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Why aren't all CDs created equally?

The best part of my system upgrade, over this past year, is listening to music and hearing things (differently) for the very first time. You guys know the deal. I don't have to go there. What kills me, however, maybe more so now, then before, is that poor CDs are still poor--their inherent weaknesses even more highlighted. It's hard for me to get past the inadequacies of many CDs and just try to get into the music. I guess, the problem is, that after listening to, ie. Patricia Barber's CDs (which highlight what I've been trying to capture in my system) contrasted to a ho hum recording (which there are, frightfully, more) takes the wind out of my sails. I've paid a lot of money (for me that is) for those extended airy highs and, you know the rest, but they're just not there regardless of the system on many poorly recorded CDs. You can't listen to what's not there. The guys in the recording studios can't have tin ears, can they? Don't they hear what I hear? Perhaps the mass market really doesn't give a shit. I just don't get it. It's very frustrating. For older (jazz particulary) recordings and the like, I'm much more tolerant (though still frustrated by the poor sound), but new stuff? Anybody else relate? Can you suggest a good audio shrink to help me let go of this problem? Thanks in advance, guys...warren
P.S. And another corallary problem: when I get a shitty recording, (say, purchased from Tower Records) they don't let you return them anymore, due to the burning in thing. You used to be able, even after months, with a receipt, to return CDs. I get Beth Ortons new CD home, (Daybreaker-want to check her out) can't stomach the first four tracks. It's over. Her voice is so shrilly sounding and the music poorly recorded ( to my taste) I might as well chuck the Cd in the garbage. I'll give her a try again, but it's still very frustrating not being able to return it for an exchange. Anybody know where I buy CDs and return them, after being played, for credit toward other purchases? Sorry for all this rambling...
128x128warrenh
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,286 posts
 
Thanks Maxcast for the tip. I read the article. Very disheartening. It, truly is a "double edged sword." After listening, tonight, to Patricia Barbers, Modern Cool; I wish all my recordings, including Coltrane, Davis, Parker and the like, could be of "that quality." I was talking to an audiogoner about "getting" female vocal right.---from miking to all the other technicalities that can make for a great recording. It's a jungle out there. That's another thing entirely. Speaking of another thing entirely:
Rather, than start a new thread, while I have YOU guys here: what are some of the absolute pristine, state of the art, what- we- want- a- CD- to- do, recordings, that do it for you?
jlambrick
138 posts
 
Zaikesman, I agree with your message and I don't mean to come off as an audiophile who can't be happy with anything but the best quality sound out there. But I think the common denominator of complaints against the quality of many recordings is that we know what's possible and it's frustrating that it is unattainable so often - especially when the performances are right on.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Since upgrading to reference quality monitors...I have become..for better or worse... more selective in my recent recording purchases...and have enlarged my jazz and string quartet collections...I dont expect much from big time commerical releases...they are geared for the average consumer...who is anything but an audiophile....
warrenh's avatar
warrenh OP
2,286 posts
 
What are some of those pristine jazz cds?
one_shot
20 posts
 
The problem is that most people's boomboxes and MTX subwoofers can't play CD's clean enough for producers to bother making them sound good for the small percentage of people who have higher-end audio gear. I am especially aware of this because I listen to a lot more (dare I say) popular recordings. They also seem to have gone out of their way to cut off everything not in the 20-20k hz range on redbook CD's. This and the liberal use of compressors keeps the dynamics monotone, and the frequency range small. Keep in mind too that a lot of studio's can't afford the costs involved in doing all the extra work to make a recording sound really good to the 1% of listeners who can tell.
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