In my opinion this one the greatest improvements in audio in 40 years. AA is full of discussions about it, but there has been nothing here. Maybe that a $575 tweak is beyond Audiogoners?
Stanhifi, First up, in audio terms, $600 isn't 'serious money'. Secondly, if I didn't like the product I would have returned it to George and got my money back rather than trying to "justify my purchase by writing a rave review".
Wellfed, in my case a suspicion is a step below an opinion in the hierarchy of belief statements. After reading multiple websites and threads on the issue I still haven't gotten enough detailed information to say what is really going on with the RealtyCheck process, but I've still gleamed enough information to make a conjecture. I am not saying RealtyCheck doesn't give the results people have reported, but that the sonic improvements claimed can be equaled by other CD-R burning procedures. I could very well be wrong, but RealtyCheck seems to be a very refined application of a phenomena that was reported more than a decade ago. As a turnkey system (and depending upon the pricing of the proprietary cleaner and CD-Rs) I suspect it could even be a good value for someone interested in taking the time and effort to correctly apply it.
Miklorsmith, please report back your findings on the comparisons. In my opinion your opinion on the subject would be most valuable.
$600 is a lot of money to some people; don't be so disingenuous. You're hearing what you want to hear. About $500 flushed down the old porcelain altar.
The fact that the original and the copy sound different is not even debatable. Whether or not the copy is 'better' than the original, is. There is certianly more openess and better depth on the copy. Stanhifi, You should post the details of your system; it might give us some idea of why you can't hear what is blatantly obvious to the rest of us (and our non-audiophile friends).
Onhwy61 wrote: "He doesn't explain why storing the data on a hard drive degrades the sound which leads to question along the line of whether just storing the data in a memory buffer also degrades the sound?"
This makes no sense to me either. Copies from the hard-disk should be every bit as good or better than ones from the original CD.
Based upon the rewritten CD's that I have tried, I believe it is just jitter in the pits of the original. If the data is transferred to a computer hard disk and then rewritten by a burner with a precision low-jitter clock and clean power, such as batteries, and the copy is made at low speed to get more accurate pit shapes, then the copy should be significantly better than the original. Makes perfect technical sense to me.
I guess I'd feel like that if I was snookered into an order of snake oil and left holding the pouch. Keep on hearing what you want to hear. It'll be there for as long as you want it to be. Maybe you can turn lead into gold next. LOL
Audioengr, your lower jitter theory is a reasonable hypothesis, but if jitter from reading the disc is the culprit, this then begs the question of why, given the low cost of memory and computing power, doesn't every player above the entry level read and re-clock the data to the dac thereby eliminating this variable from the equation? This seems like a much more elegant solution to the problem than the meticulous cleaning of discs and then re-writing to a blank CD which has a limited lifetime.
There are numerous high end players that do re-clock the data. I wonder if this re-writing process has any audible effect on their playback?
I am also curious why I never see any test data on the bit stream coming from a transport before and after such treatments are applied. With the right equipment it would be very easy to analyze this stream of bits and see what if any differences there are. It might not tell us what it would sound like but at least it would demonstrate that there are differences.
Herman, great thoughts. Were I to have the equipment I would try it.
Audioengr, I had two cds that would no longer play because of scratches. I did succeed in copying them using my computer. When I got the RealityCheck, I tried to copy one from the original. It failed partially through the burning. I then copied the copy. It was far superior. Recently I recopied using my computer and one of the black cdrs supplied by George. I then copied it using the RealityCheck at home it was further improved. I found it somewhat better than the RC copy using the silver cdr.
Tvad wrote: "If one burns a black CD on a laptop computer running on battery power, and the copy is made at a low speed, would it then follow that this burned CD would conceivably be better than the original, notwithstanding the inferior clock on the computer?"
Could be better, but no guarantees. Depends on the power and grounding in PC and the clock jitter, as well as the quality of the burner CDROM or DVDROM.
Herman wrote: "why, given the low cost of memory and computing power, doesn't every player above the entry level read and re-clock the data to the dac thereby eliminating this variable from the equation?"
