Cheap CD reissues - poor quality?

[Madiel]

I'm wondering whether people have tended to experience any problems with relatively cheap editions of CD recordings. Not with the packaging or anything like that, but the actual discs.

The reason I'm asking is because I've encountered some issues while listening to this box:

[asin]B004H6P2M4[/asin]

I've seen plenty of indications of other GMGers listening to other boxes in this same series, for example.

When I first received the box (in a larger haul) about 6 months ago, I did my usual basic check that all the discs would play, and I did notice ONE example of the issue I'm having, which is a sudden burst of static. But as I go through the discs I'm encountering it again. I should have kept more notes I suppose, but... it happened twice in the 1st movement of Violin Sonata No.1, and it's also happened once in Violin Sonata No.2. Those are the examples I've experienced this week, so 3 of these static bursts in the first half of this particular disc.

I'm pretty sure it's basically a disc pressing issue. It's only a brief problem, but it's pretty annoying as when it happens it makes me jump a mile - the sudden adrenaline burst is not the kind of thrill I'm looking for here.

So, yes, basically I'm wondering whether other people have experienced this or similar problems with cheap boxes of this nature, where you basically just get the discs and some cheap cardboard and that's it. I was prepared for cheap packaging, but I still expected to be getting proper discs, and at the moment I'm a little put off grabbing one of these 'bargains' again.

[Jo498]

I cannot be more specific, but in a German language Hifi forum some people checked e.g. Brilliant classics issues of licensed recordings with some tools and found the pressing quality varying widely and sometimes substandard. Note that this were not re-issues of the original label in cheaper boxes.
I am somewhat confused myself because I have also read that one should rather avoid older CDs because they could be deteriorated...
Fortunately I have only encountered a few discs overall with some problems, either skipping or short clicks and I do not think they are more frequent in "big boxes" than elsewhere. Of course, there are some big boxes I have only heard a fraction of so I might be in for unpleasant surprises...
In any case, I am interested in other experiences or tests other listeners have done.

[The new erato]

I've had a similar issue with the last disc on this set; in two different issues:

[Madiel]

I've had a similar issue with the last disc on this set; in two different issues:

That's interesting, because it means it wasn't just an issue with a particular edition of the release.

[springrite]

I really only had problems with a few of the earliest CDs I have, from the mid80's.

[kishnevi]

I have both the pictured sets and do not remember any problems. But perhaps my ears interpreted the static as bad sonics.

[Madiel]

But perhaps my ears interpreted the static as bad sonics.

Trust me, if you'd heard what I'm hearing in these little bursts, you'd know! I'm not talking about crackles and pops, I'm talking a full burst of noise rather than music, albeit for only half a second or so. It's like having switched to a TV station with nothing on it, and then back to normal.

[Todd]

I've experienced data and even physical issues on a few discs here and there over the years.  The failure rate is very low.  I've experienced the problems in cheap boxes, expensive boxes, cheap single discs, and expensive single discs, and on old CDs and new CDs.  It happens.  The one time it kind of irked me was when the last volume of Christian Leotta's LvB sonata cycle was issued, and both the initial and second set I got had the same problem.  I was able to get a high res download replacement from Atma, but it was a brand new set.

[Christo]

I really only had problems with a few of the earliest CDs I have, from the mid80's.

I remember that in those mid-1980's, when the new CD phenomenon was widely discussed, they were predicted to have a no more than 25 years life expectation because of some oxidation process (can't remember a specific source or details). So far, my CDs of that period seem to function properly. But could it be that they will desintegrate in some near future? Does anybody know what their life expectancy really is?

[Todd]

Does anybody know what their life expection really is?

No.  I suspect they will last for a good long while.  As long as at least a big chunk of my collection lasts until my death, I'm fine.

The best ultra-long-term storage solution for recordings is, of course, metal masters as used in the 78s era, but who wants to do that anymore?

