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From: chu@hanauma.jpl.nasa.gov (Eugene Chu)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Chesky Jazz Sampler & Audiophile Test CD
Message-ID: <13025@uwm.edu>
Date: 12 Jun 91 12:49:46 GMT
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In article <12985@uwm.edu> jvb7u@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Jon Brinkmann) writes:
>I've been intrigued by advertisements for the _Chesky Jazz Sampler and
>Audiophile Test CD_.  It's claims are (from HFN&RR, July 1990):
>
>	After nine Jazz selections, each a showcase for the company's
>	proprietary 128-times oversampling technology, the _Chesky Jazz
>	Sampler Volume I_ offers conclusive tests to show the existence
>	of such disputed characteristics as (1) image height, (2) stage
>	width beyond the speaker's edges, (3) stage depth and (4) absolute
>	polarity.  These illustrations are so vivid that they can be
>	used to silence those who argue that such sonic properties are
>	'imaginary'.  This disk settles it, once and for all.
>

While I've never heard that particular disk before, I can tell you that there
are other recordings that can illustrate the same effect.  I was once a 
skeptic myself, but having since listened to a number of fine
recordings, I'm a believer.  Some of what convinced me are:

-  Vivaldi's Four Seasons from Telarc.  Listen to the Presto movement in the
   Summer concerto.  Vivaldi's composition copied the style of his predecessor,
   Correli, wherein he used "dueling" violins, one in the front, and one in
   the back.  On a good system, you can really sense this depth.

-  "Jazz at The Pawn Shop" on the Proprious label (analog vinyl record set)
   This was a history making recording made live in a cafe in Switzerland
   somewhere.  Throughout the recording, you can almost "see" the audience
   move around the cafe.

-  Any of the direct-to-disc analog recordings from Sheffiled Labs.  These
   tend to sound much better than their CDs which were recorded concurrently
   with the vinyl discs.

Of course, this is also a disease.  I can now tell the difference between
zip cords and the MIT Shotgun speaker cables.  The only thing that prevents
me from getting the MITs is its $1500 price tag.


eyc