Beware poor sounding media


One of the hardest things to accept as an audiophile is an inferior sounding CD, stream, record etc. It’s too easy to personalize it as a flaw in the system.
ideally, we should accept each track on it’s own sonic merits, good or bad, and enjoy the music thereon. But, too often, it can destroy the enjoyment of a listening session and blanket the experience.

Anyone else experience this?

128x128rvpiano

There is more music out there than one can listen to in 100 lifetimes. Since I started streaming rather playing physical media I can access wonderful music that is also, at the bare minimum, well recorded.

I found nothing more frustrating than shelling out $40 for a piece of vinyl only to get it home and find it a poor recording. Music that is relevant to me and not well recorded gets delegated to the car, where I don't listen  as critically.

Another agreement; I have purchased new vinyl that was either physically flawed or reflective of a mediocre mix.

Other than QA flaws, some pressings are just better than others; hence the genesis of Betterecords.com. My first reaction was who’d pay the prices they ask for used vinyl? After trying a couple of their curated selection, I can concur they sell some really good pressings that out perform the best half-speed masters or special editions. I guess the advantage / disadvantage of higher end rigs is that you’ll know if you have a strong recording and know if you don’t.

 

I used too, but now that I have my system where I want it, not so much any more. 

Socalm, I have bought some new remastered vinyl only to find out it sounds similar to a CD.  Kinda takes the fun out of vinyl for vinyl's sake, doesn't it?

Oh no!  Not poor sounding media!  How will we ever survive?  I'm sure no one has ever had poor sounding media before.  Thanks, OP, for bringing this to our attention.