Taming edge from remastered CDs?

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.

Can someone explain why a copy of a bad disc makes it sound better? This seems backwards.

All remasters are not equal, of course. I have noticed a very big difference in sound quality with really good remasters but only a modest improvement in sound quality with average remasters. Generally speaking, the better the remaster the more "crisp" the highs are. I have found that cleaning the AC solves the problem in my system. But realizing that my system is very resolving, this might not be the solution for all systems.

With all respect, Ivan, I find it remarkable that *none* of your CDs are tizzy. What is the composition of your collection? I'd be very surprised to learn that you have a lot of "classic rock," for example. On the other hand, if your collection were all 50s-60s Jazz, I'd be somewhat less surprised.

John