Taming edge from remastered CDs?

Percentage of CD's in my collection that were noticeably bright or edgy before a successful amount of power conditioning was applied: 30-40%.

After: Z-E-R-O!!!

Understand?? :)

Also have a digital, 10-band parametric EQ in my rig...an otherwise extremely valuable tool that, for this problem, did next to nothing.

Actually, the idea that digital edginess or harshness must therefore be the result of a digital problem is currently one of the biggest myths in all of audio. The recognition of the impact of successful power conditioning solutions on this problem is just not, so far, all that widespread, although it has begun to change.

Hi Nicitico - I listened to a remaster of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" last night. No edginess there. It does seem to be associated more with Rock re-masters (e.g., ELP's first).

Ivan - what power conditioner do you use?

Ghosthouse described the problem as some recordings sounding "sort of edgy and a little hard sounding". Based upon that description I find the majority of responses unhelpful. The suggestions to get a new CD player, a new D/A, reclockers, power conditioners, etc. are out of proportion to the described problem. Ghosthouse isn't saying that all his CDs sound edgy, nor is he saying that the few he objects to are unlistenable. So why the drastic, expensive solutions? Changing equipment is not an effective solution to every audiophile situation.

In all probability the slight edginess/hardness is how the recording has been remastered. Remastering has been reduced to a marketing term, but basically if you take a a pop/rock analog recording from the 60s thru 80s and try to make it somewhat modern sounding you'll run the risk of making it edgy/hard. In their original incarnation these recordings were heavily processed and never intended as audiophile recordings. A straightforward remastering of the material will reveal the "bad" nature of the recording. To counteract the high frequency response roll off from massive overdubbing or tape wear the remaster engineer will EQ for added treble and "air" which can make the recording sound more detailed. Couple that with the current commercial requirement for a loud recording and you have a formula for edgy and hard.

If the situation really is only a few recordings with a slight edgy/hardness, then do nothing and just accept the situation.

Doctor, it hurts when I do this...

Elizabeth,
I have never used this solution. I'll have to try it out. I have had the "too-bright" problem, like so many others, for a long time. As I cleaned up my AC the problem started to disappear. The more I cleaned up the AC the better things got. I'm now at the point where there is no more harshness whatsoever on any CDs.

Mine is an expensive solution but the upside is that, not only is the brightness taken out, the sonic qualities that are hidden in CDs emerge -- low level detail, sound stage, etc. The all-round musicality of recordings is greatly enhanced. This solution has been well worth the cost.