Emre posted:

Does anybody have a experience with SMH-CD / Blue-Spec CD/ Impex 24 karat Gold  CD formats ?

I have one XRCD and plays really good on my CD2X, i compare a normal CD ve hi-def version of Kenny Brunel Midnight Blue, 24/192 plays better, but i can not  say the same for 24/192 vs XRCD of Sonny Clark's Cool Strutin.

XRCD is more alive and rhythmic, really good sound. Maybe it is mastering maybe my CD player at its best..

Are they just snake oil or thing of the past? İs the Japanese mastering makes them sound different? 

ı would be happy to get information from a experienced member. 

All these CD formats as still just CD - that is 44100 16 bit samples per second (or 16/44.1k if you prefer).

Mastering often pays the biggest part in the sound quality of them; though compared to "standard" CDs, the higher quality manufacturing standards can play a part when played back on a CD player, though not if ripped. 

Emre posted:

XRCD is more alive and rhythmic, really good sound. Maybe it is mastering maybe my CD player at its best.

Likely it's all listener/room/gear dependent. I have only one XRCD, Steve Miller's 'The Joker'. Nice resolution and clarity, so good mastering in that regard, but the overall sound is sterile and unengaging to me. Haven't been inclined to buy other XRCDs. They're expensive!

Hi Emre, short question but long answer needed to fully explain. Brief answer , as someone said mastering,recording are the main things to get right first as a bad recording is not going to be made better by any method.The gold cds impex are not Japanese American i think and are very good, better mastering but limit titles available.SHM BLU SPEC are in general the same mastering as the normal redbook cds.If you like what you heard with the XRCD i think you will like the SHM cds, as they seem to give the sound s more alive sound. The blu spec give a more etched  type sound.I do not like to talk about this subject to much as quite a lot of people rubbish these formats even when they have not heard them.I have lots of these cds and for the most part i like them.,not all are a improvement as some are remastered by there own engineers and some dont do it for me,give one or two a try  to see what you think.

Thank you all...

Any suggestion on - The Yamamoto Trio/Misty ? 

1. Gold 24 karat HDCD or

2. Blue-Spec CD

they are same price, around 25$. 

Not familiar  with this  cd but the blu spec review was not the best, so maybe the 24 carat gold cd hdcd on you naim hd player will be best in this instance. 

i strongly recommend if your like Jazz/piano..... thank you 

The cd is remastered by Kevin Gray of audio fidelity fame on the impex label, so i would say it will sound very good and beat the standard cd without doubt. 

150$ for 4 CDs with shipping...... 3 Gold impex, one SHM-CD..... 

it is very very very expensive..... i hope CD2X makes the best out of them, now i need an XPS as well.....

Thank you Keith for you valuable input.