Better Quality CD's

skidman: don't overlook some of the smaller labels, whose sound is consistently higher than average. for example, oh boy!, 4ad, ryko, rhino (especially re-issues), secretly canadian, acoustic disc and redhouse, to name but a few. i would also look for sony 20-bit titles, that offer superior sound quality. most mfsl cd's are, IMO, greatly overrated and over-priced. (FWIW, i'm a mfsl vinyl collector, with several hundred titles on my shelves.) you should also take care in purchasing japanese pressings; many are stridently bright. good hunting. -kelly

freeze them. according to a brit audio magazine. (fairly recent issue; last month maybe) you can freeze them in a household freezer for a week. then place them in your frig for a week. then put them in a cool place for 3 more days. (no i am not making this up) it is supposed to improve the sound by removing stress from the plastic. i have yet to do it. i am on an analog kick and listening to 500 new (thrift shop albums)....cleaning them is a chore. i also have most of the labels listed above...very good quality. even un-frozen. my modest analog set up kills any cd i own. good luck

I have found the concord jazz lable to be exceptional. I pick up any that I happen to find. I believe that the group "The Three" is on that label. I would get all that I can find! Chris

Skiidman, seems nobody has really approached the difference in CD reproduction which is the quality of mastering or remastering. Most pop groups couldn't care less about soundstage, imaging, full range and dynamics. The better quality CDs mention in previous postings have everything to do with production quality and control versus actual manufacture.

Labels are often an indication of quality as Windham Hill, Blue Note, Mercury, Shanachie to name but a few have taken time to actually produce a quality product throughout the entire process. Good luck.

skiidman. Higher Octave has really great recordings the seem to boost the output level. Also Narada they record in 20 to 24 bit. great sound