Nightfall
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2002
- Posts
- 1,937
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- 11
Both here at Head-Fi, and various places around the net, I had heard the various reasons why the new Dual Disc cd/dvd format was a terrible idea, with many issues, and, until now, I had purposely avoided having anything to do with them.
As noted in another post, I was in a real dilemma about what to do concerning Bruce Springsteen's new cd "Devils & Dust since it is only being released in that format. Obviously, if I wanted the new Bruce cd, which, as a huge Bruce fan, I obviously did, I had to give in and purchase a Dual Disc.
Having read closely about the discs damaging car cd units, the poorer sound quality, etc. etc. etc. I really wanted nothing to do with these and had hoped to forever avoid them. But, especially having seen the Boss live last night playing most of the new cd, I finally gave in and purchased it at Best Buy on my way home from work tonight.
I came home, sat down earlier to listen to the album on my headphone system and had nothing but problems. In fact, I cant even tell you whats its like since my cd player has never even been able to finish playing it!
I started the cd, and everything was fine, for the first four songs. I got a call on my phone while listening to cut 5, answered a few questions froma friend, and went back to listening, or at least I tried to. I used the track skip/access control on my Sony C555ES (with the full SACD MODS "Hot Rod treatment) to return to the beginning of the song, and the cdp was unable to restart the track. It continued trying to locate the track, making unending noises as the laser assembly atttempted to lock on, but couldnt, even though I waited for several minutes. I tried pausing, and retrying to no avail. I then opened the transport, started over again, and it would play the disc beginning with track one, if uninterupted, but any attempt to change tracks resulted in the same problems.
At one point, it so completely confused the cd player that it refused to even open up, since it couldnt locate the cd it was searching for, and only by power failing it twice could I actually even make it usable again!
Since I was not willing to re-listen to the entire cd from the beginning just to get back to track five, I cant even say what tracks 6-12 are like. I tried repeatedly to use instant access to start the track, and everythign else, with zero success. I also tried the disc in two other quality cdp's that I own with the same results. It will play through, without a problem if uninterrupted from beginning to end but if you try to repeat or restart ANY track excepting the first one, or change the order of a track, forget it, you get nothing at all except your cd continuously hunting for a track beginning it cant find.
I returned the disc to Best Buy just before they closed, and the manager mentioned they have had numerous problems with Dual Discs, including several cars whose slot loading cd units were damaged by them, and have also had quite a few other returns. I took home another, exchanged, copy of the album hoping the first might be defective only to find the exact same thing.
My modded Sony 555ES is a superb player, and has NEVER, I repeat, NEVER experienced a problem with ANY normal cd, original or CDR. And its played thousands. If it, and my other cdp's cant play Dual Discs then you and your player(s) are at risk!
I can hardly find the words to tell you how disgusted I am. If only Bruce knew what they've done to his music, and that of anyone released in this format!
JC
As noted in another post, I was in a real dilemma about what to do concerning Bruce Springsteen's new cd "Devils & Dust since it is only being released in that format. Obviously, if I wanted the new Bruce cd, which, as a huge Bruce fan, I obviously did, I had to give in and purchase a Dual Disc.
Having read closely about the discs damaging car cd units, the poorer sound quality, etc. etc. etc. I really wanted nothing to do with these and had hoped to forever avoid them. But, especially having seen the Boss live last night playing most of the new cd, I finally gave in and purchased it at Best Buy on my way home from work tonight.
I came home, sat down earlier to listen to the album on my headphone system and had nothing but problems. In fact, I cant even tell you whats its like since my cd player has never even been able to finish playing it!
I started the cd, and everything was fine, for the first four songs. I got a call on my phone while listening to cut 5, answered a few questions froma friend, and went back to listening, or at least I tried to. I used the track skip/access control on my Sony C555ES (with the full SACD MODS "Hot Rod treatment) to return to the beginning of the song, and the cdp was unable to restart the track. It continued trying to locate the track, making unending noises as the laser assembly atttempted to lock on, but couldnt, even though I waited for several minutes. I tried pausing, and retrying to no avail. I then opened the transport, started over again, and it would play the disc beginning with track one, if uninterupted, but any attempt to change tracks resulted in the same problems.
At one point, it so completely confused the cd player that it refused to even open up, since it couldnt locate the cd it was searching for, and only by power failing it twice could I actually even make it usable again!
Since I was not willing to re-listen to the entire cd from the beginning just to get back to track five, I cant even say what tracks 6-12 are like. I tried repeatedly to use instant access to start the track, and everythign else, with zero success. I also tried the disc in two other quality cdp's that I own with the same results. It will play through, without a problem if uninterrupted from beginning to end but if you try to repeat or restart ANY track excepting the first one, or change the order of a track, forget it, you get nothing at all except your cd continuously hunting for a track beginning it cant find.
I returned the disc to Best Buy just before they closed, and the manager mentioned they have had numerous problems with Dual Discs, including several cars whose slot loading cd units were damaged by them, and have also had quite a few other returns. I took home another, exchanged, copy of the album hoping the first might be defective only to find the exact same thing.
My modded Sony 555ES is a superb player, and has NEVER, I repeat, NEVER experienced a problem with ANY normal cd, original or CDR. And its played thousands. If it, and my other cdp's cant play Dual Discs then you and your player(s) are at risk!
I can hardly find the words to tell you how disgusted I am. If only Bruce knew what they've done to his music, and that of anyone released in this format!
JC
