"Interference" vs. other flaws

[Beta Man]

Questions:

I noticed while listening to some CDs that I had static.... it's BARELY noticeable when sitting and listening, but certainly noticeable when I put my ear up to the speaker.

I want to narrow down the causes, and want to know if it's possible the length of the runs causing it etc. connection.... AVR who knows... and I'll tell you material I used etc.

I started with an older studio album and noticed it, then tried a new studio album and still noticed it.... I figured newer albums may be mastered better.

I will try to play the CD in my Sony stand-alone Blu-ray player to see a difference, but my first attempts were from my 400 disc Sony SACD/DVD player I have most of my CDs loaded into.

I am running a Marantz SR-5001 in this room to an Emotiva XPA-3 but I could try to connect my SR-7001 but not sure I want to go through that effort right now because I like the 7001 where it is.

I noticed previously that some of my CDs that are old and not well taken care of (in and out of the car etc) seem to be worse, and it's much more noticeable on the ones that have some tracks that even skip due to scratches, so I originally chalked it up to bad-discs.... but with the others I tried, I didn't think it was that because the CDs are basically new.

When testing, and noticing the "static" hiss sound, I could pause the CD, and the hiss would be gone.... I could hear the SLIGHTEST sound.. very slight though, as if listening to the electricity within a light-bulb for instance... something that I certainly wouldn't think anyone would be able to detect while the music was playing.

Does my "pause" test indicate that the sound I'm hearing is possibly due to the material on the disc itself being reproduced? I'm going to try some of my Blu-ray concerts in 2-channel with the "Ear to the speaker" approach to see if it's simply due to the inferior bit-rate of the CD or compression or whatever, but thought that perhaps this was a good place to start.


Anyone else notice "noise" within their CDs in this manner?


**I'd like to point out that this is VERY subtle.... I would think the casual listener would think I've lost my marbles.... but in the quest for "better" I want to explore all options**

[MrFattBill]

How do you have the player(s) hooked to the receiver?

Bill

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by MrFattBill

How do you have the player(s) hooked to the receiver?

Bill

The CD player is via optical

The Blu-ray player is HDMI..... which I need to try still.

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Questions:

I noticed while listening to some CDs that I had static.... it's BARELY noticeable when sitting and listening, but certainly noticeable when I put my ear up to the speaker.

I want to narrow down the causes, and want to know if it's possible the length of the runs causing it etc. connection.... AVR who knows... and I'll tell you material I used etc.

I started with an older studio album and noticed it, then tried a new studio album and still noticed it.... I figured newer albums may be mastered better.

I will try to play the CD in my Sony stand-alone Blu-ray player to see a difference, but my first attempts were from my 400 disc Sony SACD/DVD player I have most of my CDs loaded into.

I am running a Marantz SR-5001 in this room to an Emotiva XPA-3 but I could try to connect my SR-7001 but not sure I want to go through that effort right now because I like the 7001 where it is.

I noticed previously that some of my CDs that are old and not well taken care of (in and out of the car etc) seem to be worse, and it's much more noticeable on the ones that have some tracks that even skip due to scratches, so I originally chalked it up to bad-discs.... but with the others I tried, I didn't think it was that because the CDs are basically new.

When testing, and noticing the "static" hiss sound, I could pause the CD, and the hiss would be gone.... I could hear the SLIGHTEST sound.. very slight though, as if listening to the electricity within a light-bulb for instance... something that I certainly wouldn't think anyone would be able to detect while the music was playing.

Does my "pause" test indicate that the sound I'm hearing is possibly due to the material on the disc itself being reproduced? I'm going to try some of my Blu-ray concerts in 2-channel with the "Ear to the speaker" approach to see if it's simply due to the inferior bit-rate of the CD or compression or whatever, but thought that perhaps this was a good place to start.


Anyone else notice "noise" within their CDs in this manner?


**I'd like to point out that this is VERY subtle.... I would think the casual listener would think I've lost my marbles.... but in the quest for "better" I want to explore all options**

I had a buddy with a similar situation. This is what he told me fixed it and what he thought the problem was. (This in no way means I am implying what I am talking about, this could possibly be very false, just throwing something out there!)

He told me it was due to digital noise. So he hooked up a standalone CD player and used analog audio cables to connect and said it disappeared. but WTH, he may know less than I do about audio stuff

[MrFattBill]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

The CD player is via optical

The Blu-ray player is HDMI..... which I need to try still.

I was gonna suggest using optical

Originally Posted by threefiftyrocket

He told me it was due to digital noise. So he hooked up a standalone CD player and used analog audio cables to connect and said it disappeared. but WTH, he may know less than I do about audio stuff

I would think analog has the potential for more noise than an optical cable given the fact that it has a ground as well

Bill

[Beta Man]

based on this link:

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messa...79/125179.html

I might give analog connections a try.

[threefiftyrocket]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

based on this link:

http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messa...79/125179.html

I might give analog connections a try.

It can't hurt... I mean what's the worst that can happen? It doesn't work so you run the optical again?

Most audio enthusiests I know prefer analog cable for their 2 channel music anyway, so who knows, you might like it Beta!

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I noticed while listening to some CDs that I had static.

Is your CD player more than five years old? I've seen that happen with older players. After about ten years the CD player in my 1993 Camry developed static that got worse over time, and also became worse each time a CD played for 20 minutes. I saw the same thing (worse after 10-20 minutes) with another older player. I guess it's related to internal heat, and maybe also an aging laser that outputs less light.

--Ethan

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Is your CD player more than five years old? I've seen that happen with older players. After about ten years the CD player in my 1993 Camry developed static that got worse over time, and also became worse each time a CD played for 20 minutes. I saw the same thing (worse after 10-20 minutes) with another older player. I guess it's related to internal heat, and maybe also an aging laser that outputs less light.

--Ethan

It certainly is..... it's the first "Mega-changer" for DVDs that Sony made I believe....

[blujacket]

Sounds like a noisy Emotiva amp, I have the same "buzz" in my XPA-5. Hook the speakers up to the Marantz and see if it goes away. I bet it does.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by blujacket

Sounds like a noisy Emotiva amp, I have the same "buzz" in my XPA-5. Hook the speakers up to the Marantz and see if it goes away. I bet it does.

Well... fortunately that wasn't it (you had me worried) I tested the same CDs from my CD/SACD/DVD player in my Blu-ray player, and the 'hiss' went away.... so it's either the optical cable, or the CD/SACD/DVD player itself.

I can live with it..... for now.

[blujacket]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Well... fortunately that wasn't it (you had me worried) I tested the same CDs from my CD/SACD/DVD player in my Blu-ray player, and the 'hiss' went away.... so it's either the optical cable, or the CD/SACD/DVD player itself.

I can live with it..... for now.

Good to hear