Ever noticed how some songs or entire bands just dont sound good on different systems? I think some of it is that the cut or mix is just garbage. But, every once in a while a cd just doesnt sound as good on my system. Everything else sounds incredible though. I dont understand. I listen to ALL rock&roll, not different genres. It was just frustrating today when I popped in a Boston CD and it sounded like sh*t. Ever happen to you?....maybe im just tired :worried:

I find that after I listen to good vocalists, jazz, or blues and put on a rock group it leaves me feeling the same way. Maybe I am getting old?

All of Roxy Music's albums/CD's have always sounded bad too me.Its too bad cause they have alot of great songs. David

Any accurate system will make Boston sound like chalk screeching across a blackboard.

Any accurate system will make Boston sound like chalk screeching across a blackboard.

Thats about right. I guess my stuff is just too good for Boston, LOL....which im actually proud of. I never liked bands like them anyway, just had a cd that a friend left over years ago. So you just think that certain bands CLASH with some high-end systems no matter what?

The Clash deliberately recorded their music poorly. Great music. Terrible recording quality. I have a bunch of their stuff in my collection, and have to listen to it with, I meant in, small doses. :D

Ever since i saw boston at the texas jam in '85'
They have always sounded like crap :yes:
They played Their shitty ballad "polly anna" 3 f@*ing times :yuck: :puke: :puke: :puke:

Third Stage on vinyl is pretty decent. Thin Lizzy sounds like ass crap, as does some of my Tull. Lizzy sounded great on my old component system and favorite Kenwood kabuki's, so maybe your gear is better than the tunes.

I've always loved Todd Rundgren, but he had the bad habit of being his own recording engineering. Finally, with the release of "Healing" he started to hire pros. Up to that point, his music was great, recordings, awful.

I've noticed that a LOT of original 16 bit masters sound like bathing a cat. ALl of the AC/DC originals, Queensryche's first releases. Extreme's second album Pornograffiti will make your ears bleed. The Scorpions albums all sounded like shaite, as well. I've replaced most of the above with remasters, and they ALL improve on the originals. I've come to the conclusion that not much work was done to EQ these things properly when they were released onto CD.

There are definitely some bad sounding albums out there, and CD is not a very forgiving medium. Every Boston recording I've ever heard has sounded like crap. On the other hand, "London Calling" by the Clash is a very good sounding recording, though many of their others aren't. Never heard the first set of AC/DC CD releases, but I have some of the remasters and I think they sound pretty good (though I think at points they deliberately sound like someone is killing a cat - but to some killer riffs).

To the actual question that started this thread - I have several systems set up, and I do notice that some discs that don't sound good on the "main" system sound much better on one of the others. There are some discs I enjoy on my little office system that sound like crap on the big living room system.

Agreed. My garage setup is much more forgiving than the Living Room's.

Garage: Sony CDP-CA70ES and TA-F500ES Integrated (analog connection, of course)
Polk S8 Monitors
Living Room: Sony STR-DA5ES and Sony DVP-NC650V (coax-digital)
Polk RT12's (in stereo direct mode)
Bedroom: Sony combo VCR/DVD into Kenwood KA-7100
Optimus LX8's on stands
The garage setup is much more forgiving than the L-R. The DA5ES is quite revealing. Sometimes so much so, that the source materials are rendered 'unpleasant'. The unusual matchup of the bedroom is actually quite pleasant and robust.

My real test chamber is the car. :banana: