Gold CDs sound Darker?

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.

As far as a magnetic clarifier having an effect, "SHOW ME THE BITS!!". Has anyone done a comparison of the bit stream coming from an ordinary CD and that coming from the same CD after "clarification" (or any other tweak for that matter)? I'd like to see two factors assessed: the change, if any, in the actual set of 1's and 0's presented to the D/A, and the jitter in the D/A output clock. If these two characteristics are identical "before" and "after", why should the D/A output (and hence, the sound) be different, "before" and "after"?

Bedini has performed that test, but I doubt you'd trust their data. I don't need to see, because I can hear. Every time I played a CD, it always had more detail, dynamics and liquidity after the Clarifier (I played the same track before, and then after). The ones and zeros exist only there on the disc. When it comes time to read that data at warp speed, all kinds of things can and do happen. Try one yourself, if you don't beielve me. YOU HAVE NOTHNG TO LOSE, AND MUSIC TO GAIN...