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Thread: Softening of the harsh highs

  1. #21
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Vancouver, Canada

    Posts: 2,166
    I'm Alex.

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    Quote Originally Posted by vintagesteve View Post
    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.
    I bought my cartridge 6 weeks ago. I never play records that haven't been thoroughly washed and vacuumed in my RCM. Plus, I always clean my stylus using Magic Eraser plus the stylus brush before each play. Doubt that in 6 weeks' time it could get so dirty to cause harshness.
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

  2. #22
    Join Date: Oct 2017

    Location: Rugeley

    Posts: 300
    I'm Steve.

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    Quote Originally Posted by magiccarpetride View Post
    I bought my cartridge 6 weeks ago. I never play records that haven't been thoroughly washed and vacuumed in my RCM. Plus, I always clean my stylus using Magic Eraser plus the stylus brush before each play. Doubt that in 6 weeks' time it could get so dirty to cause harshness.
    Most probably true. Like I say, a good magnifier is a good tool to have around anyway. You never know, a dirty record could have 'glued' some detritus on to the stylus.

  3. #23
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 37,778
    I'm Martin.

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    Give us some examples of the records that sound harsh.
    Current Lash Up:

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

  4. #24
    Join Date: Mar 2010

    Location: Sheffield

    Posts: 2,898
    I'm Simon.

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    1. Try the records on another hifi, that will identify the records or the hifi.
    If it's the records suck it up and buy new and sort out your cart set-up before you screw the new records.

    2. If it's the hifi check stylus is clean.
    3. Check cart is undamaged.
    4. Check aligment
    5. Check SRA
    6. Check tracking weight
    7. Check cart loading
    8. Calculate effective mass and suspension compliance to give you resonant freq of arm. Add in suspension R.Freq and fix with weight on headshell or damping if required

    If all good swap cable to phono if possible.
    If not swap phono
    If that bears no fruit swap pre-amp.
    Then power amp
    Then speakers
    Then listening position and room treatments.

    If none of that helps go see an audiologist.

    My money is on poor set-up having worn records and arm-cart interaction
    Kuzma Stabi/S 12", (LP12-bastard) DC motor and optical tacho psu, Benz LP, Paradise (phonostage). MB-Pro, Brooklyn dac and psu, Bruno Putzeys balanced pre, mod86p dual mono amps, Yamaha NS1000m

  5. #25
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Vancouver, Canada

    Posts: 2,166
    I'm Alex.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    Give us some examples of the records that sound harsh.
    Big Brother And The Holding Company (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Br...ompany_(album))
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

  6. #26
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Vancouver, Canada

    Posts: 2,166
    I'm Alex.

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    Quote Originally Posted by sq225917 View Post
    1. Try the records on another hifi, that will identify the records or the hifi.
    If it's the records suck it up and buy new and sort out your cart set-up before you screw the new records.

    2. If it's the hifi check stylus is clean.
    3. Check cart is undamaged.
    4. Check aligment
    5. Check SRA
    6. Check tracking weight
    7. Check cart loading
    8. Calculate effective mass and suspension compliance to give you resonant freq of arm. Add in suspension R.Freq and fix with weight on headshell or damping if required

    If all good swap cable to phono if possible.
    If not swap phono
    If that bears no fruit swap pre-amp.
    Then power amp
    Then speakers
    Then listening position and room treatments.

    If none of that helps go see an audiologist.

    My money is on poor set-up having worn records and arm-cart interaction
    So your diagnosis still stands even after you learn that out of my 500+ LPs, only a few sound harsh? The rest sound gorgeous. That despite something wrong with my setup? Are you sure?
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

  7. #27
    Join Date: Jun 2008

    Location: Happy Cheshire

    Posts: 675
    I'm Duncan.

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    I have the 2016 flac release of that album in 24bit 192khz.

    Most of the recording is fine but on certain songs the nature of Janis’s voice is always going to sound harsh.

    That’s what Janis did.

    Happy Days

  8. #28
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Vancouver, Canada

    Posts: 2,166
    I'm Alex.

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    Quote Originally Posted by tubehunter View Post
    I have the 2016 flac release of that album in 24bit 192khz.

    Most of the recording is fine but on certain songs the nature of Janis’s voice is always going to sound harsh.

    That’s what Janis did.

    Happy Days
    Sure. I have all her LPs, and only on this LP does her voice sound harsh.
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

  9. #29
    Join Date: Mar 2016

    Location: Brighton, UK.

    Posts: 3,061
    I'm Mike.

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    Try a record by The Fall, they always sound harsh
    Current system 1210 GR. CDP - Meridian G08. Amp -Sugden A21I - Sig. Wharfedale Lintons.

  10. #30
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Vancouver, Canada

    Posts: 2,166
    I'm Alex.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mikeandvan View Post
    Try a record by The Fall, they always sound harsh
    Why should I try that?
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

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