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Using Bad Recording to Evaluate a System

Once I went to a dealer to audition a speaker, brought a few CD's. One of them was a CD of a group I like but has rather low quality recording.
Well, I put that CD in and cued up a track, and when the music ended the dealer asked why I was using such a horrible sounding recording to audition. (I think he looked kinda slightly pissed. Maybe because the music sounded shrill and irritating the whole time???)
Yeah, why?
Here's what I think: an audio system should make listening the music a pleasant experience. The better your system can reproduce, the more enjoyment you get regardless of recording quality. Saying that 'my system is so good I can only play my audiophile discs' is basically saying something is wrong with my system. Yes, nowadays I tend to play my 'audiophile' CDs much more than regular ones, but that's because of the music AND the excellent recording quality, but when I play my regular or lower recording quality CD's, I find that, although the shortcomings are more obvious, my system can reproduce the music as an enjoyable presentation, and I enjoy it more than when I used to in prev. lower-res/quality/musicality systems.
yr44

Showing 1 response by horseface

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horseface
222 posts
 
I enjoyed reading this thread ... very good points. I myself have gone from a very mid range system to a much higher end multi-channel, high resolution digital system in the last few years. I now go through my collection of older redbook CD's and just can’t quite re-capture some of the magic in terms of range, depth and clarity. Why? I spent a ton. It was there at one point... I swear it was; or maybe it was me.

Have I been corrupted?

I try to keep in mind that my expectations have changed as my system has gained fidelity. I am getting hooked on 24 bit 5.1 recordings ... even some of the older stuff comes alive. I am now torn between working the system end to re-capture OR reinvesting in 24 bit recordings that have been remastered. The list is pretty limited.

I will say this ... I am getting picky in my old age. I do still listen to "Let it Bleed" and "Zep I" even if it doesn’t have the range and clarity of Diana Krall. For that reason I think you need to listen to the bad with the good when auditioning new equipment; at least bring a few of your older less "glossy" recordings. I do think certain systems/components make older recordings sound worse. That being said, I wont bring along AM radio broadcasts to evaluate either.

Nothing pisses off a salesman worse that having him cue up Deep Purple Made in Japan after he just blew you away with Vivaldi. Even better ... old Neil Young with Crazy Horse on a burned CD (ouch).

Do it ... just for effect.

Sorry Kurt

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