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Beatles, Stereo, Crossfeed, and my Cans!!

post #1 of 19
6/7/06 at 7:11pm
Thread Starter 
I love the Beatles. Lots here do.

But... all their stuff is mastered in really apparent stereo, with some tracks having things exclusively in one channel.
Fine for speakers... but I almost can't listen to them on cans. It's fatiguing, and irritating. It sounds too affected, and wrong.

I think the answer is crossfeed? But, my amp was designed to avoid it, as are most. Normally I DONT want crossfeed, and want a straight view of the music as it plays.

But, what can I do to make the Beatles listenable?? A'm I missing something??

To save you looking at my sig:CD/MP3 lossless to SR125's (to be GS1000's) and a Graham Slee Solo (decent enough, DON'T want to change it).

Answers on a postcard..... please.
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post #2 of 19
6/7/06 at 7:25pm
Not sure if i got you right, you want crossfeed, or you don´t?
In case you want CF:

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/crossproject2.htm

http://headwize.com/projects/showfil...=cmoy1_prj.htm

Foobar:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bs2b

"Stop me if you think you´ve heard this one before"
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post #3 of 19
6/7/06 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 
"nothings changed, I still love, oh I still love you..."

I wont stop you....

I'm not sure, I was asking if it is a purely crossfedd issue, and what do do. Am I alone in this problem? Do others find it? Why aren't all headphone amps with crossfeed etc....

Just looking for some discussion/answers.
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post #4 of 19
6/7/06 at 7:38pm
The solution is crossfeed. Overcome your allergy to it and enjoy the Beatles!

"Only slightly, only slightly less than I used to ..."
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post #5 of 19
6/7/06 at 7:49pm
I would say, exactly it´s two issues:

The first is most recordings are not mixed to be listened to on headphones. This is the reason, why listening most peoply find listening with slight crossfeed is less fatigueing than without, the classic cf-stuff.

The second is that on early stereo recordings engineers weren´t quite used to the effects they produced, wich results in some recordings beeing veeeery fatigueing to listen to.
I would apply some serious crossfeed here.

You could also try to render some CF into your ("worst") files. The Foobar-Plugin works for that, but has only a rather slight crossfeed.

Here´s a VST plug that lets you blend the panorama from full stereo to full mono:

http://www.sonicspot.com/vnophones/vnophones.html

"and the pain was enough to make a shy, bald buddhist reflect and plan a mass murder"

Edit: just found another one:

http://www.naivesoftware.com/software.html
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post #6 of 19
6/7/06 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vul Kuolun
Not sure if i got you right, you want crossfeed, or you don´t?
In case you want CF:

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/crossproject2.htm

http://headwize.com/projects/showfil...=cmoy1_prj.htm

Foobar:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bs2b

"Stop me if you think you´ve heard this one before"
Nice..these are great suggestions, and links.Thx
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post #7 of 19
6/8/06 at 6:22am
Thread Starter 
thanks for all the help...

One last thing: With a decent amp (Slee Solo), decent cans (GS1000's) and dedication to good interconnects, I will achieve a decent set up. A good power supply is coming....

So if I buy a crossfeed plug to stick in the mix... Whats the BEST quality to get? I don't want it being my weak link. No point all I have for my set up, and letting it down with a cheap addition (or wont it really make a difference?).

Any ideas for a crossfeed plug in to keep my SQ high? I have seen the links (really good, thanks) but I'm stuck on SQ issues.
And where does this crossfeed thing go in the chain??


Many thanks as ever
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post #8 of 19
6/8/06 at 6:58am
You´re welcome.

This Crossfeed should be connected between source and amp:

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/crossproject2.htm

I can´t say anything about the quality, but it´s a simple version of the CF included in Jan Meiers builds. So it can´t be too bad, i think.


I build this one myself:

http://headwize.com/projects/showfil...=cmoy1_prj.htm

For SQ: I think it softens the highs a bit. It has a switch included to switch between different levels of Crossfeed.
On the linked page, you will find two partlists: one with parts for a "high z version", one for the "low z version". One of these is meant to be put between source and amp, the other between amp and headphone.

How about the software thing?
You could rip your worst sounding recordings to wav, and render crosfeed into the files. Burn them to disc- there you go. Your setup seems pretty decent. This way, you would have the advantage of not having to add components to your signal chain. I wouldn´t mind loss of SQ with the plugins, as SQ mostly sucks anyway on those old recordings. Nothing to loose, much to gain i think.
Personally I like hardware CF more than the software-solutions, but thats more an emotional thing.
As the hardware cf may have a too subtle effect, you might consider the software stuff anyway, even if you build a hardware cf.

edit: link corrected
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post #9 of 19
6/8/06 at 7:26am
Thread Starter 
I think a seperate box.... I can decide then. Hardware is easier than software for me. Might mean more interconnects!!
Your link doesn't work... (edit... does now!)

Thanks.

If anyone else has any ideas's on SQ and the best crossfeed kits, chip in please!
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post #10 of 19
6/8/06 at 7:34am
If you need help with the software-stuff: It´s not hard. Foobar is your friend.
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post #11 of 19
6/8/06 at 7:43am
You know that the Beatles catalog is currently being remastered, right?
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post #12 of 19
6/8/06 at 8:07am
The Beatles songs can be tiring, I love the crossfeed function on my Aria. However, I don't even feel like needing it with the CD3k! Must be because of it's great soundstage. Nancy Sinatra's Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) is also terrible to listen to without crossfeed.
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post #13 of 19
6/8/06 at 8:17am
Thread Starter 
I didn't know they are being remastered! Any timescale? I think I'd still like a box of crossfeed magic to play with...
Gives me an option.
And Foobar means nothing to me. Is it a US thing?
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post #14 of 19
6/8/06 at 8:21am
http://www.foobar2000.org/

Also you will need this:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/...rossfeed+bauer
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post #15 of 19
6/8/06 at 9:12am
Foobar is a highly customizable, open-source audioplayer.

With its "diskwriter"-funktion you can include for example EQ-Settings, or digital signalprocessors ("DSP`s") into your mp3´s or whatever format you use.

It´s definitely not a colorful product (altough you can customise it) but the diskwriter routine rules.
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