Does the placement of the CDP affect the sound?

[mcbiff]

Thanks to everyone for the advice, I think I'll try moving it to antother place in my room. It can't get worse at least.

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Originally posted by KR... look like it, but's what's an ultradisc 2?

It is (as stated by others) an MFSL remaster of one of my favorite albums, namely Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion I. I like it so much I bought two MFSL discs (one is sealed) in addition to the standard one. Below is a pic, it also features my sealed MFSL remaster of Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion II.

 

[MacDEF]

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All the answers about the Mobile Fidelity Sound labs gold CDs - my MFSL Dark Side of The Moon is one of my most prized CDs. http://pages.prodigy.net/amicus1/zinc.htm

Unfortunately, MFSL is now out of business. Supposedly another company has purchased the rights to the MFSL catalog, but nothing has been officially announced that I've heard.

 

[rickcr42]

Yeah,get the speaker off the CDP,then go to linens and things and purchase a maple cutting board,under this board use either 3 cut in half squash balls or a small (12 inch) bicycle tube(almost deflated),whatever you have access to.You can play around with the actual CDP feet,cones or rat shack rubber feet in a three point set up.
On top of the player throw a "penny box" (small wood box,cigar box,etc. filled with pennies,shake to settle then fill again) or sand bag (zip lock with sand) or even better ,a copy of Stephan Kings "IT".
Then if you have a two wire AC line cord,attach a piece of solid core 12 guage wire from a screw on the chassis to the screw on the AC wall outlet (chassis grounding) and use a good AC line filter for the plug with a Ferrite at the CDP end of the line cord.
Now you are pretty well isolated from the external environment so you can hear how ****ty your Cds really are

 

[BenG]

Please move the speakers off the CDP and on to some well positioned stands of some sort.

Proper placement of speakers and use of acoustic room treatments will will make the biggest difference in sound - move speakers around the room to find best sound(don't put things in front of or around speakers and place speakers symetrically to room boundries), put a rug or carpet beneath the speakers, use acoustic panels or tubes, or atleast place the speakers at equal heghts(ear level is best).

Then I'd worry about power isolation and filtering for the CDP/Amp since the Marantz is already reasonably well constructed and you will not be using it with the speakers(main source of external vibration for the CDP/Amp).

 

[mcbiff]

I moved the stuff, they're now in a shelf below my tv. They're also standing next to each other which should be better. Dunno if the sound improved, but it might have. I'll return with more reports later.

 

[Xander]

bah! If he were using the speaker AND the CDP at once, I could see a problem. I can't see that speaker causing enough vibration to damage the player while its not in use.. The CRT could be causing some interferance. Whether you can hear it, i dunno. Buying pads for your CDP is completely useless, as your listening with headphones. What? Are the diaphragms going to traumatize the transport? Don't think so..

mcbiff, your the man. Those are probably my favorite CDs as well. Watching Slash go at that guitar on a big screen TV way back when inspired me to start playing. The musicality and rythem they display with those guitars is rediculous, and theres absolutely no style like Slash's. It's too bad most people HATE Axels volcals.

 

[Xander]

btw, what do those original master Ultra Disc thingies sound like compared to the original release versions? And how much do they cost?

 

[evilcthul]

Mcbiff,

Just wondering, don't you find the fan noise emitted by your computer annoying? I can't listen to my cans around the computer because my 1.2GHZ + old 486 (used as a router) emits way too much fan noise. I find that open cans in a loud computing environment don't work...

Maybe if I got a pair of Etys... or DT 831...

 

[mcbiff]

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Originally posted by Xander bah! If he were using the speaker AND the CDP at once, I could see a problem. I can't see that speaker causing enough vibration to damage the player while its not in use.. The CRT could be causing some interferance. Whether you can hear it, i dunno. Buying pads for your CDP is completely useless, as your listening with headphones. What? Are the diaphragms going to traumatize the transport? Don't think so.. mcbiff, your the man. Those are probably my favorite CDs as well. Watching Slash go at that guitar on a big screen TV way back when inspired me to start playing. The musicality and rythem they display with those guitars is rediculous, and theres absolutely no style like Slash's. It's too bad most people HATE Axels volcals.

