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Gold CDs ...... too much?

Are everyone's experiences with gold CD's (including MFSL CDs) positive? I just received a mint copy via Ebay of Steely Dan's Aja on MFSL Gold CD and something's just not right. Perhaps it's the fact that I've listened to this record (and CD) for almost 30 years now and this is the first time I've heard it on my new system, but here's what I hear.
There is almost too much resolution. Imagine how when you are using your digital picture software and you're using the "sharpness" adjust to modify a picture, and the picture almost becomes surreal, and too "brittle"? That's what I hear on the Aja Gold disk. Things are just too "bright", "brittle", too "much" of everything. It kind of reminds me of the complaints people used to have of CDs when the first hit the market. Sure it sounded clean & everything, but it just didn't sound natural.
Your thoughts??
tgyeti
tgyeti OP
84 posts
 
Thanks for all the input folks! It's always interesting to read other's impressions and interpretations. I tend to fall in line with Kurt Tank's thoughts.
Rcprice, your comments were quite revealing as well. As a former artist, I don't know that I agree with MoFi's practice of "altering" the mix, thus changing the "art" as the artist wanted us to hear it. I didn't know they did that, I thought they were just cleaning up the sound, so to speak.
Having said that, my 200gram LP of REM's first album is one of the most beautiful sounding (and great song crafting!) albums I own.
For the record, my system is:
CDP: MF A5
Amp: MF a308r
Pre: Pass Labs X-1
Speakers: Spendor S9
Interconnects & Cables: Analysis Plus Oval 9's
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rja's avatar
rja
2,358 posts
 
I always thought the MFSL gold CDs were hit or miss, some sounded excellent while others so-so. I'm not exactly sure what they did (in terms of processing) other than transfer to gold CDs. In almost all cases the DCCs seemed to better their aluminum brethren. Most or at least many of these were remastered by Steve Hoffman and sound excellent. I've never thought that the mere act of producing a gold CD enhanced sonics that much if at all. For me, it's the remastering that makes the most significant difference. While the gold seemed to project the image of a premium product, in reality the added value lay elsewhere. In other words it was a marketing ploy. XRCDs are also a premium product. How many more they would have sold if they were gold I don't know.
nightdoggy
32 posts
 
I have the same AJA cd as well as an origal pressing on vinyl. The cd is nuetral throughout the high end, maybe a bit on the warm side. The bass is as good as almost anything from 1977. Overall it is a good (3 out of 5) transfer as far as I am concerned. I suspect your system is to blame. There are many reasons why your system might make a good recording sound (listening fatigue) bad.
spiro
115 posts
 
the only nasty Gold Cd i ever had was Blind Faith.
but that could have been the master as well.
I agree, XRCD is very nice.
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