Customer Reviews

Crackling Fire

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The "Relax with..." series of Environments is the largest entry into the Ambient Backgrounds field which I've seen in the last few years. Piggybacking on the success of the original Syntonic Research, Inc.'s series from the early '70's and Rykodisc's Atmosphere Collection (to name only two major ventures), this NY-state-based series is large (about 50 titles so far); is half "music enhanced," half "pure"; is disarmingly inexpensive...features some of the worst-written and least informative liner notes I've ever seen (one incorrectly using lie/lay); and is variable in quality from disc to disc. Amazingly, however, most of the discs are rather good-much better than any of the comparably-priced CDs I've tried.

"Crackling Fire" sounds like the real thing. It is more environmentally friendly than a real fireplace, and it costs a lot less. If you use it as a sleep aid, it actually gives one a "toasty" feeling with its crackles, pops, and ongoing, low-level whooshing. I could imagine a higher quality set of audio dynamics, but they'd cost lots more. This is fine, fun, and recommended.

What is supposed to be a crackling fire sounds more like bacon sizzling in a skillet. It took lots of imagination to replace that bacon-image with a crackling campfire.

Another poster mentioned an irritating background "roar". Mine has it too and it's very annoying. It sounds like wind blowing during a winter storm.

To make things worse, every few minutes there's a clanking noise. It's supposed to be someone poking at the fire until the firewood falls onto the hot coals. It sounds more like a camp stove falling apart.

So, instead of a crackling fire warming a cool October's eve, I envision breakfast being cooked on a rickety Coleman stove during a raging blizzard.

Not that this is a bad thing, but it wasn't exactly what I had in mind. I give the disc 3 stars for creating some interesting and delightful confusion.

I listed to the demo on line, liked it, and ordered the CD. VERY disappointed in it. Has a roaring sound that sounds like a waterfall, not a fire, and, in my opinion, was far from realistic. The roaring sound was louder than the crackling. I would return it but shipping costs more than the CD.

Don't have a fireplace and want to hear the crackling sounds of a homemade fire? This is the CD for you. Played on a decent sound system, it's just sounds like the real thing. They've even recorded sounds of metal intruments prodding and arranging the logs for a better burn. Just remember this is background sound, contains no music, and is designed to set a mood; put it on and just relax by the fire.

I bought this CD and I am very pleased with it. The sound is very realistic and I play it when I have my electric fireplace on. Ha, fake everything these days. But, it gives an ambiance which can almost make you warm just by listening to the roaring fire and watching the electric fire. My dogs like it too.

I love this CD! I read some of the other reviews about this CD in which the writer complained about hearing the sound of a fire poker being used which kind of disrupts the recording. I have to disagree that the sound is a disruption. To me this CD is so realistic that it reminds me of going camping out in the forest and sleeping under the stars. The place where I used to camp (At Lake Arrowhead, CA) had metal fire boxes and the sound is exactly what I remember. There is popping, and crackling and the sound of the metal cooking grate settling and the fire poker being used. I can almost smell the cedar and pine smoke! I use this CD a lot after a particularly stressful day because once I close my eyes and listen, I am immediately transported to the mountains and the forest. Then I fall asleep next to a crackling campfire under the stars.

i bought this in the middle of winter and it makes sitting in the study so much more comfortable. this cd sounds just like my own fireplace. i want to give the people who made this cd a big warm cuddle.

I put on this cd when I come home from work and it helps me wind down. Watching tv at night with lights low and this recording on, it sounds just like a real fireplace in the room. Also helps you to sleep if you are a bit tense. At some points in the cd, there is sound of someone using fireplace tools to add/remove logs. You feel relaxed, cozy and snug.

We have a new gas fire and it lacks the crackle of a real fireplace. I hoped that we would get that sound with the cd. We have a loud draft sound, some crackle (not loud enough) and then some clanking (poking the fire?) and loud dropping of wood onto the fire. It would not seem to be so difficult to really capture the sound of a wood fire.

The cd was a gift. The person that received it stated it worked just fine and sounds realistic. The price was very reasonable too.