What is the reason behind the stress on 'ssssss'

[matbhuvi]

Lately in my custom shelled SE530 in pair with HM-601, i am noticing that there is a stress on words starting with 'S' making them 'ssss'...I am sure i have not experienced that before. I know i sound weird..but this is quite annoying and distracting my listening experience.

 

[revolink24]

You'll hear that stress on "s" sounds around here called sibilance. Mostly it has to do with headphones with certain high frequencies boosted, which causes sibilants (or "s sounds") to stand out. A lot of manufacturers boost these frequencies because quite often it adds to the perception of detail in music.

Yeah, it's fairly annoying.

 

[calipilot227]

For some reason, the SE530 has managed to be sibilant while at the same time having rolled-off treble. I think they fixed it with the SE535 (from what I've heard)

 

[matbhuvi]

Quote:

You'll hear that stress on "s" sounds around here called sibilance. Mostly it has to do with headphones with certain high frequencies boosted, which causes sibilants (or "s sounds") to stand out. A lot of manufacturers boost these frequencies because quite often it adds to the perception of detail in music.

Yeah, it's fairly annoying.

aagh..thanks for taking time to explain me the meaning of sibilance 

..It indeed adds the perception that the sound is detailed and bit airy (never before on SE530).
 


Quote:

For some reason, the SE530 has managed to be sibilant while at the same time having rolled-off treble. I think they fixed it with the SE535 (from what I've heard)

I am sure i did not have the problem before reshelling. The problem came after reshelling. Especially after removing the filter (damper?) based on some members advice to fix the issues caused by ear wax.
 

 

[calipilot227]

Quote:

aagh..thanks for taking time to explain me the meaning of sibilance 

..It indeed adds the perception that the sound is detailed and bit airy (never before on SE530).
 



I am sure i did not have the problem before reshelling. The problem came after reshelling. Especially after removing the filter (damper?) based on some members advice to fix the issues caused by ear wax.
 

That's probably the reason. The stock filter on the SE530 does dampen the highs a bit, but many people still find them slightly fatiguing.
 

 

[Vkamicht]

Get a sine tone generator, find the high frequency that's being massively emphasized and EQ it down. Problem solved

 

[matbhuvi]

Quote:

Get a sine tone generator, find the high frequency that's being massively emphasized and EQ it down. Problem solved

That would be awesome..is there a way to do for IEM?

 

[High_Q]

Sibilance is a result of recording.  The mic causes sibilance.  The sibilance can be harsh or laid back depending on how forward the treble is on the IEM.  Typically a good IEM will have laid back treble to make sibilance less anoying, yet keeping all details intact in the sound.
 
Quote:

Get a sine tone generator, find the high frequency that's being massively emphasized and EQ it down. Problem solved

 

 

[matbhuvi]

Quote:

Sibilance is a result of recording.  The mic causes sibilance.  The sibilance can be harsh or laid back depending on how forward the treble is on the IEM.  Typically a good IEM will have laid back treble to make sibilance less anoying, yet keeping all details intact in the sound.
 

So, my best bet is to fix the IEM by putting the damper back. Also, i don't have much option of EQing in HM-601.
 

 

[dadab12]

My HD800 causes sibliance in certain recordings, realyl specific ones, i've tried to mess with it but couldn't find a solution. I noticed it recently... I'm using an Auditor amp..

 

[matbhuvi]

Quote:

Get a sine tone generator, find the high frequency that's being massively emphasized and EQ it down. Problem solved

The sinegen definitely helped me to tame FA-011

 

[RexAeterna]

it happens not just with headphone or speaker. they are half the problem. lot of comes from the mic position in the recording booth. the acoustics of the recording booth. the singer him/herself,ect. lot more to it then just the equipment you use. the biggest issue is usually how the singer is positioned towards the mic in the recording and another issue is the sound engineer him/herself on how they eq everything in the first place.

 

[poikkeus]

Sssibilance iss jussst a ssmall exssample of what happensss when treble ressolution is exsssagerated, even ssslightly. Acssually, it'sss bassically a possitive thsing, but getting the right balancse isss what'sss critical. And RexAeterna suggestsss, mixssing introducsess a new sset of challengess balancssing ssibilanse. Perssonally, I prefer a sslight level of ssibilance, but I couldn't sssay why.

 

[leeperry]

sibilance in headphones is more than anything else due to the resonances of your ear canals...they are solutions, though: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/413900/

 

[High_Q]

 no no no, you may be mixing up resonance caused by standing waves, kinda like a reverb. Sibilance is caused by combination of treble spike at certain frequency(which emphasizes it, my HD650 masks it because it is so smooth), and more do to the recording equipment.
 
Quote:

sibilance in headphones is more than anything else due to the resonances of your ear canals...they are solutions, though: http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/413900/