Hi Nat,
Since posting my thoughts and suggestions above I have:
1. Repeated my empirical experiments above;
2. Done some further DAC swapping to further understand what is potentially happening, at least in my system.
My belief is that much of what happens in audio system is complex, and other approaches mentioned above hold obvious merit and if they resolve what you are hearing - great.
In my case BOTH my LP12 and digital systems started suffering a level of what I would call sibilence with certain albums/tracks AFTER I introduced the Sonore microRendu and SingXer F1, something that I didn't readily realise at the time. These replaced a Naim NS01 which had functioned well for the best part of a decade.
This manifested itself in my system as VERY hard sibilence on certain tracks, such that I created a playlist of 'The Usual Suspects', these included:
War of the Worlds – Thunder Child (CD rip & Qobuz)
- Richard Burton has very hard 'S'es.
- Some singing vocals have same issue.
War of the Worlds – Spirit of Man (CD rip & Qobuz)
- Richard Burton has very hard 'S'es.
- Some singing vocals have same issue, Phil Lynott esp.
The Dangling Question - Simon & Garfunkle (CD rip & Q)
- Very hard 'S'es.
Son of Man - Tarzan - Phil Collins (CD rip)
- Very hard 'S'es.
These will do for now. Anyone reading this - I would be VERY interested in whether these cause issues in your system, and which DAC you use.
I carried out a number of experiments and eventually 'solved' the very hard sibilance by simply adding a cable from the bodywork of the SingXer F1 to my EAR pre-amp.
My 'working theory' was that the SingXer was powered from my LPS-1 powered microRendu, and that this was being powered by a floating earth SMPS. This contains a certain level of assumption, but the fact is that this was and IS repeatable and teh wire solved that issue.
I then did a mini audit on my system and identified anything that I thought might not be earthed back to my ring main via an IEC lead. This included my Border Patrol DAC, which I have since confirmed with Gary is not earthed via its mains lead to my ring mains.
Two weeks ago I simplified the wiring scheme I use to do this by adding an Earthing Block, this has enabled me to simply add/remove from this 'wiring loom'. The result? It is VERY easy to degrade my sound - and bring back the hard sibilence, but that I cannot improve on the result I have. Something I expected but wanted to prove to myself.
The effect is twofold:
Hard sibilance gone;
Noise floor lowered, that is low level detail becomes clearer, bass becomes more focused.
In terms of the files above:
War of the Worlds – Thunder Child (CD rip & Qobuz)
- Burton's hard 'S'es still present, maybe a bit less pronounced.
- Singing vocals = OK.
War of the Worlds – Spirit of Man (CD rip & Qobuz)
- Burton's hard 'S'es still present, maybe a bit less pronounced.
- Singing vocals = OK.
The Dangling Question - Simon & Garfunkle (CD rip & Q)
- Singing vocals = OK.
Son of Man - Tarzan - Phil Collins (CD rip)
- Singing vocals = OK.
However, there is still an amount of 'edge'. Is this systemic or file based?
A friend came over with his Chord Hugo. He has an excellent system but described frustrations that the center was a bit hollowed out & lacked body.
Placing the HUGO DAC in my system - ALL the edge with the files above was gone. The higher frequencies were more refined and had greater resolution. However, I have also had had other DACs through my system, including the Schitt Yggdrasil and the Lampizator L4G5, these have also demonstrated the same edge issues, in the case of the Yggdrasil these were somewhat reduced.
We then took my Border Patrol DAC back to my friends system. We noted the same result in BOTH systems:
Hugo
Greater resolution and finesse with high frequencies
Mid band anaemic
BP DAC
Propels you into the music
Real meat and balls to the music
......certain sharpness with rock and pop in the mid/high frequencies.
Not as extended as the Hugo
My preference - the BP.
When I got home yesterday I decided to use my Oppo 105D as my DAC, just to reconfirm, or dispel, earlier observations: All the problem files STILL problems, perhaps a tad worse.
Bottom Line:
My suggestions are cheap and easily reversable.
John Swenson
This is an electronics engineer with a very good track record. I linked to a post of his in a post above. The point of that was the widget that he had made using CCTV DC connectors - NOT his observations on 'leakage loops'. I have made and used his widgets on various PSUs and found that it has lowered the noise floor in my system. Again, cheap and easy, but this is electrical and so needs to be handled with respect - bearing in mind how the DC barrel is wired and needs you to use a multimeter to check etc. Handle with care.
Hope you are making progress.
ATB,
M