[RGordonpf]

Hi Guys,

I have finally decided to join the 21st century and burn some CD-Rs with tracks from my favorite bands.  Try as I might, I have not been able to burn CD-Rs that sound as good as the original CDs.  I rip the tracks to uncompressed WAV files using EAC.  I have used both the burner software in EAC itself and in Nero 8.  I have used two different computers with drives made by different manufacturers and I have tried burning speeds from slow (4X) to medium (12X) to fast (24X).  I have also used two different brands of CD-Rs.  No matter what the combination, the music on the CD-R always sound thinner, with less ambiance, and with lessened harmonics around each note.  I had two friends come over and listen to some of the CD-Rs versus the original CDs and they heard what I heard.

Am I incorrect in thinking that if done properly CD-Rs should sound as good as the original CD?  And if the CD-Rs can sound as good as the original CDs, what am I doing wrong?

 Any assistance would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[John Casler]

Hi Guys,

I have finally decided to join the 21st century and burn some CD-Rs with tracks from my favorite bands.  Try as I might, I have not been able to burn CD-Rs that sound as good as the original CDs.  I rip the tracks to uncompressed WAV files using EAC.  I have used both the burner software in EAC itself and in Nero 8.  I have used two different computers with drives made by different manufacturers and I have tried burning speeds from slow (4X) to medium (12X) to fast (24X).  I have also used two different brands of CD-Rs.  No matter what the combination, the music on the CD-R always sound thinner, with less ambiance, and with lessened harmonics around each note.  I had two friends come over and listen to some of the CD-Rs versus the original CDs and they heard what I heard.

Am I incorrect in thinking that if done properly CD-Rs should sound as good as the original CD?  And if the CD-Rs can sound as good as the original CDs, what am I doing wrong?

 Any assistance would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Hi Roger,

I've never heard a difference between "stock" versus "burned" CD's unless:

1) They were burned on a better CD (Memorex Black sound better I think due to less "scattered" laser light)

2) The new CD's were treated with a green pen (again a dispersed light thing)

I have heard a bigger difference using the Bedini DUal Beam UltraClarifier.

[RGordonpf]

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply.  I agree with you that the CD-Rs should sound as good as the original if not better due to EACs error corrections.

One of the two brands of CD-Rs that I am using is Memorex Black.  Since my friends hear the same diminished sound quality when playing the CD-Rs I know that the problem is not me.  If no one else has any suggestions I guess I will try using a different ripper, though EAC is supposed to be excellent.  If that does not work, I will have to try another CD player.  It would be weird if my modded Sony SCD-1 was the problem as it seems to play everything else just fine.

[RGordonpf]

Hi John,

Problem solved.  The drives on both of the computers I used were malfunctioning.  I used a 3rd computer to rip and burn the same tracks and the CD-R sounds just like the original CDs.  What are the odds of two drives on two different machines functioning, but not accurately reading and writing.  Aren't computers wonderful.

[John Casler]

I hate when that happens. 

Hi John,

Problem solved.  The drives on both of the computers I used were malfunctioning.  I used a 3rd computer to rip and burn the same tracks and the CD-R sounds just like the original CDs.  What are the odds of two drives on two different machines functioning, but not accurately reading and writing.  Aren't computers wonderful.