hsssss sounds

[Cypher]

I have this system ;

Rotel RA-04
Marantz SA-7001
Monitor Audio BR2
Chord cables

This system sounds amazing for the money but the only thing I don't like is the exagerrating of the 'S' and
'T' sounds. When I play Sting - Brand New Day and some other CD's the vocals are sometimes producing
too much 'hisssss' sounds if you know what I mean.
Is there a solution to this (small) problem ?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Sure - we're talking sibilance. Is all or some of the system new?

 

[Cypher]

About 6 months old..........the Rotel is three months old.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Not a need for more running-in then, which leaves me at a bit of a loss. There are some recordings which are more sibilant than others, either due to miking or vocal techniques - Freddie used to sound like a pit of snakes on some Queen albums! - and the Sting discs do tend to be pretty bright, so it may just be recording-dependent.

There's nothing in your system especially prone to over-brightness, and nothing much immediately changeable to give a sound that plays this down without complete changing the sound into lush blandness. Might we suggest a little left hand down a bit on the treble when playing problem discssssssss?