Treble harshness - interconnects as culprits?

Additional thought: perhaps your computer is processing the files differently than before. I know I can accedentally reset something and not know it on my computer. Perhaps the way the files are being used has be changed?
Anyway, it might be a reason to check how your server is processing the files going to the DAC.

I would get rid of the RS interconnects anything would be better choose one. Try kimber PBJ. Any Kimber stuff is good.

Elizabeth makes some very good points and doing the things she suggested should all help.

Other considerations are that there is a very good possibility that the sibilance does exist in the recordings themselves and your system is simply showing you what is on those recordings. Also, different cables do sound different and some cables and certain combinations of cables (say interconnects/speaker cables or speaker cables/power cords) can sound more or less sibilant than others.

So being the somewhat frugal beast that I am, I would try different interconnects and/or speaker cables first (especially if I had them on hand). And if you don't have a good AC power conditioner in the system, I would get one... not only for better sound, but for protection against spikes and power surges.

Frank

The only culprit here is the power. You would need high quality power cords like a Transparent Audio Reference power link or a good Regenerator like a Pure power or a Monarchy. I have gone through this exact situation. Any attempt to cut down harshness through interconnect will only lead to coloration and softening of transients because the problem doesnt exists there and you are trying to forcibly cure it there. POWER POWER POWER !!!!

There was a thread on this the other day. Get rid of the Radio Shack ICs and get the free ones that come with your oldest and cheapest CD or DVD player. If it sounds worse you know that is the problem.. The other way to approach this is to buy a very high quality Cardas Golden eference IC and use those. That will almost certainly fix the problem but you will be out about $850 for a meter. Not the highest price in the world but not cheap. You should alsp get Dream Weaver Speaker Cables from Jen Labs I use the cheapest but the all copper braid is a great cable and the higher up you go the better. This will solve the problem but the price of admission here is fair considering all the labor but firmly up there.