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Thread: Softening of the harsh highs

  1. #11
    Join Date: May 2016

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    As we age our high frequency hearing deteriorates. I am sure this is not relevant here though!

  2. #12
    Join Date: Jul 2016

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sherwood View Post
    As we age our high frequency hearing deteriorates. I am sure this is not relevant here though!
    I was always of that opinion too, but I have found I am becoming more intolerant of certain high frequencies, in particular some LP's I happily listened to in the '70's, like ELP, Led Zep, 'Tull for example I can't stand to listen to them now, & they aren't duff pressings either.

  3. #13
    Join Date: May 2010

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sherwood View Post
    As we age our high frequency hearing deteriorates. I am sure this is not relevant here though!
    True, we lose the ability to hear high frequencies. Which should make those unpleasant, screechy LPs suddenly sound mellow and pleasant. Sadly, that's not the case, for some reason
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  4. #14
    Join Date: Nov 2008

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    Quote Originally Posted by magiccarpetride View Post
    True, we lose the ability to hear high frequencies. Which should make those unpleasant, screechy LPs suddenly sound mellow and pleasant. Sadly, that's not the case, for some reason
    Two points - first off, have you not heard of harmonics?
    Second - the frequencies you're noticing have strong fundamentals below 10kHz.
    Chris



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  5. #15
    Join Date: Jan 2008

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    I reckon that screech usually resides in the 5 - 7 KHz region.
    .

  6. #16
    Join Date: May 2010

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    Quote Originally Posted by jandl100 View Post
    I reckon that screech usually resides in the 5 - 7 KHz region.
    The assumption here is that old people can hear frequencies above 5 kHz?
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

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  7. #17
    Join Date: Aug 2009

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    Quote Originally Posted by magiccarpetride View Post
    The assumption here is that old people can hear frequencies above 5 kHz?
    The deaf ones can't, but then I suppose they don't listen to music much so the problem sort of solves itself.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  8. #18
    Join Date: Oct 2017

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    The first thing I would do is focus a 40x magnifier on the stylus and clean as appropriate. Eliminate stylus cleanliness. After that get the harsh sounding records professionally cleaned to as near pristine condition as possible using a KM machine. Otherwise poorer quality cables = more capacitance = more mellow, less harsh or bright sound. That a certain record sounds harsh points directly to an issue with that record and/or the stylus/cartridge/arm setup/condition and how it is interfacing with particular records. Cables are highly unlikely to be the problem - in my opinion.
    Last edited by vintagesteve; 01-05-2018 at 12:03.

  9. #19
    Join Date: May 2010

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    Quote Originally Posted by vintagesteve View Post
    The first thing I would do is focus a 40x magnifier on the stylus and clean as appropriate. Eliminate stylus cleanliness. After that get the harsh sounding records professionally cleaned to as near pristine condition as possible using a KM machine. Otherwise poorer quality cables = more capacitance = more mellow, less harsh or bright sound. That a certain record sounds harsh points directly to an issue with that record and/or the stylus/cartridge/arm setup/condition and how it is interfacing with particular records. Cables are highly unlikely to be the problem - in my opinion.
    But if the stylus is the cause of harshness, shouldn't ALL my LPs sound harsh? In this case only a few select LPs sound harsh.
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

  10. #20
    Join Date: Oct 2017

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    Quote Originally Posted by magiccarpetride View Post
    But if the stylus is the cause of harshness, shouldn't ALL my LPs sound harsh? In this case only a few select LPs sound harsh.
    1) I would do it anyway, just to eliminate it.
    2) Like I said, the effect of a dirty stylus could have a greater effect with certain records, the relationship is complex and not all records 'sound the same' - apart from in the obvious way!

    Just my suggestions. I was amazed at how dirty my stylus was before I used a magnifier. Previously I had just given it a cursory, careful brush every now and then thinking that it would be enough, it wasn't. And at that time, I was hearing harshness on certain records. Super cleaned the stylus - gone.

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