Hissing

Some of my most favorite music has bad recordings with hiss galore. It is not too noticible on my system but when I take these CDs for demoing, I am amazed at how loud the hiss is on some systems - to intolerable levels even (the Wilson Sophia/Spectral 150 combo was excruciating). Good luck getting rid of it. I just lucked out I guess!

I think the first response hit the nail right on the head. I would guess tape hiss on the master recording. I noticed it on some albums I have also. Very annoying because once you hear it, you'll notice it more and more everytime. I guess I don't know how to redcue it, but getting rid of some of the mid range emphasis certainly may help.

You might want to try out a different CD player. The hiss on those recordings is not noticable on my system. If you can afford it demo a player 2-3 steps better than the one you're using.

-Patrick

If you want to stick with Sony, I have 2 of their ES players and like I say, I don't notice it much on my setup. The ES players rock for the money - hard to beat economies of scale. Arthur

Agree...we are talking of analog master tapes that are over 30 years old...even with the improvement of digital and SACD...I think asking for "hiss free" recordings from this time period is a bit unrealistic...they were afterall analog to begin with...which inadherently contains background noise...this being said...on my rather unforgiving system...the new Stones remasters sound have a much more "black background" than their previous releases...even seminal jazz recordings such as "Kind of blue" have some background hiss...the recording is only as good as the master...and in this case...analog tape...let me also state...for me...the great performances of these listed still come through..maybe we being too spoiled by digital...the more important question is the recording any good to begin with?...