Synergistic Red Fuse ...

Fleschler, some additional input relating to the hypothesis I provided earlier that in some cases might explain sonic differences between supposedly identical CDs.

An Audiogon member whose screen-name is Kirkus is, in addition to being one of our most technically brilliant contributors, highly experienced in analyzing and measuring the internal circuits of CD players, transports, and DACs. An excerpt of a post he provided on 7-20-2011 in this thread:

Two big conceptual errors I see very commonly are the assumption that any intrinsic jitter related to retrieval of information off of a CD actually occurs through the forward signal/data path, and that any sonic artifact associated with parts upstream of the DAC must be classifiable as jitter.

In reality, CD players, transports, and DACs are a menagerie of true mixed-signal design problems, and there are a lot of different noise sources living in close proximity with susceptible circuit nodes. One oft-overlooked source is crosstalk from the disc servomechanism into other parts of the machine . . . analog circuitry, S/PDIF transmitters, PLL clock, etc., which can be dependent on the condition of the disc.

... One would be surprised at some of the nasty things that sometimes come up out of the noise floor when the focus and tracking servos suddenly have to work really hard to read the disc.

Such effects figure to be dependent on the physical characteristics of the particular pressing, the condition of the disc, and the design of the particular playback hardware. And to have little if any predictability.

Regards,
-- Al

mac48025George,
I wish I knew how to post links, but I don’t.

Mac, what I simply asked was for a link to an Audiophile fuse manufacturer that states that their fuse will improve the sound of your system, not hearsay.

Cheers George

GK, I also have a quasi-high end analog set-up, a VPI TNT VI mod./SME IV mod./Benz Ruby 3, isolation platform/Audio Interface SUT and $15K custom phono stage.  About $30K+ and properly aligned.  I just counted 79 RFR and FR pressings.  I have heard all but 3.  Generally, they are excellent; however, vinyl noise is a factor on many of them and the bass is absolutely not better than the MLP CDs.  My speakers play down to 16 Hz with 3 12" drivers.  As to your mischaracterization of the CDs, I don't know what you are using to play them on and I have already stated my EAR Acute based system.  I do not hear reversed polarity at all.  I hear sound usually at the apex of all recorded sound for the period.  Tremendously enjoyable.  There were some miscues in remastering such as in the first cut of the HI-Fi a la Espagnola or the dry sound of the mono release which I can't remember.   The Starker CDs sound fantastic, equal to the LPs without surface noise.  As to differences in sound by the different sets, they all sound excellent, just a little different. 

On Capitol Kids Songs for Grown-Ups, I've heard 5 CDs, of which I own 3, Robert owns one and Tom Port of Better Records owns 1.  2 of my 3 copies are less dynamic and less focused sounding than the other 3 copies.  So, we listen to the best copies instead.  As I said before, the variability is present, just not as prominent as differences in LP pressings.

Hello Al,
Thanks for the follow up. I have the 2 CD set of "Chopin Nocturnes" by Ivan Moravec, simply beautiful music!

Tatiana Nikolayeva "Plays The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas" I am attracted to her playing style , lighter touch but I sense much expression and emotion. This is a live performance in Russia.

Classical music is an interesting contrast from my beloved jazz music.
Charles

Fleschler

It’s kind of pointless to argue further on the subject of SQ and Mercury LPs or CDs as there are perfectly good reasons why you hear things as you describe, it doesn't mean what I said is wrong. I have said what I wanted to say. It can serve no further purpose to argue about this any more.

have a nice day