This is understandable. To make a system like this behave just like a normal CD player is a HUGE undertaking. There is a lot of software development because of things like: what happens when you decide to skip ahead on the current playing track or skip back to the last track? This is simple for a regular CD player, but if the data is cached in memory, there may be a large latency to flush the memory cache and refill it with new data and then begin playing it. The system must actually "look-ahead" and predict what the user will likely do with the remote buttons, otherwise, there is a big latency penalty. There is also the issue of DVD-A and SACD. The computer model wil not work for these, so the player must revert back to a standard-type player. It's really a can of worms to make is behave like a standard universal player.
TBG - I have no idea what has been done to the RC burner. I may not be much better than some standard CD-R or DVD-R burners. The one that I am modding should be substantially better than anything that can be purchased because it wil have Superclock3, digital and power mods and battery power.
I think some of the opinion I am reading here, Mapleshade has been doing them long time ago,like treating their cd with their own solutions,before recording, It works. What I do just simply spin the original cd and the blank CDR on my bedini ultraclarifier, after treating them with either fynil or the mapleshape solutions,and it is even better if you use the MF CDR.This is very simple with good result and not expensive.
Jayctoy, I find the RealityCheck results far greater than these alternatives. I had been using them on originals for years, and although the improvements proved substantial, they were never of the level achieved here. Also more recently I have tried using the RealityCheck black blanks in my computer to redo originals including all of the cleaning prior to burning. Again the results fell far short of what I got with the RC. I even tried burning another RC blank using the copy I had made on the computer using the RC blank and copying it using the RC reproducer. I then compared it with a prior direct copy from the original using the RC. I heard no difference between the two copies.
I have found benefit to using the Furatek demagnifier on the cdrs, but no benefit using the AudioDeck trimmer. Even the post by Slothman above citing work by Genesis Tech. shows the importance of the blank used, how it is cleaned, what is used to copy it, and the burner software. All that I really know is that I very much enjoy the further benefits I derive from the RealityCheck that I have not otherwise been able to achieve. Maybe as Audioengr suggests a better burner would outperform the RC. That maybe true, but the jury is still out at least as far as I am concerned.
Norm, can you send me one copy of the RC,I would like to hear it for myself.Your post tells me, the RC copy is worth listening, I will pay you, for the shipping and cd.If indeed the copy are much better, I will buy the unit.Thanks
My RC is with my technician and he is building a transformer-based power supply for it. He tested it today and it crapped out. He will have to make the power supply *much* more robust. I'm a little worried about the cost of this; I hope it will be worth it.
RealityCheck with Linear Power Supply Modification
If one were to express the difference between duplicates made with the RealityCheck (RC) and original compact discs (CD) in percentage terms, one could argue that the duplicates are 20% better than the originals.
If one were to express the difference between duplicates made with the RealityCheck with Linear Power Supply Modification (RC/PSM) and duplicates made with the standard RealityCheck (RC) in percentage terms, one could argue that the RC/PSM duplicates are 40% better than the RC duplicates.
Yes, there is a greater difference between the RC/PSM and the RC duplicates, than there is between RC duplicates and the CD.
Differences: Harmonic structure is greatly increased. The insides of drums and wooded instruments are more apparent as are the inflections in a singerÂ’s voice. Transients are quicker and have much better attack. Drum hits have much more snap and definition. Pace, rhythm and timing are improved. The digital glare (digital screen) in front of the presentation is greatly reduced. The presentation is less aggressive, more relaxed, and less chaotic. Vocals sound more natural and there is less emphasis on sibilants. Cymbals stay back with the drum kit rather than projecting out to the front of the soundstage. Images are more distinct and there is less smear. There is greater space between images on the soundstage.
The bottom line is that one gets a much better appreciation of what the musicians and vocalists are trying to get across. The presentation is simply much more real and emotionally satisfying.
I had a linear power supply custom made from individual parts. All I really know is that I now have a two-box unit and that there are some relatively big transformers and new capacitors in the boxes.
Now that I know that it works great I will ask the technician:
1. to try and explain to me -exactly- what he did. 2. if he would do anything different if he had to do it over again. 3. is there anything more that could be done.
Exlibris- If you could ask your technician what amperage draw is on the +5 and +12V rails, Tbg and others could look for off the shelf linears for their RCs.
