Using Bad Recording to Evaluate a System

I enjoyed reading this thread ... very good points. I myself have gone from a very mid range system to a much higher end multi-channel, high resolution digital system in the last few years. I now go through my collection of older redbook CD's and just can’t quite re-capture some of the magic in terms of range, depth and clarity. Why? I spent a ton. It was there at one point... I swear it was; or maybe it was me.

Have I been corrupted?

I try to keep in mind that my expectations have changed as my system has gained fidelity. I am getting hooked on 24 bit 5.1 recordings ... even some of the older stuff comes alive. I am now torn between working the system end to re-capture OR reinvesting in 24 bit recordings that have been remastered. The list is pretty limited.

I will say this ... I am getting picky in my old age. I do still listen to "Let it Bleed" and "Zep I" even if it doesn’t have the range and clarity of Diana Krall. For that reason I think you need to listen to the bad with the good when auditioning new equipment; at least bring a few of your older less "glossy" recordings. I do think certain systems/components make older recordings sound worse. That being said, I wont bring along AM radio broadcasts to evaluate either.

Nothing pisses off a salesman worse that having him cue up Deep Purple Made in Japan after he just blew you away with Vivaldi. Even better ... old Neil Young with Crazy Horse on a burned CD (ouch).

Do it ... just for effect.

Sorry Kurt

ONHIWAY I liked what you said the best. I was auditioning the Sony ES601(5 disc) versus the Rotel 965LE with a song that had some hi-frequency glare that only showed up on the Sony. What really helped at the time was I had a mild migraine at the time so this really accentuated the problem. The Rotel still sounds good in my modest system.

One of the reasons I like my system so much (MF 308cd, MF Trivista Int. Amp, Nautilus 802s, all silver wiring, dedicated 20 amp lines and BPT 3.5) is that the old cds sound rally good. Cds from the 70s (Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, & Cat Stevens sound amazingly good). I thought it was the upsampling and the speakers, but don't really know. Why would anyone want a system so "accurate" that most everything sounds lousy?

Good point Guenther , I agree with you and Tvad . Its a damn if you do damn if you dont scenario in high end. I have a car stereo from hell for my poor recordings { usually classic rock I grew up on } and high resolution systems for my well recorded jazz ect . There was a thread a year or so ago that asked had moving into a high resolution stereo changed your musical listening tastes. Im presently listening to a classical disc that before I began ascending at such a frightning pace in this art , would not have been caught dead listening to. I like it now and have moved into so many unusual genres I cant count them any more . Highly resolving systems make bad recordings sound like the junk they are sonically . No way around it .