cd formats ?

it isn't that simple. it varies from recording to recording. every format has winners and losers.

quote:

whats the best cd format ?

Ones with music on, especially Half Man Half Biscuit, data CDs make a horrible noise in a CD player.

I wouldn't buy a CD based on its format, but simply the music it features - the CDs I hate are ones with recordings where the engineer has artificially boosted the quiet bits rendering it unlistenable.

quote:

Originally posted by brewiex1:
whats the best cd format ?
gold cd , xrcd24 etc or just plain cds

I am afraid it's the use your own ears time.

What sounds good on your system might not sound so good on others.

Not much help I know.

There are a number of members here that can point you in the right direction. If you want to post a list of artists and titles.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:
it isn't that simple. it varies from recording to recording. every format has winners and losers.

That's pretty much it.

Brewiex1 ,
Dear Colleagues

I tried the K2HD "remastered" format - with some excellent result (it's fully "red book" compatible), but the music selection is rather special.
http://www.fimpression.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=13

I understand it's not just the technical tricks with the K2HD format, but the actual re-mastering, that makes the success.

Regards

Urs

True.

but if I have to single out the best redbook format, it would be the JVC's XRCD. Their releases are consistently good.

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:

quote:

Originally posted by brewiex1:
whats the best cd format ?
gold cd , xrcd24 etc or just plain cds

I am afraid it's the use your own ears time.

What sounds good on your system might not sound so good on others.

Not much help I know.

There are a number of members here that can point you in the right direction. If you want to post a list of artists and titles.

... and later on we can move to the discussion of matrix numbers to create complete confusion.

But seriously, there is no easy answer - that's why you will find so many threads that discuss the best CD version of a certain recording like Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' or the Beach Boys' 'Pet Sounds' over pages and pages (often with some but no complete consensus).

There are Gold CDs like most DCCs that are outstanding, there are others that are just straight from the marketing department with no added value over a regular CD.

Some XRCDs are outsanding, others sound too bright or you can find better versions on other formats or regular CD.

In general, at least IMHO, the quality of the original recording session and the mastering are more important than the CD format.

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
Some XRCDs are outsanding, others sound too bright or you can find better versions on other formats or regular CD.

Which titles?

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
Some XRCDs are outsanding, others sound too bright or you can find better versions on other formats or regular CD.

Which titles?

Don't get me wrong - I love my XRCDs but sometimes there is little to no improvement IMHO over the alternate format that you can get for half the price. I still get them so for my collection as the presentation of each XRCD is outstanding.

For me the brightness mainly kicks in on some female vocals and on some Jazz recordings, but that might be taste or my system.

Top of my head:
Sara K ~ Hell or High Water --- sounds bright on some tracks.
Jacintha ~ Jacintha is her name --- I prefer the Groove Note Gold CD for better balance
Jheena Lodwick ~ Singing in the Rain --- sounds a bit bright in parts.
Dire Straits ~ Brothers in Arms --- excellent, but the SACD is just as good for half the price

There are a few Jazz titles where I like other versions better but I would have to look it up.

On the other hand there are many many titles that are just outstanding and a clear improvement over the alternate versions.

One of my favourites is Yamamoto's Midnight Sugar - the SACD is already outstanding but the XRCD tops it easily.

quote:

One of my favourites is Yamamoto's Midnight Sugar - the SACD is already outstanding but the XRCD tops it easily.

Just a shame it's un-listenable to.
Good English there Howard.

thank you for all you input.will listen to a few different formats to see which i prefer.
have been looking on redspark music is there any other good retailers in the uk any one can recommend?

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:

quote:

One of my favourites is Yamamoto's Midnight Sugar - the SACD is already outstanding but the XRCD tops it easily.

Just a shame it's un-listenable to.
Good English there Howard.

I just hope the session with Adrian did not cause lasting trauma.

quote:

I just hope the session with Adrian did not cause lasting trauma.

No it's just seeing that cover starts it all over again. Still the meds help.

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:

quote:

Originally posted by brewiex1:
whats the best cd format ?
gold cd , xrcd24 etc or just plain cds

I am afraid it's the use your own ears time.

What sounds good on your system might not sound so good on others.

Not much help I know.

There are a number of members here that can point you in the right direction. If you want to post a list of artists and titles.

... and later on we can move to the discussion of matrix numbers to create complete confusion.

Aah!!!! you spoil sport.

That's it you are cut out of my will for the Deep Purple Made in Japan DCC disc.

Hi,

Has anyone experience of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab recordings ?

Barrie

quote:

Originally posted by baz100:
Hi,

Has anyone experience of the Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab recordings ?

Barrie

Quite a few of us have.

Anything in particular?

there's a couple of Sinatra albums

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
Top of my head:
Sara K ~ Hell or High Water --- sounds bright on some tracks.
Jacintha ~ Jacintha is her name --- I prefer the Groove Note Gold CD for better balance
Jheena Lodwick ~ Singing in the Rain --- sounds a bit bright in parts.
Dire Straits ~ Brothers in Arms --- excellent, but the SACD is just as good for half the price

Figures. I don't have any of those titles!
I do have Jacintha's Lush Life in XRCD.
Do you have that one?

baz,

MOFI's Sinatra reissues are excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by baz100:
there's a couple of Sinatra albums

Let us know what they are?

If you are thinking about the latest Mfsl/Mofi discs then my advice would be to buy them as they sound wonderful on my system.

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ewemon:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by brewiex1:

Aah!!!! you spoil sport.

That's it you are cut out of my will for the Deep Purple Made in Japan DCC disc.

Ouch, that hurts - the one holy grail that has still eluded me. But then again you will probably outlive me by a few years anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by ewemon:

quote:

Originally posted by baz100:
there's a couple of Sinatra albums

Let us know what they are?

If you are thinking about the latest Mfsl/Mofi discs then my advice would be to buy them as they sound wonderful on my system.

Fully agree, the new Sinatra's that just came out in MoFi Mini LP format are excellent IMHO and very affordable. There are one or two old titles on MoFi out there as well that are very good but expensive as they are OOP.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:

quote:

Originally posted by MilesSmiles:
Top of my head:
Sara K ~ Hell or High Water --- sounds bright on some tracks.
Jacintha ~ Jacintha is her name --- I prefer the Groove Note Gold CD for better balance
Jheena Lodwick ~ Singing in the Rain --- sounds a bit bright in parts.
Dire Straits ~ Brothers in Arms --- excellent, but the SACD is just as good for half the price

Figures. I don't have any of those titles!
I do have Jacintha's Lush Life in XRCD.
Do you have that one?

baz,

MOFI's Sinatra reissues are excellent.

I have Lush Life as well and like the XRCD, I don't recall ever doing a direct comparison to the Gold Groove Note, maybe one of these weekends.

I'm listening to the Lush Life now and it sounds pretty good as any XRCD I have.

But the music... augh.. this is not good. lol.

quote:

Originally posted by kuma:
But the music... augh.. this is not good. lol.