frequencies, harshness, sibilence etd.

Many metal dome tweeters are speced for use at lower frequencies than their soft dome counterparts, a big part of the problem in my view.

 

[DocG]

Don't always look for the obvious - most tweeters are pretty well behaved through the sibilant region, it is however at the point where bass/mid drivers generally break up which can cause a "hissing" sound. It can be controlled but will depend on the design of the speaker/crossover as to how much.

Is this where active XOs come into their own?

And today's winner of the wooden spoon award is....

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I honestly didn't see this one coming. I mean: whaaw! I'm so happy. It's so nice to finally get credit for all my efforts and devotion.

I want to thank all my friends and family who supported me when things got difficult. Most of all I thank my lovely wife. Ingrid darling, you were always there when I needed you; I never could have done this without your ongoing support and love! [gets emotional and starts to cry vigourously...]

 

[CnoEvil]

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I honestly didn't see this one coming. I mean: whaaw! I'm so happy. It's so nice to finally get credit for all my efforts and devotion.

I want to thank all my friends and family who supported me when things got difficult. Most of all I thank my lovely wife. Ingrid darling, you were always there when I needed you; I never could have done this without your ongoing support and love! [gets emotional and starts to cry vigourously...]

Let me be the last to offer my congratulations. :roll:

 

[davedotco]

Sorry DocG, it appears that once again my humour falls a little flat.

I thought that introducing active speaker techology into such a thread was an excellent and amusing wind up on your part, hence the 'wooden spoon' award.

It would appear that no one else took it that way....... :?

 

[BenLaw]

Well you get a wooden spoon for coming last so it didn't make any sense.

 

[davedotco]

Well you get a wooden spoon for coming last so it didn't make any sense.

It is also awarded to those 'who deliberately stir things up' which I thought DocG was doing with tongue firmly in cheek.

 

[BenLaw]

Can't find any references to that usage on a quick google. Eg http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooden_spoon_(award)

Anyway, at least you know now why no-one took it as you meant it, it's you and not them.

 

[DocG]

Sorry DocG, it appears that once again my humour falls a little flat.

I thought that introducing active speaker techology into such a thread was an excellent and amusing wind up on your part, hence the 'wooden spoon' award.

It would appear that no one else took it that way....... :?

Humour in a foreign language is harder than you think (my reply was an attempt, and see where that's going...).

Anyway, it's a pity that actives can apparently only be brought up by 'those on the dark side' (you know who you are!), and for the rest of us, it's 'not done' (do you use the word 'omerta' in English too?).

Having said that, I sincerely hope this reply doesn't start what you refer to, Dave, because that I find boring, far from an amusing wind-up. And appologies to Shafin should it happen anyway.

 

[davedotco]

Sorry DocG, it appears that once again my humour falls a little flat.

I thought that introducing active speaker techology into such a thread was an excellent and amusing wind up on your part, hence the 'wooden spoon' award.

It would appear that no one else took it that way....... :?

Humour in a foreign language is harder than you think (my reply was an attempt, and see where that's going...).

Anyway, it's a pity that actives can apparently only be brought up by 'those on the dark side' (you know who you are!), and for the rest of us, it's 'not done' (do you use the word 'omerta' in English too?).

Having said that, I sincerely hope this reply doesn't start what you refer to, Dave, because that I find boring, far from an amusing wind-up. And appologies to Shafin should it happen anyway.

Humour, sarcasm, irony and the rest often do not translate well in a forum like this, I need to make any jokes rather more obvious.

But then there is no discernable sense of humour on this forum so I doubt it would make much difference.

Ben.

The phrase is commonly used to refer to someone who likes to 'stir things up', a 'sh*t stirrer' if you prefer.

You need to stop relying on the internet and get out more.