[springrite]

I remember that in those mid-1980's, when the new CD phenomenon was widely discussed, they were predicted to have a no more than 25 years life expectation because of some oxidation process (can't remember a specific source or details). So far, my CDs of that period seem to function properly. But could it be that they will desintegrate in some near future? Does anybody know what their life expection really is?

Three of the problematic discs are opera (box set) CDs. I heard that one of the main reasons was the little foam leaf that they sometimes put into those 2/3 CD opera recording cases, supposedly to protect the disc. But they contribute to the oxidation.

[Cato]

no more than 25 years life expectation because of some oxidation process (can't remember a specific source or details). So far, my CDs of that period seem to function properly. But could it be that they will disintegrate in some near future? Does anybody know what their life expectancy really is?

No.  I suspect they will last for a good long while.  As long as at least a big chunk of my collection lasts until my death, I'm fine.

I asked this question about expectancy some years ago here at GMG, and somebody said that they will last longer than the owner.  Recently, however, a "burned CD" from c. 10 years ago developed glitches: I could see no damage on the CD itself.  So perhaps that CD somehow deteriorated internally.

[Pat B]

I asked this question about expectancy some years ago here at GMG, and somebody said that they will last longer than the owner.  Recently, however, a "burned CD" from c. 10 years ago developed glitches: I could see no damage on the CD itself.  So perhaps that CD somehow deteriorated internally.

CD-Rs are different from pressed CDs. I assume my CD-Rs will last no more than a few years.

[Todd]

CD-Rs are different from pressed CDs. I assume my CD-Rs will last no more than a few years.

I have some CD-Rs from the turn of the century that still work fine, but I can't say how much longer that will be the case. 

[kishnevi]

Three of the problematic discs are opera (box set) CDs. I heard that one of the main reasons was the little foam leaf that they sometimes put into those 2/3 CD opera recording cases, supposedly to protect the disc. But they contribute to the oxidation.

In my case, because I kept them on the shelf without opening them for extended time period, the foam dried up and stuck to the CDs, causing irreparable damage.  I have over the years gotten reissues for all but one of the five or six sets that this happened with.  The exception was Solti's Brahms cycle, which was salvageable enough that I could rip and burn CD-R copies.

[Jay F]

I have some CDs that make choking sounds. It's usually during the last few minutes of one of the longer discs (75 minutes +).

[Daverz]

I rip any CDs I get with dbPowerAmp, which does a checksum and checks it against the AccurateRip database.  I wonder how these noisy discs would fare.  It may be that the noise is in the glass master.

[Madiel]

I've experienced the problems in cheap boxes, expensive boxes, cheap single discs, and expensive single discs, and on old CDs and new CDs.  It happens. 

Okay, noted, so I shouldn't develop a bias against cheap boxes.

I'm still wondering what to do about the particular case. May experiment with some ripping/burning to see if it happens to bypass the problem. Too late to return the discs. See if I can buy any offending tracks online?

I may just end up making warning notes for myself so that I don't jump quite so far...

[The new erato]

I have some CDs that make choking sounds. It's usually during the last few minutes of one of the longer discs (75 minutes +).

Not all CD players handle long discs well. If that only happens at the end of discs, I suspect it may be a player issue.

[Jo498]

With older CDs there seem to be severable problems, but most of them are easy to spot. As has been mentioned the foam inserts can stick do discs, so get rid of them at once and be careful when buying used discs.
(The foam is useless except when sending/transporting discs and then any contemporary padding will do.

Then ther was the "bronzing problem" afflicting a number of discs around 1990, especially hyperion and ASV. This is often visible by discoloration and when played gives a rather characteristic popping/klicking noise, usually starting on the last tracks of a disc. It may be that hyperion will still send you replacement discs.
And some older disc have little wholes in the aluminum layer, but most of the time they will still play alright.

But the case mentioned by Orfeo concerning a newish disc does not seem to involve visible faults, which is bad, because who can listen to all those boxes quickly enough to spot faulty discs...