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Green-'ening' CD's

In another post on CD of marking CD's. In particular, he mentioned that marking CD edges increases the read error rate. He concludes this is bad.

While I don't doubt the accuracy of the investigation, nor the assessment that increassed error correction means a deviation from the intended signal, I do question if this is bad, per say. I base this on the audible improvements that many note by employing this tweak.

I hypothesize that the increased error read rate acts as a dither effect - something used in the Rotel 991 (?) and some other players with a positive sonic effect. Even if my hypothesis is rejected (probably by the next post :), it is still odd that a decrease in signal integrity leads to improved sonic performance (according to many). I would be curious what the group thinks about this.

Best,
mprime

Showing 1 response by bomarc

bomarc
501 posts
 
Well, there are three possible explanations:

1) Sean's technical explanation is wrong.

2) Some audiophiles prefer an error-corrected signal to the "original."

3) Some audiophiles imagine an improvement that isn't really there.

I would guess that the increase in error rate would be minor, but I haven't tested this. On the other hand, there is no other known or even scientifically plausible reason why marking CDs should have any effect whatsoever on the signal. (Your dither theory being a fine counterexample.)

You're asking for a technical explanation. There is no technical explanation. If you believe that marking your CDs makes them sound better, then mark them. Leave the science to the scientists.
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