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Silky and soft highs II: CD reference tests

I've been in some interesting discussions here recently regarding high end CD players and have heard a couple at dealers recently, including the DCS Puccini which certainly has to be considered one of the best.

I currently own a very modest Denon player/recorder that is sounding the best of any player I've ever owned in my current system at present.

The flaw that I have heard most frequently in CD players over the years that I notice and bothers me when I hear it is what I think is commonly referred to as graininess, often recognizable as sibilance in the high end. I hear it most easily when present in long drawn out violin notes at a certain pitch, for example, possibly a result of jitter in the analog signal due to clock or other issues in recreating high frequencies from the digital stream correctly in the analog waveform. I suspect better CD players do a better job in general of avoiding or perhaps even masking this somehow if in fact it is inherent in the CD formats limitations.

I'd like to know if anyone can suggest a CD recording I might own that I might use as a test for how well my player handles this? Also any info regarding what to listen for to determine sound quality would be appreciated.

General discussion of this topic is also welcome.

Thanks.
mapman

Showing 6 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,759 posts
 
I've recently revisited several CD recordings in the Jascha Heifitz Collection series on RCA Vistor Gold Seal.

I must say that these are some absolutely striking recordings both in terms of sonics and performance, among the best I have heard recently.

Specifically, I am currently listening to The Mozart Concerto #5, Sonata, Quintet CD. The Concerto #5 piece was recorded in 1963 and is quite exquisite!
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,759 posts
 
Jaybo,

What you say is probably true, but, that aside, I'm wondering if anybody can suggest something to listen for from a passage of a particular CD that they have heard differences with from player to player so that I can see what I hear on my system for comparison. I'm looking for something specific to listen for that clearly separates a better player from a lesser one, all other factors aside.
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,759 posts
 
I have Bob James and Earl Klugh "Cool" and Earl Klugh "Move".

Anything similar worth listening to in these?
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,759 posts
 
A common theme emerging seems to be that many problems with CDs start with the recording itself and that different units do different things to compensate or not.

I'm still struggling to determine how much of a resulting good sound from CD source is due to higher quality or more accurate reproduction (harder/more costly to achieve) versus performing various signal processing tricks in the digital domain to make things sound "better" (easier/less costly to achieve).

To me its analogous to what makes a good digital image. You can have a better camera with better optics, A/D converter, etc., the technology for which is expensive But the picture can still be made to look better via use of filters, image processing enhancements, etc., the technology for which is veryy common place these days and not as expensive.

I suspect the same things go on with digital audio as a rule.
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,759 posts
 
Dc,

I'm wondering if some of the enhancement tricks played with digital processing of lesser digital source material can be introduced via separate digital signal processing devices of some sort as opposed to having to change out the entire player to achieve much of the benefit?

I think the big attraction that caught my ears way back when with some of the original digital recordings on vinyl (and CDs once they came out), like those on TelArc,was the large dynamic range encoded. I think I have a few TElArc lps around still...I'll have to give another listen.
mapman's avatar
mapman OP
22,759 posts
 
I've been doing some critical listening this afternoon with a variety of CDs and vinyl.

I've reached the conclusion that Jaybo was right. The issues when they occur are mainly in the recordings.

Jaybo, you the man!
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