Impressions
As promised, here's my review of some Audio Desk treated CDs -- more precisely CD-Rs: I didn't want to buy the reference CDs a second time, so CD-R copies were the way to go. The more so as the essence of my collection consists of sound-edited CD-R duplicates with a customized crossfeed as main (and in most cases only) editing purpose. This particularly in view of my electrostatic system; but even with my dynamic system I prefer my own crossfeed implementation to that of the Opera.
My system can be seen in my signature. The most used headphones were my two electrostats, but I also used the K 701 and the HD 650 to verify the results on the dynamic setup.
It was Head-Fier Anders who generously offered to treat some of my CDs with his Audio Desk system. So I sent six CD-Rs to him. They came back with bevelled edges, additionally painted black (although hard to see on the five Fuji Photo discs which are black by nature).
The first album I auditioned and compared was Henri Dutilleux's violin concerto (Chandos 9853 -- 4-disc set). As hard as I concentrated, I couldn't identify any sonic difference between treated and untreated disc. Sometimes I thought the treated disc had a bit less extension to both extremes, especially at the lower end, but I absolutely couldn't decide if the difference was real or imagined.
The next one was Kamran Ince's orchestral works (symphonies No.3 and 4, Domes -- Naxos 8.557588). Exactly the same scenario as above: no clear difference.
The third test sample was Public Image Limited's «Compact Disc». Now, after a few runs, there was a characteristic difference: less bass power and less treble sparkle with the treated disk -- making me prefer the untreated copy which seemed to have higher energy and impact. There was also more flow to the music, whereas the treated CD showed a slight dryness, but also higher accuracy. There was one track, «Round», which I enjoyed more from the treated disc: The phase-distorted cymbals on the intro had more atmosphere, the electronic effect was more detailed, and the whole track was somehow more musical, with a warmer, more intimate touch and higher detail. Every other track sounded rounder, livelier and more spectacular from the untreated disc, although I could live with both presentations and their advantages and downsides.
Since rock recordings seemed to reveal the effect better, the next CD was Radiohead's «In Rainbows». Which threw me back almost to the beginning. It was hard to identify differences again.
But the more I listened -- meanwhile during several days, but not more than half an hour per session --, the clearer the effect of the bevelling became. Although the above is still true: The PIL album shows the effect in the most pronounced manner. This may have to do with the fact that the recording is rich on transients (drum beats, cymbals, hi-hat), much more so than the other recordings. The main effect consists of leaner bass and less treble sparkle. I'm not sure if the latter isn't in fact a consequence of the former, however, at times it pays off as increased accuracy and detail sharpness, and this throughout the sonic spectrum. Another effect, which I consider a general disadvantage, is the narrower soundstage. As to the reduced (low-)bass power and treble sparkle: the headphone suffering most from it was the K 701.
Summary: In my system and to my ears the Audio Desk treated CDs made a noticeable, but not a night-and day difference compared to the «originals». Although the effect covers a wider sonic spectrum than usual cable effects I'm familiar with, I'd rate it as somewhat less pronounced than typical cable characteristics. The positive effects don't clearly outweigh the negatives to my ears, so the Audio Desk system isn't a must-have in my book. Which is actually a good thing (money saved), and at the same time the result is interesting food for thoughts, as the test didn't result in the halfways expected «zero effect» judgement, and the effect is far from being explainable, in contrast to conventional audio phenomena -- at least if you don't belong to those who «know» that it's just imagined anyway. I will further occupy myself with the subject and don't exclude that I'll finally make friends with the bevelled-edges effect.
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