This disc is considered a collector's item and is primarily available through audiophile specialists or secondary marketplaces:
The 24K Gold disc is more than just a marketing gimmick. It serves to:
Purpose: The same voice is played out of phase. The sound should instantly seem to come from "nowhere" or wrap around your walls. If this track sounds centered, your speaker wiring is inverted. This disc is considered a collector's item and
Specifically designed signals meant to neutralize built-in magnetic charges in cables and electronic circuits that can degrade sound quality over time.
FLAC (typically ripped from the original 24K Gold CD) Channels: Stereo (some tracks have phase tests) Dynamic Range: Extremely high – caution needed If this track sounds centered, your speaker wiring
Helmed by Keith O. Johnson, the co-inventor of HDCD encoding. Reference Recordings is synonymous with capturing massive dynamic swings, realistic soundstages, and pristine acoustic spaces.
is a highly regarded audiophile utility disc released in 1995 to optimize and maintain high-fidelity audio systems. This special 24K Gold edition uses a gold reflective layer instead of standard aluminum, which offers superior corrosion resistance ("CD rot") and more stable reflectivity for precision data reading. Johnson, the co-inventor of HDCD encoding
When XLO’s technical utility met Reference Recordings' pristine musical mastery, they created a definitive dual-purpose tool: half system-diagnostic utility and half musical showcase. Technical Specifications & The 24K Gold Significance
| OS | Recommended | |----|--------------| | Windows | Foobar2000 (+ ABX plugin), JRiver Media Center | | macOS | Audirvana, VOX, Roon | | Linux | Deadbeef, Strawberry | | Mobile | Neutron Music Player (iOS/Android) – supports phase tests |