Sibilance has returned. What can I conclude?

[Holmz]

It seems there is only one logical conclusion.
Just give the x-overs more time and it should go away.

Ho will ^that^ fix the headphone?

 

[Maril555]

Ho will ^that^ fix the headphone?

Well, the only variable is the x-over
The headphones I cannot explain
But is the OP 100% confident that the sound through the headphones has changed simultaneously with the speakers?
Psychoacoustic can play a role here

 

[Another Johnson]

Obviously since he says it’s happening with both speakers AND headphones, it has nothing to do with his speaker re-cap or his room.

It has to be originating somewhere else.

I would look at the common interconnects or the root electronic device that is feeding both the speaker amp and the headphone amp. Reseat the interconnects. Is it in both channels on the headphones? Is in both channels on the speakers? If yes, it’s probably in the preamp since the same problem seems to be present with more than one source.

It could just be a random failure or degradation in the preamp and is probably unrelated to the changes he made. It just happened. Good luck with the troubleshooting.

 

[Maril555]

My working theory is that that the crossover re-cap caused exaggerated sibilance in main system and once I began to hear it there, I became hypersensitized/hypervigilant and subsequently began noticing it everywhere else. In other words, "normal" sibilance everywhere else gets "magnified" in this psycho-acoustic process and is perceived as exaggerated. This is consistent with experiences other guys have posted online.

Thats exactly what i proposed without reading your post.

 

[Gregm]

No ICs in system, currently, as I'm as I'm using Hegel's internal DAC, having sold my previous Aqua La Voce standalone DAC due to fatigue issues. I can try cleaning digital cable.

The only other thing I can think of is RFI or EMI (more unlikely), though why it should manifest itself at this time and not before is beyond me.
Unless you have an increased DC component in your mains...

 

[bRnzBzh]

Well, the only variable is the x-over
The headphones I cannot explain
But is the OP 100% confident that the sound through the headphones has changed simultaneously with the speakers?
Psychoacoustic can play a role here

"Psychoacoustic can play a role here". Yes.

 

[bRnzBzh]

Obviously since he says it’s happening with both speakers AND headphones, it has nothing to do with his speaker re-cap or his room.

It has to be originating somewhere else.

I would look at the common interconnects or the root electronic device that is feeding both the speaker amp and the headphone amp. Reseat the interconnects. Is it in both channels on the headphones? Is in both channels on the speakers? If yes, it’s probably in the preamp since the same problem seems to be present with more than one source.

It could just be a random failure or degradation in the preamp and is probably unrelated to the changes he made. It just happened. Good luck with the troubleshooting.

. . . Except through headphones into Jolida CDP with (no other devices in signal chain) sibilance is the same.

 

[bRnzBzh]

The only other thing I can think of is RFI or EMI (more unlikely), though why it should manifest itself at this time and not before is beyond me.
Unless you have an increased DC component in your mains...

How would I check for increased DC component in mains?

 

[bRnzBzh]

Thanks to everyone who's responded. Time will tell whether it's the caps. Naturally, I hope that will prove to be be the cause.

 

[Gregm]

How would I check for increased DC component in mains?

Do you get a buzzing noise from the amp's transformer? Not through the speakers - directly audible? If so, there is some dc in the mains line; no worries, a dc blocker will do the trick.

 

[Holmz]

Well, the only variable is the x-over
The headphones I cannot explain
But is the OP 100% confident that the sound through the headphones has changed simultaneously with the speakers?
Psychoacoustic can play a role here

The only other thing common is the OP.

I would suggest going to an audiologist, unless someone else is also hearing the system and notes the same thing.

By the way, the control of the tensor tympani muscle can give the same presentation as the OP notes. And it is not uncommon for critical listeners to develop a feedback control of the muscle.

 

[bRnzBzh]

Do you get a buzzing noise from the amp's transformer? Not through the speakers - directly audible? If so, there is some dc in the mains line; no worries, a dc blocker will do the trick.

No

 

[Another Johnson]

. . . Except through headphones into Jolida CDP with (no other devices in signal chain) sibilance is the same.

Then I agree with the idea that the listener appears to be the only common factor.

