Silky and soft highs II: CD reference tests

A common theme emerging seems to be that many problems with CDs start with the recording itself and that different units do different things to compensate or not.

I'm still struggling to determine how much of a resulting good sound from CD source is due to higher quality or more accurate reproduction (harder/more costly to achieve) versus performing various signal processing tricks in the digital domain to make things sound "better" (easier/less costly to achieve).

To me its analogous to what makes a good digital image. You can have a better camera with better optics, A/D converter, etc., the technology for which is expensive But the picture can still be made to look better via use of filters, image processing enhancements, etc., the technology for which is veryy common place these days and not as expensive.

I suspect the same things go on with digital audio as a rule.

Mapman, I think you're onto something. The upscaling DACs seem to be doing something more, so that old CDs, from 16/44.1 masters of old sound better than their analog counterparts of the same masters. I've got some old Telarc LPs from the late 1970s. I can hardly stand listening to them on my TT, but the CD versions sound very, very good on my Playback Designs MPS-5. As you know, the MPS-5 has a proprietery upscaling DAC that takes the CD up to DSD levels, but there has to be some alogarythm filling in the blanks, adding life and exorcising the digital glaze.

It's funny, it took LPs of early digital to capture forever the horror of that. I can't believe that I actually thought those LPs sounded good back then!!! I can't stand them today, but the CDs of the same master are just hunky dory on my MPS-5.

Do "better" CDs sound superior to their ordinary CD versions when compared on the MPS-5? The answer is "yes, but not a whole lot." Comparing the CD-layer to the two-channel SACD-layer on a hybrid SACD, the SACD layer is superior, but if the gap was 50 vs. 100 on my old Pioneer, it's now down to 90 vs. 100. Now, with the MPS-5, my purchase decision is now mostly down to cost, where before the MPS-5 I might pay twice as much for vinyl or 1/3d more for SACD I'm now largely indifferent. When the SACD is available, then I'll usually spring for it if it's only 1/3d higher or so.

If you can know beforehand, it really comes down to the mastering engineers' choices. Generally reissues of non-audiophile release will sound better than the orignal CD, due to different balance levels, compression, etc. which you now easily hear. This comes into my decision process, in addition to fomat vs. price.

Dave

Dc,

I'm wondering if some of the enhancement tricks played with digital processing of lesser digital source material can be introduced via separate digital signal processing devices of some sort as opposed to having to change out the entire player to achieve much of the benefit?

I think the big attraction that caught my ears way back when with some of the original digital recordings on vinyl (and CDs once they came out), like those on TelArc,was the large dynamic range encoded. I think I have a few TElArc lps around still...I'll have to give another listen.

Mapman, people are doing things, like adding tubes, to try to enhance "digital sound", but I haven't heard anything like taht that works yet. For now, I think you'll only get it with a high-end DAC.

Dave

I've been doing some critical listening this afternoon with a variety of CDs and vinyl.

I've reached the conclusion that Jaybo was right. The issues when they occur are mainly in the recordings.

Jaybo, you the man!