Audio Chain Bottleneck

[Jem]

Agree 100% that studio mixing is main cause, but this seems more prevalent on local pressings. Non of my imported CD's are bad but most of my local Cd's are terrible sounding on my system.

[Blues]

my experience is also that local recordings are often inferior, but I also have lots of cds from europe, and they're not all that good either.
but the biggest issue that we can change is the room imo. I've built more than 30 diffusors, absorbers and bass traps, and while they don't make things perfect, they have much more influence on the sound than any cable I ever tried...

[Family_Dog]

I've built more than 30 diffusors, absorbers and bass traps, and while they don't make things perfect, they have much more influence on the sound than any cable I ever tried...

Sound Advice! (pun intended...)


-F_D

[Blues]

this topic reminded me of an interesting clip I saw on youtube quiet some time ago about the mastering of cds. this explains nicely why a whole lotta stuff sounds as it sounds...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

[Hi-Phibian]

The vinyl record does not allow the kind of compression done on CD etc, nor can it cope for eg with a drum kit put hard left or right.
So, the "care" taken may actually be more accidental, vinyl forces the fellows twiddling the(ir) knobs to do it the old way and leave compression alone.

[Cleansound]

I went for a trip around the CDT. plant with a good friend of mine on Friday and sadly there is nothing they can do to better the cd's they press,they get given a master and have to work according to that.
RR
To comment on your post.
Some of the things stated there is exactly the reason I have a decent turntable and Sonus Faber's 
People always say "but it's about the music"
Sure it is and if I can hear the recording better then why not,so not to start a vinyl versus cd debate here,the reason I prefer vinyl (and I am not saying it is a superior format) is because of the resolution.
For me vinyl simply sounds like a higher resolution format and turntables are very pleasing on the eye as well.
http://www.avidhifi.co.uk/seqblklge.htm

[RR]

Hi Cleansound.

Don't worry, this won't turn into a Cd vs Vinyl debate, you do have a point. I agree on it.

Some CD's do however sound brilliant. I have normal red book standard CD's that sound very close to my SACD's, both in terms of musicality and resolution.

Then there is SACD, which is as good and on specific systems, even better than a decent vinyl pressing. Again, not all SACD's. I for instance have various albums from Jennifer Warnes most of them sounding great, but her 'The Well' SACD suffers badly from digitalism, sounding overly bright. I actually listen to that album on its CD layer....which sounds great.

Btw I love Sonus Fabers, used to have Concerto's. Great speakers, very musical. What models do you use?

Riaan

[Cleansound]

Hi Riaan

I use the Cremona Auditor's on their dedicated stands,however I am saving up and it will take a few years  for the Guarneri Memento's,I have tried their floorstanders and they are amazing but I just love the imaging I get from the standmounters.
I have the well on vinyl ( A Cisco pressing ) and it's awesome.

[Viagara]

Don't let guys in shorts into your shops!

Are you taking a stab at me there? So I should not go into a HiFi shop wearing my kortbroek "suffering suit" with my comb stuck into one sock?

[RR]

Cleansound wrote "I use the Cremona Auditor's on their dedicated stands"

VERY NICE!!!! VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!

[Cleansound]

Thanks Riaan

I must tell you however I firmly believe that Franco used a turntable to help in the design of those beauties,the synergy is mind blowing