I see what you mean about the speakers, but since moving it can only make things better I went ahead and did it anyway. Besides, it's better to have the gear on a separate shelf.

The UYI albums are indeed two of the best ever. I'll never tire of them, that's for sure. There's something for every mood. I agree that Slash is one of the greatest rock guitar players ever, not to mention the coolest.

But I think that Axl's vocals are what really made the band stand out from the crowd, they're amazing.

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Originally posted by Xander btw, what do those original master Ultra Disc thingies sound like compared to the original release versions? And how much do they cost?

They have an improved soundstage and better instrument separation, there also seems to be slightly less background noise. No earth-moving differences, but these albums deserve the best treatment they can get. As for the cost, that's kind of the problem, they're only readily available on eBay. That's where I bought mine a couple of months ago, back then I paid ~$45 each I think. But now they seem to be going for $50-60 each, best to pick them up fast if you want a pair before they become impossible to get hold of. These are the sealed ones I'm talking about BTW.

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Originally posted by evilcthul Mcbiff, Just wondering, don't you find the fan noise emitted by your computer annoying? I can't listen to my cans around the computer because my 1.2GHZ + old 486 (used as a router) emits way too much fan noise. I find that open cans in a loud computing environment don't work... Maybe if I got a pair of Etys... or DT 831...

Actually, I've never had a problem with that. I guess it's partly because of my CD3000s' closed nature, but I also have a home made fan controller in my system that runs the fans at 5v instead of 12v, it cuts the noise by quite a bit.

EDIT: I included a pic of my entire GnR CD-collection for your enjoyment.

 

[Xander]

Impressive collection. I even see the Spaghetii incident over there.. I gave that CD away, though.

I agree with you on Axels vocals. But i've got a few friends that have fumbled for the volume knob of my stereo while blurting obscenities to turn it off. Different strokes for different folks.

At 50 bucks a pop, I'll probably never own those Ultra Disc thingies...

 

[mcbiff]

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Originally posted by Xander Impressive collection. I even see the Spaghetii incident over there.. I gave that CD away, though. I agree with you on Axels vocals. But i've got a few friends that have fumbled for the volume knob of my stereo while blurting obscenities to turn it off. Different strokes for different folks. At 50 bucks a pop, I'll probably never own those Ultra Disc thingies...

It's too bad you got rid of Spaghetti Incident, while it's not as good as the other albums some of the tracks really shine. I don't care about you, Down on the farm and Hair of the dog spring to mind for instance.

I admit that the MFSL remasters are quite expensive, but it's all because they went out of business. The list price is a "mere" $24.95. I really hope that someone starts making these discs again, I'd love to get Appetite MFSL, but since it goes for something like $80-100 that remains a dream for now.

 

[mcbiff]

Ok, I've listened for a while now. And I know that everyone will laugh at me, but I hear a difference. Now, I'm sure it could very well be in my mind, but I could swear that it sounds as if a veil has been lifted. The noisefloor is also lower, and bass seems to have improved.

Oh dear, I can hear the car coming to take me away. This stuff is nuts.

 

[Xander]

You almost do sound crazy. I just got done having an argument with a friend who thinks I'm nuts for buying $120 headphones, and thinks sonic realism with headphones is a idiotic persuit, since it wont happen. He theroughly enjoys his music on his Sony V600s.

I admit, that CD had some good tracks. Dunno why I gave it away. I found a lot of CDs that I had way back when that I didnt really like, I enjoy a lot today.

I wouldent be suprised if that CRT was causing a lot of noise, as those things fire electrons and magnetic fields out of the chassi like nothing. Would definatly hindre the sound.

 

[KR...]

Why would we laugh? It makes sense, and you should be able to hear a difference, and you did. You can keep trying to tweak your system now to get an even better sound.

 

[morphsci]

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Originally posted by mcbiff Ok, I've listened for a while now. And I know that everyone will laugh at me, but I hear a difference. Now, I'm sure it could very well be in my mind, but I could swear that it sounds as if a veil has been lifted. The noisefloor is also lower, and bass seems to have improved. Oh dear, I can hear the car coming to take me away. This stuff is nuts.

Another one has joined the dark side .... muuuhahaha