• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Peter Gabrial's "SO" Excelent LP - For demonstrating Sibilance

Maybe we are defining sibilance differently? Or rather talking about the same event but using different names?

The S's and a couple other high tones (occasional snare hits and cymbals) extend into distortion. So "Hot" could be used to describe what I'm hearing and the distortion gives me the effect of extended 's' sounds.
 
I have a Russian copy that is very sibilant. I'll have to check my US pressing if I can find it. I have a few 45rpm 12"from this album and they sound much better. "Don't Give Up" on 12" single is amazing. I use it to set up my turntables, actually.
 
sxty8goats said:
The S's and a couple other high tones (occasional snare hits and cymbals) extend into distortion. So "Hot" could be used to describe what I'm hearing and the distortion gives me the effect of extended 's' sounds.
Click to expand...

I agree with you, that's what I heard. It wasn't just a case of his singing style or voice, it went into the realm of distortion.
 
I've been listening to this album on CD since its release and always considered it a an excellent recording. I have it on vinyl and have played it once, couldn't detect any of the aforementioned problems. I will listen to it more attentively and will report back if I find anything.
 
I have three different copies,original,200g and 200g x 45rpm box and whilst his voice can sometimes sound a bit bright,it is not as bad as some by a long way,"Breakfast in America" on the other hand is apalling.
 
I have it on CD. No sibilance there. Sounds like maybe a different master tape was used for the vinyl releases?
 
Ha ha. Sorry to rake up such an old thread but I just bought a Thorens TD 160 over the weekend and was pulling my hair out trying to adjust the cartridge. I kept using this record to test it, specifically "In Your Eyes" and kept getting horrible sibilance. I tried my M91ED and my AT96E and was getting little luck success with both. I searched for "Peter Gabriel So sibilance" on Google and found this thread. Glad I'm not the only one having difficulty with this album. I guess I can enjoy this Thorens knowing that the sibilance is a result of the pressing/mastering and not the setup of my turntable.

Cheers.
 
Use Memory Pain

from 2nd Winter to dial in your cartridge instead. Adjust your azimuth until you can hear someone cough just before Johnny starts playing guitar @ the begining of the song. :yes: This song has simbalence but if you adjust it like I said it goes away.
 
It's unlistenable for me basically. Sad, it's a great album. I have it on CD though, so it's not the end of the world. I remember listening to this LP when it first came out and trying to figure out why it sounded so awful. I was pretty young at the time.
 
lbcgav said:
Ha ha. Sorry to rake up such an old thread but I just bought a Thorens TD 160 over the weekend and was pulling my hair out trying to adjust the cartridge. I kept using this record to test it, specifically "In Your Eyes" and kept getting horrible sibilance. I tried my M91ED and my AT96E and was getting little luck success with both. I searched for "Peter Gabriel So sibilance" on Google and found this thread. Glad I'm not the only one having difficulty with this album. I guess I can enjoy this Thorens knowing that the sibilance is a result of the pressing/mastering and not the setup of my turntable.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Yikes. I'm just glad it took me so long to find my first 'clean' looking copy. I had a good sense of my TT long before I ran into it so I knew my setup was basically solid. Glad we could help.

I tend to use Steely Dan's 'Aja' and or Morphine "Yes" to set up and test new TTs/components. Then move on to XTC's recent re-release of Skylarking to test 45RPM speeds.
 
Funny, I've got Aja waiting for me at home, just delivered by the USPS this afternoon. Thanks again for the reassurance. Now, to find a new stylus for my just purchased Signet TK7E!
sxty8goats said:
Yikes. I'm just glad it took me so long to find my first 'clean' looking copy. I had a good sense of my TT long before I ran into it so I knew my setup was basically solid. Glad we could help.

I tend to use Steely Dan's 'Aja' and or Morphine "Yes" to set up and test new TTs/components. Then move on to XTC's recent re-release of Skylarking to test 45RPM speeds.
Click to expand...
 
lbcgav said:
Ha ha. Sorry to rake up such an old thread but I just bought a Thorens TD 160 over the weekend and was pulling my hair out trying to adjust the cartridge. I kept using this record to test it, specifically "In Your Eyes" and kept getting horrible sibilance. I tried my M91ED and my AT96E and was getting little luck success with both. I searched for "Peter Gabriel So sibilance" on Google and found this thread. Glad I'm not the only one having difficulty with this album. I guess I can enjoy this Thorens knowing that the sibilance is a result of the pressing/mastering and not the setup of my turntable.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Oh man talk about bad luck! You just happened to unwittingly choose So to set up your cartridges, it must have seemed like something was really wrong with your turntable. :sigh:

For everyone's information, I very recently pulled out my cassette copy of this album, and the issue was just as horrible as it was with the fancy Cisco vinyl reissue I used to have, even when I played the tape in a car cassette player (where I'd thought it might mask the problem). I was still able to enjoy it, but it is very aggravating to me.
 
So is the album I've pulled off the shelf to explain what sibilance sounds like. Good album, but I can't listen to it. Aja on the other hand, smooth as glass. Say what you will about Becker and Fagen but they put out some amazingly well recorded music. I won't go so far as to say I love all of it, but it sounds excellent.
 
I only have the original CD issue of So.....It sounds amazing to me. I have been toying with buying the new anniversary issue as I never had a vinyl copy of So. I see it at the used stores all the time but the CD sounds "so" good!

And I agree Aja is one of my best sounding original LP's that I have. I have bought 2-3 used copies and they all are excellent sounding.
 
Picked this one up today. Yes, sibilance is very noticeable on Peter's vocals. It seems he speaks his S's out a bit sharply, but it really sounds weird on the vinyl. That said, the CD did have a noticeable sharp edge on the high-end, it seems that most digital recorded and mastered albums from this era have this. I have a "digital recorded" album by the Dutch band BZN from the same year, the high end is a bit sharp on the cassette, sibilance on the record. I'd say it's the digital recording that sharpens the high-end a bit. That said, digital recording has come a LONG way since then. Early digital just wasn't that great, it improved over the years but then the loudness war started and ruined any improvements digital had over analog by simply not using them. :thumbsdn:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom