Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request
From: bywater!arnor!watson.ibm.com!sridhar@uunet.UU.NET (Sridhar Mahadevan)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Chesky Jazz Sampler & Audiophile Test CD
Message-ID: <13173@uwm.edu>
Date: 17 Jun 91 12:49:48 GMT
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I have found the Chesky Jazz CD quite useful in setting up my audio
system. First, the nine music tracks are of extraordinary audio quality,
equalling the best I have heard on the new medium. For example, on track
5, Phil Woods' clarinet appears to come from well to the right of the
right speaker. Its tone is gorgeous. Ditto for track 7 with Clark
Terry's trumpet. Some of the other tracks feature a wealth of percussive
detail that really illustrates some of the potential of the new medium
(played back on a premium system, of course). 

I found the audio test tracks marginally less useful. Track 10 is
designed to help you get channel separation correctly. Bob Andrews
speaks from exact center, middle right, right, and beyond the right
speaker (ditto for left channel). It is useful in instantly convincing
skeptics that a stereo can easily image sounds beyond the speakers
(although you loose some focus). 

The LEDR tests are designed to expose unwanted room reflections. I did
not find them very useful (e.g., the height test does not seem to work
on my Quads). 

There are also some intriguing tracks featuring phase inversion, digital
copying, and oversampling digital recording. Finally, there are some
tracks that allow testing of your CD player through an oscilloscope. 

In sum, I consider the Chesky sampler to be well worth the money. The
only other test record that seems to be as good (or slightly better) is
the Opus 3 Depth of Image test record. 


- Sridhar Mahadevan