Test CD

Would it make sense to buy more than one of these CD's to burn in a new pair of speakers? Will one Test CD offer some advantages over the other with the kind of noise or music it contains?

I'm going to spend less than $500 for a pair of bookshelf speakers. I know the kind of sound that I desire in a speaker and have narrowed my choices down to around 5 models that possess these traits based upon both professional reviews and user reviews. With that in mind I am wondering if certain CD's will offer advantages for a speaker with a particular sound?

Had a thought after reading the following. Need some feedback.

A guy that also owns the Jamo C601 bookshelf speakers said he was able to measure the bass response on this speaker down to near 40hz. But it is rated by Jamo for 62hz. I've read other reviews that claim the bass is better than advertised. I tend to believe this since it creates a lot of bass in the smaller room where they presently sit.

In light of this, I am wondering if I buy another pair of C601's, use a Test CD to properly break in the speakers and then use my heavy duty speaker stands (3 large legs of steel) in the larger room where they will probably be used, if I can get just a little stronger bass? And is it possible to buy a new pair of IC's that will retain the high end and midrange of this speaker but add a little low end?

Any ideas?

ZD542. Makes sense. Did a test yesterday and have found the heavy duty steel speaker stands when positioned a certain way and with the front of the speakers elevated a quarter inch at the front are giving deeper bass. I am going to try this in the large room later this week to see if this will give me just a bit more bass in that room. If so, I won't need to get another pair of speakers. Midrange and highs are superb and comparable to the Castle Conway 3 towers which cost 2 grand that I had. Gave them to my brother. Just a smaller sound stage with the C601's but even that can be improved upon with some kinds of IC cables and positioning of the stands.

Zd542. Regarding the break in of speakers. Seems to me that a speaker will break in better if music containing a wide variety of frequencies is used. Thus not all music is suited for breaking in a speaker properly.

I noted a dramatic difference in the quality of the sound when I eliminated the cheap IC's that came with my CD and replaced them with Golden Gate's by AQ. More neutral sounding the bass tightened up a bit. And then when I upgraded to the IC3 by Audio Art I noted an improvement in the sound stage and also more depth to the instruments.

I suppose if I had spent a grand or more on speakers I may not have needed to upgrade the IC's. But for the $100 I spent on the IC 3 pair and then $180 for the speakers (originally sold for nearly $500) I would have to say I have speakers that sound like they cost far more than I paid. :-)

Akg ca. After reading about this CD I will likely purchase it. Has a great frequency range without having to spend a lot of money for the CD. Will definitely tell me how low my current speakers can go and should work well to break in a new pair if I buy another pair of speakers.

Zd542. It makes far more sense to buy or use a pair of speakers that has most of the audio traits that I want and then try to shore up the shortcomings with a superior IC and power cables vs. buying and trying lots of speakers with the hope that one pair may have everything that I need. Not gonna happen. Not only because of the cost involved by also the time issue. Buying and returning speakers over and over again is a great way to piss off a retailer.

One thing I've learned over the years, no matter how much you spend, you will find every speaker regardless of the price point at least in the lower end of the high end will have at least one or more deficiency. DALI Zensor 1's for example have apparently a bit of a bright high end which otherwise would mar what I would consider a great speaker for the price. Others may be too forward sounding and bright such as Klipsch and some other brands that I've listened to.

When I purchased my Mirage OM 10's I had to decide between having more detail in my music or a more spacious soundstage. Decided on the soundstage. Then I purchased the Conway 3's which sound quite different and provided more detail. But at the expense of the soundstage.

I can't afford to spend a grand or two grand on speakers this time around. Have to live within my means. Therefore, if I have to spend a couple hundred on cables to help improve the shortcomings in my current pair of speakers or potentially a new pair, then I will have to do that. Far less money will be spent by doing this than having to shell out a lot of money on something I can't afford right now.

How they sound in a showroom will not be representative of how they sound at home. I bought the Klipsch Heresey's back in the 1980' after listening to them in the store. Got them home and they definitely didn't sound right at all. Too bright and lacking bass and I don't even desire a lot of bass. Messed around with placement but to no avail.