 

[bRnzBzh]

The only other thing common is the OP.

I would suggest going to an audiologist, unless someone else is also hearing the system and notes the same thing.

By the way, the control of the tensor tympani muscle can give the same presentation as the OP notes. And it is not uncommon for critical listeners to develop a feedback control of the muscle.

The last time I had a sibilance issue , I did go to an audiologist and was told there was nothing in the test results that suggested what I was hearing was due to a hearing issue. It doesn't seem likely to me that a change in my hearing occurred at exactly the same time as the crossover re-cap but I suppose it's theoretically possible. What is a "feedback control of the muscle"? My wife hears what she calls "normal sibilance" through the speakers and is not bothered by it.

 

[Holmz]

The last time I had a sibilance issue , I did go to an audiologist and was told there was nothing in the test results that suggested what I was hearing was due to a hearing issue. It doesn't seem likely to me that a change in my hearing occurred at exactly the same time as the crossover re-cap but I suppose it's theoretically possible.

Or maybe it is likely?

What is a "feedback control of the muscle"? My wife hears what she calls "normal sibilance" through the speakers and is not bothered by it.

In the last millennium I went to an audiologist while on vacation as I had developed a scratchy sibilance in one ear.

The lady asked if I worked in the recording industry as the muscle is routinely “relaxed” when people are listening “critically”.
It went away, and I’ve just “listened to enjoy the music” since then.

 

[Kingrex]

Being PAP speaker owner, I am familar with Caps and crossovers. Most definitely caps can make a speaker sound like crap. A single wrong brand cap can ruin a speaker. Selection of caps is critical to a great sounding speaker. Recapping a speaker with the wrong cap (I don't mean its value, I mean the brand) will absolutely make your speaker ulistenable.
Get better caps. Try Jupiter bees wax copper foil. Try Jenson. Go to the Humblepie website and read the cap review. I would personally avoid Mcaps. They are very good. But very neutral.

Also, your caps will take maybe 200 hours to settle.
Also look at the resistors. Those have a big influence on sound also. Try Path Audio.
The Inductors will also influence sound. The iron core can add a haze. The air core are usually better, but its all a balancing act.

Stick with the exact values as before but try other caps. Especially the ones going to the tweeter and midrange.

 

[treitz3]

The only other recent change has been upgrading VooDoo ac cords several months ago from Vision to Dynasty. I did this to achieve better bass response. They are not bright sounding.

Question. When did you replace the cords, relative to when you did the upgrade of the crossover units? Were they both at about the same timeframe?

One other question. Are the cables that were upgraded shielded? I'm still leaning on the introduction of noise into your A/C mains. Power issues will most definitely cause sibilance, amongst other things. I would still suggest my previous suggestion (just to eliminate that aspect).

Tom

 

[thedudeabides]

How can it not be the caps or something directly related to the new cap install? If there is no explicit reason, not discounting the fact he hears the sibilance on the headphones, there is only one remaining explanation. My advice. Don't listen to your system for one week and when you do, listen to "new" material that is dissimilar to your typical preferences. Psychoacoustic? Absent any other commonalty, I think so and this should prove that theory. Good luck.

 

[bRnzBzh]

Question. When did you replace the cords, relative to when you did the upgrade of the crossover units? Were they both at about the same timeframe?

One other question. Are the cables that were upgraded shielded? I'm still leaning on the introduction of noise into your A/C mains. Power issues will most definitely cause sibilance, amongst other things. I would still suggest my previous suggestion (just to eliminate that aspect).

Tom

The cords were replaced at least a month before caps were done. Previous suggestion was check direction of digital cable? Sorry, I'm starting to lose track as the thread grows.

 

[bRnzBzh]

How can it not be the caps or something directly related to the new cap install? If there is no explicate reason, not discounting the fact he hears the sibilance on the headphones, there is only one remaining explanation. My advice. Don't listen to your system for one week and when you do, listen to "new" material that is dissimilar to your typical preferences. Psychoacoustic? Absent any other commonalty, I think so and this should prove that theory. Good luck.

Thanks for your comments/suggestions. I will experiment, although I don't think I can go a week without listening to the system -- not because it's anything special but simply because I'm a music lover. . .