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no difference between 4k meridian & 400 DVD?

hi,

i am really starting to doubt this whole damned industry. today, i tried a little experiment. i burned a copy of my favorite k. jarrett CD. i put the CDR into my 508.24 and the original into my 2-year old sony DVD player. i cued the players up simultaneously and did an extensive A/B for about an hour.

guess what? the differences in sound quality were so minor as to be almost inaudible. if anything, the 508 had SLIGHTLY better response at the frequency extremes and SLIGHTLY better dynamics. i'm not sure if i honestly could tell them apart in a double-blind test.

i always believed my main system was fairly transparent. meridian 508 CDP & 502 preamp, bat vk-75, AZ silver reference IC's, decent copper speaker cables (forget what kind), avalon arcus speakers. the IC connected the DVD to the 502 is cheap audioquest copper. i am using a monster hts-5000 power conditioner with vibrapods under the front end and BDR cones/pucks under my amp.

given that the 508 COSTS 10 FRICKING TIMES MORE, i wanted to hear a major improvement over my cheapo DVD but there just wasn't one. my ears are fine...for example, i heard substantial improvements after installing the pods and especially the BDR cones. so...wtf is going on here?
s2k_dude
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
In my experience, rapid A/B evaluation disguises differences between components. Listen to a track, pause, switch players, listen again, and see if you don't hear a greater difference.

Of course, this could mean that my method "creates" differences that aren't there.

Better still, listen to each component for extended periods of time and notice how you feel about the music. Level matching is a hard-to-control variable that you must consider. -Dan
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,263 posts
 
You're not making a fair comparison. Make two copies of the original and use the copies as your point of comparison. This will remove the variable of whether the CD copy is truly equal to the original. Another factor to consider is whether the Keith Jarrett is sonically demanding enough material to differentiate between the two. Even if you remove these variables I would not be surprised if you reach the same conclusion. The differences between well designed equipment is somewhat subtle.
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
Did you try swapping the CDR into the DVD player and the original in the 508 ? That would ensure that the 508 was not being compromised by having to play a CDR. Ideally the comparison should use two original CDs.
Also what recording were you using ? Many pop/rock CDs are terribly recorded and will not bring out the best in the stereo.
Finally I have to say that I have long suspected what you report. I have favourably compared my Marantz CD67SE to an expensive Meridian player and heard only minute differences.
I concluded that digital sources are not worth more than 1/2 the cost of the amp or speakers, unlike turntables. Of course there are many who post here who prefer high end players ... perhaps their system is much better (and more expensive) than mine.
I'd be interested to hear more details of your test.
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
Funny; I just got a second run of AP speaker wire. My main reason was to install said wires on a different amp. I already had AP 9's w/ copper jumpers in the main system. Lazy guy that I am this was the eaisier place to install the new/used wires. The ones I bought have silver bananas,but are oval 9's. I just put music on while I surf. The sound just jumps out at me. More low level detail,more bass, more of a pure tone;better highs.-- All this from a 200 dollar second run/ and eliminating the jumpers made by the same co.--??? I don't "squint" to listen-- It is just there. I would be depressed if I had the same results re; the cd/dvd players.My "stuff"-- CJ Premiere 5's in triode (16 el34-Siemans, Montana ESP's, Purcell digital, & Sy. Ref. w/ active shielding.(dig. links & ics)Anybody using jumpers might try that second compete run.
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docwarnock
63 posts
 
You have hit on the reason that objective testing, particularly double-blind testing, is so unpopular on this and similar sites. Many are threatened by the suggestion that any differences between components/wires are so slight in so many cases that they cannot be reliably confirmed in the face of objective testing.

Those with a financial agenda or fragile ego cringe at this suggestion and will predictably flame away in response. Your ears have enlightened you that in the world of high-end audio, you are best served by your ears and a healthy dose of skepticism.
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