Aproximately 1.5 amps per rail. Make sure to look at the unit first to see what you are getting into. There a *lots* of conections to deal with. Off the shelf linears are one not the best approach because the power supply should be decoupled within the unit itself.
"Aproximately 1.5 amps per rail. Make sure to look at the unit first to see what you are getting into. There a *lots* of conections to deal with. Off the shelf linears are one not the best approach because the power supply should be decoupled within the unit itself."
Exlibris- appreciate the info. It's very easy to place some caps inside the unit to decouple an off the shelf linear like the Condors which are available at these rating. I've seen the stock supply and realize there are additional connections. The connectors are readily available.
Well, I requested Norm to make me a copy of Nora Jones COME AWAY WITH ME,NORM IAM SOLD,Its way much better than the original,no grain,more air,much quieter,I told my friend that, It sound like a good SACD recording, I hope I am not too excited.Norm you are right, salute to you.Thanks Bon
I cannot speak for Jaycoy, of course, but I think both of your senses of air are tightly related. With the greater quiet and blackness of the noise background comes more information on the venue including ambience and reverberation. I would characterize it as sounding more real or having a sense of being there.
airy - Pertaining to treble which sounds light, delicate, open, and seemingly unrestricted in upper extension. A quality of reproducing systems having very smooth and very extended HF response. (Stereophile Glossary)
Grant,what I meant about air, is blackness,ambience with good macro and microdynamics,without compression in the music, where I can picture and feel the instrument going inside my soul being.Sorry for the late response.
Grant, this is also my experience, I want to share. I am not particularly Crazy listening to Nora Jones, but with the realitycheck copy,I end up listening to Nora Jones hours after hours,this is after the comparison.I even brought the two cd for comparison at work. I end up listening to the copy.Suddenly Nora is connecting to Bon.
Please don't assume guys that I much like Nora Jones. It was what came to mind when Jayctoy suggested something where he would not have to send me the original.
Grant, that is the only cd I have,and I think Norm might have, and I was right.Last night I listened again and again, and again,again, again.I dont disagree with you,I do respect your listening skill, it was proven in my humble listening room,maestro.I am sure you heard something I did not.I am just a baby if I will compare myself to you in terms of audio.By the way I enjoy your post and Jadem6 on the SACD thread.
Grant,its not embarassing, this is only audio, nothing personal,I do value your opinion,and knowledge, and I do mean it.I do agree its a matter of preference,thats acceptable,Will I buy the RealityCheckCD and the solution? I already bought the solution,Iam very close of making the decision though, I have to give myself a Christmas gift.There is a dealer here who is inviting me to attend their demo this Saturday,I will try to attend.You know $599 is not a cheap tweak.By the way I will get a free copy,If I will attend.Cant beat that.Thanks
After listening to a number of live recordings I am reconsidering my blanket position on the duplicate CDs.
Tvad identified... "two definitions of "air" that are bandied about on Audiogon. One means blackness, or silence, between instruments and vocalists. The other definition of "air" means a sense of the recording venue: ambience, echo, reverberation...those aural cues that give the listener a sense of place."
I personally would never use the first of these to define "air." The second definition of "air" is just about perfect.
In my experience, the CD duplicates create a silence between images, but reduce "air." This tends to make poorly recorded studio albums sound cleaner and clearer.
" I do know several people, me included, who have tried to find better blanks with no success." Tbg Tbg could you please elaborate upon your experience with various blanks? Today Georges blanks just absolutely murdered the dirt cheap Iomation blanks and was clearly superior to the highly regarded Mitsui gold blanks
Mejames, I am still awaiting additional Verbatim "Super Azo" CD-Rs, but on the two I have, they prove not as good as the RC blanks. This is contrary to what Todd found. See: http://www.AudioAsylum.com/audio/general/messages/412248.html
I have also used run of the mill blanks from TDF and Verbatim. Others have had more experience with other blanks. See the many posts on AA by Quint.
I am like you in being impressed with the RC blanks used with the cleaner Louis sells.
Are these burned with your revised RC unit and on what blanks. I ask because I have more of a sense of the hall and recording venue with the RC copies on their blanks.
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