It is actually quite simple....

Tech Square

Technical and speculative discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

In Reply to: Opinions on a different way to judge equipment and cables posted by Russ57 on August 7, 2003 at 07:08:03:

...there is a very effective way, but it is highly controversial.
All optical-disc retrival transport system have a serious problem. How you select and access the tracks will have a great influence on sound quality. That like about 99.99% of all CD/SACD/DVD/LD players out there. The dCS Verdi/Purcel/Elgar and Ed Meitner combo may well be the only digital system that are free from this problem, albeit not though a better transport, but through SOTA jitter-reduction scheme. On a really neutral and transparent system (not just the ultra-expensive ones), you will be able to hear this problem on your digital player.
This is not a hoax. Bear with me a while. Many inmates on this board have already verified the existense of this problem.
Run this test.
Play an optical CD, any CD or SACD, but preferrably any of these titles listed here for the test:
Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat, track 3 and 7
CCR - Cosmo Factory, track 5,6,7,9
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms, track 4
Dire Straits - On Every Street, track 9
Eagles - Hell Freezes Over, track 10
Start by playing the selected disc. Use a preceeding track first, and not the ones listed here.
After about 30 seconds, use the skip forward key to advanced to the track listed here. You may then play this track to its entirety or just for 2 minutes. Take note of the sound. Stop play. Press Stop key once only.
At this point, if you have a mute button on your pre-amp, use it to mute the output.
Now select the test track using the numerical key. If it is the track 4 of Dire Straits Brothers in Arms, press number 4 on your remote control. Do not use any of the skip keys.
Watch the counter on your CD player tick. At the 12th seconds point, hit the skip back key to repeat the track. Do not use the numerical keys.
Unmute the pre-amp. Compare the sound you hear against the sound you heard before. Basically you were cueing up the tracks to play with 2 very different method. There shouldn't be a difference, right? But the actual fact is.....
BTW, I fully agree with the view that equipment that reveals the greatest difference between recordings is what true belivers should aim for.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Opinions on a different way to judge equipment and cables - Russ57 07:08:03 08/07/03 (8)

Re: Opinions on a different way to judge equipment and cables - middleground 12:16:54 08/23/03 (0)

It is actually quite simple.... - jeromelang 06:52:46 08/12/03 (0)

It depends on the goal of the eval - pburant 11:58:37 08/07/03 (1)

"Our CD was a fairly low budget project. As such, the recording is hardly top notch." - clarkjohnsen 08:01:25 08/08/03 (0)

I use the music I want to listen to.... - Commuteman 09:37:47 08/07/03 (0)

Re: The URL - Russ57 08:54:19 08/07/03 (1)

Thanks [nt] - Ted Smith 09:20:23 08/07/03 (0)

Re: Opinions on a different way to judge equipment and cables - Ted Smith 08:15:24 08/07/03 (0)

Follow Ups

It is actually quite simple.... - jeromelang 06:52:46 08/12/03 (0)

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