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Why aren't all CDs created equally?

The best part of my system upgrade, over this past year, is listening to music and hearing things (differently) for the very first time. You guys know the deal. I don't have to go there. What kills me, however, maybe more so now, then before, is that poor CDs are still poor--their inherent weaknesses even more highlighted. It's hard for me to get past the inadequacies of many CDs and just try to get into the music. I guess, the problem is, that after listening to, ie. Patricia Barber's CDs (which highlight what I've been trying to capture in my system) contrasted to a ho hum recording (which there are, frightfully, more) takes the wind out of my sails. I've paid a lot of money (for me that is) for those extended airy highs and, you know the rest, but they're just not there regardless of the system on many poorly recorded CDs. You can't listen to what's not there. The guys in the recording studios can't have tin ears, can they? Don't they hear what I hear? Perhaps the mass market really doesn't give a shit. I just don't get it. It's very frustrating. For older (jazz particulary) recordings and the like, I'm much more tolerant (though still frustrated by the poor sound), but new stuff? Anybody else relate? Can you suggest a good audio shrink to help me let go of this problem? Thanks in advance, guys...warren
P.S. And another corallary problem: when I get a shitty recording, (say, purchased from Tower Records) they don't let you return them anymore, due to the burning in thing. You used to be able, even after months, with a receipt, to return CDs. I get Beth Ortons new CD home, (Daybreaker-want to check her out) can't stomach the first four tracks. It's over. Her voice is so shrilly sounding and the music poorly recorded ( to my taste) I might as well chuck the Cd in the garbage. I'll give her a try again, but it's still very frustrating not being able to return it for an exchange. Anybody know where I buy CDs and return them, after being played, for credit toward other purchases? Sorry for all this rambling...
128x128warrenh
zargon's avatar
zargon
453 posts
 
Warrenh,
I can totally resonate with your experience - some CDs are so fine they tingle your spine, and others beg to be skipped over. I too have a high definition system and share your selection of Patricia Barber "Modern Cool" as one of my favorite high quality recordings.
I find that sometimes I am looking for an emotional experience triggered more by the quality of the sound, than the content of the composition. When this mood kicks in I reach for Barber, Krall, Cassidy, Allyson, Horn and Monheit and love every piece of equipment I picked that can bring it to me.
Other times I am interested in exploring a genre or an artist or a period and get totally absorbed in the mechanics and form of the music. At that point I could be listening to almost any system (OK, I'm sure I would draw the line well above a boom box) and still be satisfied.
Becoming aware of my listen intent helps me be more patient of the quality of the CDs. It might work for others as well?
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Warrenh,

TWL said it exactly!
This is the "curse" of hi-end audio! The better your system gets, the more intolerant you get of mass-fi CDs 'cuz the more your system reveals the flaws in the CD recording & mastering process. It is true, to a large extent, that the public doesn't care a damn about this & is happy to listen & enjoy (!) compressed digital audio.
2ndly, by embarking on this audiophile path, you have educated yourself about the nuances of sound, you are more aware about what to listen for in the bass, in the mids & in the highs. You probably go to concerts & pay close attention to how a drum sounds, how a trumpet sounds, how a flugelhorn sounds, etc & then you try to listen to it on your system & see if it can reproduce that same "live" timbre. The frustration must be high when the system doesn't oblige!
3rdly, and this is a general statement!, ill designed speakers can make your misery worse but creating extra phase shifts from their complicated x-overs. You know that music is NOT just about amplitude of the fundamental & its harmonics, right? It is EQUALLY about the phase of that fundamental & those harmonics. Minimum phase & time-coherent speakers allow you to listen to your bad & worse recordings with much more tolerance because you will be hearing *only* the bad CD recording & not the distortion of the speakers multiplied into that! If you feel that you can only play "pristine jazz CDs" - as your post above - take a long hard look at your speakers &/or their placement. They *could* be creating more damage than you are aware of.
FWIW, YMMV, IMHO.
ben_campbell
1,169 posts
 
Mmmmm I do agree to an extent on more popular releases but I buy a lot of new music albeit not usually mainstream than do seem to be recorded with a fair bit of care and attention.
I've also started another thread on a related topic that should appear soon.
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