Helps clear magnetic build-up in your system’s signal path, often resulting in a "cleaner," more transparent soundstage. 2. The "XLO Voice" Diagnostic Tools
For audiophiles and music enthusiasts, the quest for high-quality recordings is a never-ending pursuit. One rare gem that has garnered attention in recent years is the VA - XLO - Reference Recordings- Test - Burn-In CD -Special 24K GOLD- -1995- FLAC. This elusive release has become a holy grail for those seeking the ultimate listening experience.
: Relative phase test helps listeners identify whether speakers are pushing and pulling in unison. The Burn-In Signal Helps clear magnetic build-up in your system’s signal
Running the demagnetization sweep cleans up the signal path, resulting in a more focused center image and wider soundstage.
| Track | Title | Duration | Detailed Purpose & Use | |:---:|---|---|:---:| | 1 | | 0:30 | Verifies that the left and right speakers are connected to the correct amplifier channels. A voice announces "Left Channel" from the left speaker, and "Right Channel" from the right. | | 2 | Voice In-Phase | 0:11 | A test for correct speaker wiring. Roger Skoff's voice should be clearly focused at the center point between the two speakers. | | 3 | Voice Out-Of-Phase | 0:25 | The same voice but with one speaker's polarity reversed. The image should collapse, becoming diffuse, unfocused, and lacking bass. This is a critical tool for speaker placement; listening to this track, you can move your speakers until the voice has no discernible location. | | 4 | Clap Track | 0:59 | A recording of a hand clap. This is used to assess your room's acoustics, specifically to identify excessive echo, flutter echo, or uneven sound decay. | | 5 | 315 Hz Test Tone | 1:15 | A single-frequency tone. This track has multiple uses: it can be used with an SPL meter to balance channel levels, with a voltmeter to check amplifier output balance, and for identifying room modes and "comb filtering" effects. | | 6 | "Prof." Johnson Does Something Spatial | 4:19 | Keith O. Johnson provides a fascinating, narrated demonstration of soundstaging, imaging, and depth, moving around and using percussive instruments to illustrate how spatial cues are captured in a recording. | | 7 | Demagnetizing Sweep | 0:57 | A sweeping signal (40Hz to 19kHz) designed to demagnetize the metal parts in the signal path (cables, connectors, PCBs) of your entire system. | | 8 | Demagnetizing Fade | 1:00 | A continuation of the demagnetization process, focusing on lower frequencies. These two tracks can be played at a high volume (your normal listening level) and are said to immediately clean up the sound. | | 9 | System Burn-In | 15:00 | A specially designed signal meant to be played on loop for hours or even days to "burn in" new components, particularly speakers, by exercising their full frequency and dynamic range. | One rare gem that has garnered attention in
Simple vocal checks pinpoint backward speaker wiring. The out-of-phase vocal track introduces a precise acoustic cancellation effect. It is engineered to appear to emanate from the far walls rather than the center, exposing unintended channel crosstalk.
Why not MP3 or AAC? Because the test tones—specifically the square waves and phase tests—rely on high-frequency transient response. Lossy codecs (even at 320kbps) use psychoacoustic masking that discards some of the harmonic overtones in the 10kHz-15kHz range. When you play a phase test from an MP3, the results are unreliable. With a FLAC rip from the 24K Gold disc, you are hearing exactly what Keith O. Johnson heard in the mastering suite. The Burn-In Signal Running the demagnetization sweep cleans
of Reference Recordings provides a structured guide to optimizing room acoustics and hardware performance. Technical Features & Mastering 24K Gold Disc
: This is where things get scientific. A steady 315Hz tone is played, designed to be used with an AC voltmeter connected to your amplifier’s outputs. The goal is to measure and ensure both channels are producing identical output levels—a crucial check for absolute channel balance.
The disc is structured into two main parts: diagnostic tracks to optimize the environment and musical tracks to showcase (and enhance) the system's performance. 1. Technical Tests and Burn-In
: Features a proprietary demagnetizing and conditioning sweep. It uses a combination of pink noise, swept frequencies, and out-of-phase signals to exercise speaker surrounds and settle internal component dielectrics. Reference Music Tracks