Sibilance Is Driving Me Crazy!

[davidlillis]

I bought a brand new VPI Scout II with an upgraded 10.5i tonearm and Black Knight platter (happens to be the TT that Michael Fremmer demo'd a cartridge installation on at the NYC Audio show). My cartridge is a Ortofon 2M Blue through a Dynavector P-75 pre-amp. When I first set everything up, it sounded great. Now I'm hearing a boat load of sibilance in the highs. I've adjusted VTA, VTF, overhang, azimuth, and even played with damping fluid in the bearing cup and nothing seems to change the sibilance. I had the 2M Blue installed on an old Pioneer PL-15D II for about 6 months prior to purchasing the Scout. The cart is about a year old and has between 125 and 200 hours of playing time on it. I'm starting to think that I somehow broke the stylus and was thinking about picking up a AT 95e for 40 bucks just to see if it is indeed the stylus. I've contacted VPI and a local store I utilize and they are all telling me to adjust the items I've already adjusted and listed above. Because of this, I have purchased a digital scale, counter intuitive, and test disk to adjust sound quality. PLEASE HELP.

Regards,

David

[BirdMan]

Dave, It's so hard sometimes trying to track this type of problem down.
I know!!! My first question is how do you know it's your TT that's the problem? Have you compared an LP to a CD of the same title? Your TT might not be the culprit unless you have prooved it outright, though you haven't said. I find it odd, as you do I'm sure, that all was fine then it wasn't. If you have not already, it would be best to swap out individual items, ie., phono stage, amp, preamp, speakers,etc. Any friends in the area that you could borrow items from? Swapping out a cart. might be a quick way to +/- your theory, but be ready to pull more hair out if the problem persists. Bring your TT to a/your dealer(?) and play it there as is, before you drive your self nuts.

[Alec124c41]

Is the stylus clean?

Cheers,
Alec

[fscl]

Do you have access to some optical magnification..... a jeweler's loupe.... to see if there's a chip in the diamond...

If not, do you have the old Pioneer, re-install the Ortofon 2M and see how it sounds.....

Do you have another cartridge in your collection....to experiment with.... What's confusing the situation is the fact that it worked / sounded fine for a while in the beginning, so it points to damage at the styli..... as all other parameters remain the same.....

Fred and Alec makes a great point, is it clean...

[goatbreath]

I find no matter what I have problems with my Ortofon 510..A 3x7 bonded stylus.

[davidlillis]

All,

Thank you for the quick responses! You guys are tremendously helpful. To explain further:

I have cleaned the stylus. The Dynavector P-75 is about two months old and has been powered up since I installed it (break in should be complete). I did swap the Dynavector P-75 for the built-in preamp of my McIntiosh C32 which didn't resolve the sibilance. The C32 is an old unit, about a year ago I sent it to McIntosh for a complete refurbish. My main is a McIntosh 7205 that was originally hooked up to a Meridian 565. For a while, I was really into the movie thing, hence why I have a Meridian pre and 5-channel amp. About two years ago, I got back into vinyl and haven't used the Meridian since. I think I may sell my 5-channel equipment and go back to all tube, 2-channel (maybe a Line Magnetic integrated). I contacted VPI and they are nothing short of providing amazing customer service. They are sending me a Grado Gold cartridge free of charge so I can test. In return, they requested that I send them my Ortofon 2M Blue so they can test it for me. While I'm waiting, I'm going to take my old Hafler pre-amp I bought in 1985 (showing my ripe old age now) and replace the McIntosh with it to see if it is the pre-amp and not the cartridge. That's an easy swap, I also have a old integrated Adcom 3-channel amp, but swapping amps is a little more difficult due to weight and my equipment rack. I think, I'll swap the pre-amp first, if that doesn't have any positive results, I'll wait for the Grado Gold. If the Grado doesn't do the trick, amp, speakers, and the such will all be swapped.

Again, thanks for all the feedback guys. This has been tremendously helpful.

You know what's so damn frustrating, we buy all this great equipment to do one thing, listen to the music. When issues like this arise, and I don't know about you guys, but I start trying to rectify the issue prior to enjoying the music and that just sucks!

Regards,

David

[davidlillis]

I forgot to add that I do have a 10X loupe, I will remove the tonearm (on a VPI, it's so easy) and take a close look. When this sibilance issue began, I utilized the Baerwald and Loefgren protractors to adjust. I also have utilized the metal jig that comes with VPI turntables. I have spent many hours adjusting and listening. I love to tweak, but eventually I want my tweaking to pay off. Even adjusting VTA (I have the 10,5i arm which has VTA on the fly) all the way up and all the way down does not produce any changes in sibilance.

Once I resolve this issue, I'll be sure to post what the culprit was so hopefully my experiences and your input can help the next person.

Thanks again!

David

[duficity]

my bet is the stylus is damaged.

[davidlillis]

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking which sucks considering it's only about a year old. How does a diamond, one of the hardest substances on the planet become damaged? I don't use it to cut glass! I have bumped it a few times and it's skidded across a record. I've placed it on my vinyl without using the cue arm, but nothing too harsh. Fortunately, I realized when I bought the cartridge that getting back into the hobby seriously and knowing that I like to tweak, to not buy a super expensive cartridge as my first. I will definitely be gentler with future cartridge purchases.

Regards,

David

[cafe latte]

The 2m red and blue are very hard carts so it may be a mismach that you are hearing.
Regards
CL

[davidlillis]

Thank you for your post CL. I am hoping the Grado Gold VPI is sending me resolves the issue. What carts do you recommend that are more forgiving than the 2M Blue? I was planning on upgrading to a low output Dynavector 20X2 in the near future, but would really appreciate some advice on other carts prior to making the investment. My local dealer may allow me to borrow a few carts in the price range of the Dynavector which will help in making a final decision.

Regards,

David

[cafe latte]

That is a fine cart, but there are many cheaper options that will still be a massive upgrade. One I am currently considering about adding to my own collection is the Denon DL 304 which get excellent reviews each time it is put to test and for 700 dollars it should be on your shopping list. Another cart in the price band that I would be looking at which is a ral bargin IMO is the Benz micro ace sl, I just need to convince the missus its a bargin too
Here is an off the wall idea, this is a cart I have in my collection and you wont find anything that sounds as real or engaging, but it needs careful setting up and is over your budget and a bit quirky too. Deccs super gold http://www.needledoctor.com/Online-Stor ... super+gold
I would also consider the audio technica oc9, but if it were me and I already have a Decca I would be going the benz micro. There are many other possibilities but these all vey fine carts for the money.
Regards
CL

[davidlillis]

CL,

Thank you for the information. I will definitely check out your recommendations prior to investing in a new cart. First, I need to pinpoint my sibilance issue. The borrowed cart from VPI shipped yesterday so I may have it today, perfect if it does come so I can spend the holiday tomorrow tweaking my system. As stated previously, I will update the forum with my results and what the issue is. Thank you again for taking the time to respond.

Regards,

David

[Tedrick]

Thank you for your post CL. I am hoping the Grado Gold VPI is sending me resolves the issue. What carts do you recommend that are more forgiving than the 2M Blue? I was planning on upgrading to a low output Dynavector 20X2 in the near future, but would really appreciate some advice on other carts prior to making the investment. My local dealer may allow me to borrow a few carts in the price range of the Dynavector which will help in making a final decision.

Regards,

David

Dynavector cartridges mate very well with VPI 'tables. I have both a 20XL and a 17D3 Karat that have seen service on my VPI HW-19 and Classic 'tables. And as you would expect, both carts work perfectly with the P-75 phono stage.