Any way to bring old music back to life?

[NightListenerUK]

Hey guys, Long time lurker on this forum.

I recently got myself:

an Auzentech 7.1 sound card
a set of B&W DM110's (from 1986 I think)
and a NAD 3020 amp (again from the 80's)

hoping to revitalise my collection of 80's metal/rock (as my previous set of logitech speakers made it sound very flat and dull). This has worked to an extent, music is alot clearer after switching to an amp - however it seems I am still not satisfied with the result.

I have my amp connected to my PC, and use the microsoft zune software to play my music which is always 320kbps or higher.

I have always used the creative "audio crystalizer" which is a codec provided by creative with my sound card which has worked fantastically over the past year, it REALLY brings old music to life, however I have noticed after getting my new setup - that after using the crystalizer, music often crackles when there is alot going on (it doesnt do this with the crystalizer switched off).

Thus I have decided not to use the crystalizer anymore as the cracking ruins the music and I can hear it quite substantially!

I was wondering if there is any other (probably) software solution to revitalise or bring to life my 80's music collection to stop it sounding so flat?

I have a few remasters of old records however I think I prefer the originals, as I have found with Megadeth especially - the remasters also have a substantial crackle to them when the crystalizer is switched on aswell.

Could anyone also explain to me why my music crackles (ONLY ON SOME MUSIC) with the crystalizer switched on?

THanks!!

Hope this is the right place to ask this!!

EDIT: I should probably mention the amp was serviced recently just before I bought it.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

If you have the original CD's I'd rip the music again, but this time store it in apple lossless/flac/ape formats. Some encoders even at very high bitrates like 320kbps, could destroy the SQ just by encoding process.
If ALL your music sounds "boring", I'd play with EQ or be looking to change speakers, maybe even a DIY project...

 

[sholling]

First I don't much care for any processing so I'd do without that. Second, although I've never heard your speakers and I can't really speak to them, if it were me I'd start by adding a subwoofer to give some serious punch below 80hz. Finally if you are listening from your PC you may find that some darn good speakers sound really funky up close. There is just something missing at 2 feet that comes back to life at at 4 feet. I'm not an audio engineer so I don't really understand why but it caused me to replace my home-office's Energy bookshelf speakers with near field monitors. Anyway I'd start with the sub.

 

[NightListenerUK]

If you have the original CD's I'd rip the music again, but this time store it in apple lossless/flac/ape formats. Some encoders even at very high bitrates like 320kbps, could destroy the SQ just by encoding process.
If ALL your music sounds "boring", I'd play with EQ or be looking to change speakers, maybe even a DIY project...

Thanks for the quick replies. Im listening to MP3's - very high quality MP3's ripped straight from CD. Not all my music sounds boring which is the problem, newer stuff sounds great - but when the crystalizer is on, alot of it ends up getting distorted and crackling.

First I don't much care for any processing so I'd do without that. Second, although I've never heard your speakers and I can't really speak to them, if it were me I'd start by adding a subwoofer to give some serious punch below 80hz. Finally if you are listening from your PC you may find that some darn good speakers sound really funky up close. There is just something missing at 2 feet that comes back to life at at 4 feet. I'm not an audio engineer so I don't really understand why but it caused me to replace my home-office's Energy bookshelf speakers with near field monitors. Anyway I'd start with the sub.

They were good speakers for their time, I wanted to go for a vintage setup because I heard those setups did the music of the same generation more justice. The bass is fine, thats not the problem - its actual sound itself that sounds flat in alot of cases. I find it really hard to describe as Im not an audiophile - it just sounds "flat", but not in the bassy way... if that makes any sense!

It never sounds as good sitting next to the speakers, which I do alot at the PC - I usually end up just turning the sound up more. But as you say when Im further away from them (like sitting on my bed for example) - they sound great most of the time.

Its just old music, Id like to give it some kind of boost and was wondering how I can do that

 

[sholling]

Thanks for the quick replies. Im listening to MP3's - very high quality MP3's ripped straight from CD. Not all my music sounds boring which is the problem, newer stuff sounds great - but when the crystalizer is on, alot of it ends up getting distorted and crackling.



They were good speakers for their time, I wanted to go for a vintage setup because I heard those setups did the music of the same generation more justice. The bass is fine, thats not the problem - its actual sound itself that sounds flat in alot of cases. I find it really hard to describe as Im not an audiophile - it just sounds "flat", but not in the bassy way... if that makes any sense!

It never sounds as good sitting next to the speakers, which I do alot at the PC - I usually end up just turning the sound up more. But as you say when Im further away from them (like sitting on my bed for example) - they sound great most of the time.

Its just old music, Id like to give it some kind of boost and was wondering how I can do that

You might consider some near field monitors. Behringer B2030Ps are cheap and easy to mod.

 

[Cristofori]

They were good speakers for their time, I wanted to go for a vintage setup because I heard those setups did the music of the same generation more justice.

This can be true, but it mostly applies to vintage amps, turntables, etc. Unless the speakers are of exceptional quality and in fantastic condition, I would tend to avoid most vintage speakers.

I don't know your age, but most enthusiasts consider the better vintage audio gear being produced prior to 1981.

I find it really hard to describe as Im not an audiophile - it just sounds "flat", but not in the bassy way... if that makes any sense!

Yes, it just sounds thin and lifeless... something like compressed MP3's correct?

Its just old music, Id like to give it some kind of boost and was wondering how I can do that

I'm an old school purist when it comes to music, and I don't record or process anything, so all I can say is to invest in some better speakers. The latest generations of B&W's are certainly better then the old, although expensive.

I'd second the notion of going with the Behringer 2030P speakers, or for only a marginal difference, the larger 2031P's. You will be amazed at quality vs. price ratio.

 

[NightListenerUK]

This can be true, but it mostly applies to vintage amps, turntables, etc. Unless the speakers are of exceptional quality and in fantastic condition, I would tend to avoid most vintage speakers.

I don't know your age, but most enthusiasts consider the better vintage audio gear being produced prior to 1981.

Yes, it just sounds thin and lifeless... something like compressed MP3's correct?

I'm an old school purist when it comes to music, and I don't record or process anything, so all I can say is to invest in some better speakers. The latest generations of B&W's are certainly better then the old, although expensive.

I'd second the notion of going with the Behringer 2030P speakers, or for only a marginal difference, the larger 2031P's. You will be amazed at quality vs. price ratio.

Im 19 - so I dont have a vast knowledge of vintage hardware.

It sounds thin and lifeless like compressed mp3 yes - however newer stuff doesnt sound like that which is what leads me to believe that its not the quality that is the issue here.

I'll try some flac versions and see what I think - unfortunately I just bought these speakers so wont be getting some more for a while!