Beck and his black boxes.

[beck]

Two very different kinds of music:

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What is really interesting is that the Daft Punk cd is mp3 coded and the George Harrison cd is redbook.

[beck]

So does HD cd’s give me more music? Not really. But it sounds nice.

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[beck]

Digital is extreme when it comes to setup and vibration control. I can still find ways to better the replay……..

[Defender]

hey Beck yes I have the same feeling - even though I liked the DSD/SACD/high resolution sound impression in the beginning I now see myself often going back to normal resolution music and even enjoy it more.
What was your latest find which brought you to the statement above?

[beck]

hey Beck yes I have the same feeling - even though I liked the DSD/SACD/high resolution sound impression in the beginning I now see myself often going back to normal resolution music and even enjoy it more.
What was your latest find which brought you to the statement above?

In my case the latest is yet again the use of “blu-tack” at a cable end where it connects to the other device. Three important things to bring the best out of my cd player has been felt, blu-tack and a special kind of rubber. Any change I make result in a different outcome.

With my setup it has been all about bringing a “splintered” music signal back together to make the music understandable. The higher the resolution (HD cd) the more important it has been to get the setup “right” to make the music enjoyable.

[Charlie1]

So does HD cd’s give me more music? Not really. But it sounds nice.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j2zvu8gzy0yl6 ... 9.mov?dl=0

That one is not really grabbing me beck - much prefer your clips using standard CDs

[beck]

Listening to it from the kitchen I do find it enjoyable but I do know what you are getting at Charlie1. I do find the musical timing less convincing.

I seem to have deleted my last clip (HD cd) by mistake. Here it is again but going on step back with my setup hopefully giving a more musically satisfying result :-).

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All clips that can be heard now are using the same setup.

[beck]

One year ago:

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Today:

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Only setup has changed (and my age!).

[Defender]

wow sounds quite different to me louder and more engaging I like it much more

[ThomasOK]

I definitely prefer the newer track. I'm sure it is all because of the damping from all the CDs stacked on top of the speakers! ;-)

[Charlie1]

I like them both but defo prefer the newer clip. It's much better sound too

[beck]

Thank you for listening guys! Always good to know that my ears are not totally off.

Next comparison must be with and without cd’s on the top of my speakers! :-)

[tpetsch]

CD player burn-in should also be considered as another possible reason for the improvement.

[beck]

CD player burn-in should also be considered as another possible reason for the improvement.

Not in this case as the cd player was bought many many years ago as a demo model and used on and off for periods of time. The last couple of years it has been used a lot.

[ThomasOK]

CD player burn-in should also be considered as another possible reason for the improvement.

Not in this case as the cd player was bought many many years ago as a demo model and used on and off for periods of time. The last couple of years it has been used a lot.

Indeed, CD players can burn out in 10 or 12 years but I haven't heard of any that take that long to burn in. ;-)

[tpetsch]

CD player burn-in should also be considered as another possible reason for the improvement.

Not in this case as the cd player was bought many many years ago as a demo model and used on and off for periods of time. The last couple of years it has been used a lot.

Gotcha, wasn't aware of the age of your player.

[beck]

In 2019 I thought cd might be worth listening to. Little did I know what the future would bring. :-)

2019) link removed

2022) link removed

[Charlie1]

They sound so different that I wonder if they're recorded on different phones?

[beck]

They sound so different that I wonder if they're recorded on different phones?

Both are recorded using my Apple ipad air 2.

The changes are setup and modification of the cd player plus some changes to the room.

[ThomasOK]

That is indeed quite an improvement in musical perfromance from what would be considered a pretty modest digital source. Playing devil's advocate I do notice a little game unit in the first clip, Nintendo or such? Extra speakers in the room! ;-)

[beck]

That is indeed quite an improvement in musical perfromance from what would be considered a pretty modest digital source. Playing devil's advocate I do notice a little game unit in the first clip, Nintendo or such? Extra speakers in the room! ;-)

It is also present in the second clip just turned upside down. :-)

[springwood64]

In 2019 I thought cd might be worth listening to. Little did I know what the future would bring. :-)

2019) https://www.dropbox.com/s/rnbofv6vkw6ps ... 6.mov?dl=0

2022) https://www.dropbox.com/s/hqb7mm14ulnns ... 9.mov?dl=0

Nice improvement - I'd be interested in a summary of the things you've applied that brought improvements and those that you rejected.

[beck]

In short I have just tried to minimize destructive vibrations to reach the inside of the cd player using felt, rubber and blu-tack.

You simply have to try what works for you. Always listen and evaluate each step. :-)

One important modification was to free the powercable inside the cd player to let it hang loose.

[beck]

A reset of speakers position and the search goes on. :-)

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[Charlie1]

Sounds really good. Hard to be 100% sure but sounds like it has more room to breath.

I'm jealous of all that bass :)