KeithH

Norah Jones and *Blue Train* SACD owners, do your discs have spindle cracks? (Crest)

I am eager to run out and buy the Norah Jones and Coltrane Blue Train SACDs, but seeing as they are hybrids and were manufactured by Crest (for distribution in the US), I am concerned about spindle cracks. If you have either or both of these SACDs, have you seen spindle cracks? Thanks in advance.

My:
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Second Stereo System ;
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\"You know, the tomato never took off as a handfruit.\"

- George Costanza

John Tillman

Keith, I'm thinking about picking these titles up and I'm certainly concerned about spindle cracks. But what is the worst case scenario with them, has there been known cases of players being damaged? I'm still using a 555 and as we know, they can no longer be replaced.

__
JT

Kristoffer

My pink Floyd is also cracked...
But plays fine.

Lee Scoggins

I think it comes down to whether you believe that Crest is truthful when they say they tightened their manufacturing tolerances. On the one hand, they could lie to avoid a black eye from the DSOTM.

On the other hand, it seems to me that Crest would rapidly suffer in reputation and ability to win pressing contracts from labels if they had any quality control issues. For this reason, my suspicion (although I don't know for sure either way) is that Crest has likely addressed these issues on the new releases.

no fears alone at night she's sailing through the crowd
in her ears the phones are tight and the music's playing loud
~skateaway

Justin Lane

Keith, I received both the disc you mentioned this week, and have to to see cracks appear. Of course they are both in my player and have yet to be spun numerous times. My copy of DSOTM just recently developed cracks after owning it for a couple months, so the cracks my not appear instantly after initial use.

I hope Crest changed their injection process as they have said, but there has been problems with PG Up, released well after DSOTM, making me doubt Crest's so called changes.

J

KeithH

Well, I went out and bought the Norah Jones SACD today. There were no cracks right out of the case. I've listened to it once through (sounds great), and I'll check the disc later tonight to see how it is holding up. I'll post more later.

My:
Main Stereo and HT Systems ;
Second Stereo System ;
Equipment List ; DVDs, SACDs, and more ;
Planned Upgrades and Additions


\"You know, the tomato never took off as a handfruit.\"

- George Costanza

Lin Park

Could someone enlighten me as to what problems these cracks might cause?

Thanx,
Lin

KeithH

Lin, I don't think anyone knows for sure what problems the cracks could cause, but there has been a lot of speculation. Some people have observed the cracks getting worse through extended use to the point where they are approaching the data area of the disc. At that point, a disc may not be playable. Also, there are theories that cracked discs could shatter during playback due to the extreme forces on the polycarbonate at high rpms (the heat generated inside a player could exacerbate the situation). I am not aware of anyone experiencing shattering, but I can see how it might happen.

As a result of all the speculation and the fact that the cracks are a manufacturing defect, I wouldn't use cracked discs.

My:
Main Stereo and HT Systems ;
Second Stereo System ;
Equipment List ; DVDs, SACDs, and more ;
Planned Upgrades and Additions


\"You know, the tomato never took off as a handfruit.\"

- George Costanza

Phil_DC

Hmm?
I have heard of these cracks before but I was told they were heat related not manufacture related. So as a precaution I have been only listening to my DVD-A's and SACD's no more than twice through then removing them from the player to cool off.

BTW I have Norah's SACD, no cracks and it's sounds awesome!

Danny Tse