Gold CDs sound Darker?

Not in the industry either, but agree with Carl. One other thing to consider is that your system may be "tuned" for the sound of the aluminum discs/normal pressings. For example, maybe your system is a little on smoother, mellower side of neutral, which might be hiding some of the glare of the standard discs. Then, when you put in a Gold version, it will sound mellower and smoother, of course. This has been my personal experience, since I own 95% aluminum discs, my sytem also sounds a little lifeless with gold discs. however, in almost all cases, the gold versions have had more inner detail, better rythm and pace, and more realistic timbres. Regarding the Ultra Clarifier, I have noticed LESS of a difference after its use on gold discs, than on aluminum discs. Any comments Carl ??

I don't think there's too much of a difference. It might be less of an improvement for gold ones, but it's hardly perceptible. Maybe fractions of a percentage point of the difference, for what it does with aluminum. (Realize that what's happening to the CD with the Bedini has as much to do with the plastic polycarbonate, as it does with the data layer.) Even CD-R's are vastly improved by both the Bedini and the Laser Guide (and there's zero metal of any kind in them). On your favorite CD's, even several applications of the Laser Guide (buffed properly) get it a little closer to "analog", making the digital "grit" a few more dB quieter. It's not as if the polycarbonate is truely "optical quality", even on DVD's or SACD's. Even the best Carl Zeiss glass lenses for cameras, binoculars, and telescopes must have complex coatings on all surfaces to get maximum performance (called "ultra-multicoating"). If any of these lenses were made from the polycarbonate that CD's are made from, it'd be like looking through dense fog, and you couldn't see much of anything at all. Yes, we're talking about a very thin layer for a CD, but we're also talking an EXTREMELY small area (thru this thin polycarbonate layer) when it comes to what the laser must focus on/through. Much smaller still for DVD and SACD.

Interesting. So perhaps the difference in Gold releases is that the whole package is better. From the masters used, to perhaps the polycarb medium as well, that accounts for some of the sonic differences, with or without the tweaks. Overall, I have prefered the Gold version in probably 90% of the ones that I've shelled out for.

Hi Carl, sorry didn't followup this post sooner. BTW what is Bedini Ultra Clarifier? and what exactly does it do? I have my friend to check out the two subject CDs on his hi-end Marantz cdp and I haven't the result yet. The alum and the gold in question are both made by Sheffield LabUSA. Jazz pianist/composer Pat Coil album names "Just Ahead" and "Pat Coil Gold". The gold is described as audiophile ref. system 20=>16 if i remember correctly. There is a Japanese company here manufacturing the raw polycarbonate for the CD manufrs hope to check that out too with the material technologist. thanks. Phil.

I tried to answer you earlier, but every damn time I want to post something, Audiogon's server somehow crashes! Give me a break, you dunderheads! I don't have the particular CD's you are referring to. Go to bedini.com for more on it. Basically, it's a motor that spins the CD at several thousand rpm, over magnets fixed in its base. They claim it has a polarizing effect on the potential stored energy/static electricity of the CD. I know that it works, whatever it's doing.