Sting - Brand New Day. How bad is this CD.

quote:

Sting

How bad is this CD?

They're even giving you clues - surely that first word tells you it is not going to be a pleasant experience to endure it - I don't think you can blame digital technology for his horrible voice.

quote:

I like some of the tracks

You have my greatest admiration for owning up to this on a public forum.

ATB Rotf

BTW - have you heard the fantastic recording quality on the Chas n Dave re-master of One Fing And A Nuvver?

The album sounded good to me when it came out, and still does now. And the songs are some of Sting's better solo efforts in recent years.

All best,
Fred

My system is CD5x with Hi-cap, SuperNait & Focal 1027be (Totem Sttaf). Nothing else I own sounds anywhere near as bad (except for Rockferry - which, apparently, should sound like that).

I may have a bad pressing.

quote:

Originally posted by HuwJ:
My system is CD5x with Hi-cap, SuperNait & Focal 1027be. Nothing else I own sounds anywhere near as bad (except for Rockferry - which, apparently, should sound like that).

I may have a bad pressing.

I have both albums, and I had the Duffy on LP for a week or so. The sting, IMO, is a sublime recording from the sound quality POV. Musically, I like it too. The Duffy I find listenable via CDX/XPS anad also via iTunes/AE/Beresford Dac. I hesitate to qualify it as bad, it might be compressed but it has some bass.

Now for a couple of truly bad recent recordings there's "Dwight Sings Buck" which sounds like a 60s am car radio, which might just be what they were looking for?, and "Population Me" also from Dwight Yoakam.

cheers

Peter

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I'd be interested to find out if anyone else is of the same opinion or if it is possible with the right equipment to bring the fuzzy sound in to definition.

Hi Huw,

I haven't played this album for a long while, so I span it up to hear what's bugging you.

There's nothing wrong with the track and the production is fantastic with serious bass extension and some interesting effects. Then again I am listening to it on an active DBL system

Kind regards

Rob

Well, it sounds as if you are all finding the track OK. The general lack of bass definition is apparent on all the tracks on the CD. I think I will have to get a new copy to try.

I understand the Duffy album was recorded to sound the way it does. To me it sounds pretty awful.

I don't normally have too many problems with bass tracks. I'm sure they could be tighter with a more powerful amp (next upgrade) but on the whole I'm happy.

I might pop down the hi-fi shop and see what the CD sounds like there!

Cheers,

Huw

Neither of those should sound bad, imo. Other than artistically (if you are ROTF ).

Assuming the copy of Sting's is OK, there is nothing particularly wrong with it - or put another way, no more than a heck of a lot of others.

The Duffy is recorded with the levels a bit high but it's not too bad a recording, I enjoy listening to it. There are certainly plenty that are far worse - try The Killers' 'Hot Fuss' - jeeze.

Steve

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I'm sure they could be tighter with a more powerful amp (next upgrade

There's a cheaper solution - get an nsub.

Nigel

HH, I already have a REL505 but don't use it for music. It's not really the fact that my main speakers need to go lower. It's what's there is not as defined as it is on other CDs.

Having said that. I played the CD last night after I'd been listening to other CDs for a few hours and it was significantly better. My system seemed to be 'out of sorts' the night before.

Regards,

Huw

Huw- I have the cd5x and supernait, but I have the hicap on the supernait. Have you tried that, as I found it really tightened up the bass. On my system (running pmc db1s) I found putting the hicap on the cd5 made it a little harsh and brash to my ears.

Richard

Hi Richard,

It's something I've considered but never got around to as I don't have the cables. I'll grab a pair from my dealer and check the difference.

I must admit that I like the sound I have in the mid range and higher frequencies. It is the bass that I feel could be better - from tightening up. However, my new speakers are really good and a big improvement on my previous set. But I'm broke now and will be for a little while!

Most of the CDs I own are good. It's just this Sting CD that stands out as an issue as I would expect it to be well engineered. My wife likes it a lot more than I do so it's not a big deal

I may borrow a Hi-cap for the SN too just to see if it makes the final difference I'm looking for, otherwise I may have to invest in a pre/power. I feel as if I'm inches away from what I want as my final stereo set up.

I like sting! i like the police too - saw em live last year and they rocked the NEC.

Re sound quality, there is nothing wrong with most of his material. The duffy CD sounds ok, the Lp on my rig sounds much more full and listenable - she has a brill voice.

I was really having a nice vinyl evening last week and put on Van Morrison's Tupelo Honey, it didn't last 3 songs. I didn't analyze it, and will try it again, but after being lulled to nirvana by beautiful sounds and a few drinks, his voice was awful. It was probably just not the right time to play it.

I liked early Sting, but didn't keep up on his stuff after the first couple. He's one of those that can only do his own work, in the 3 Penny Opera he was horrible and not for acting talent.
Hmmm throaty singers, Waits, Dylan, Sting, Stewart..... not bad company.

oh


and Lou Reed