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Author Topic: DSD or hires nonsense  (Read 7803 times)

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Stapsy

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2013, 10:18:46 PM »
I have to agree with everything on the last couple pages of the thread.  It has been my experience that the format has less to do with sound quality then the recording and mastering does.  Having a high resolution recording that was recorded terribly won't make it sound any better. 

Out of curiosity I bought the 176/24 version of Time Out from HD tracks to compare it with the version I bought from Itunes a couple years ago.  I don't have the best ear in the world for this stuff, but the difference between the two was so small that there is no way I could reliably tell the difference.  Some of my old Beatles mp3 rips sound better than the FLAC rips of other albums that I have done more recently.

Based on what I have picked up around here from people like LFF, I have focused on finding well mastered recordings rather than finding the highest resolution version and have noticed a much more meaningful improvement in the sound quality.
I am sure that if you were to find an excellently mastered high resolution file it would sound great, but the reality is that the number of albums available in these formats is quite small and I would rather not limit my music collection.
« Last Edit: April 02, 2013, 10:33:58 PM by Stapsy »
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Questhate

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2013, 10:21:19 PM »
I need to take some audio engineering classes so I can just re-master all of my crap-sounding albums like LFF does. Win win.
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LFF

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #12 on: April 02, 2013, 10:25:30 PM »
Quote from: Analixus on April 02, 2013, 08:48:10 PM
Quote from: schiit on April 02, 2013, 08:17:32 PM

The problem is that DSD has been built up as the second-coming, holy-crap-gotta-get-this, next-latest-and-greatest audio format touched by divine hands and able to perform miracles like raising the dead and making crocodiles as pettable as kittens.

At this point, the whole SABRE thing is looking like the third coming.  You forgot DVD-A.   ::)

Always need DVDA....

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LFF

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #13 on: April 02, 2013, 10:31:24 PM »
Quote from: Questhate on April 02, 2013, 10:21:19 PM
I need to take some audio engineering classes so I can just re-master all of my crap-sounding albums like LFF does. Win win.

Hey, I've only been at it nearly 14 years.... headbang
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DaveBSC

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #14 on: April 04, 2013, 05:11:37 AM »
There's a new "audiophile" 24/96 version of Countdown To Extinction on HDTracks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Megadeth / Countdown to Extinction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.13 dB      3:15 01-Skin O' My Teeth
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.94 dB      4:01 02-Symphony of Destruction
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.82 dB      3:35 03-Architecture of Aggression
DR4       -0.30 dB    -5.92 dB      4:17 04-Foreclosure of a Dream
DR6       -0.30 dB    -8.18 dB      5:03 05-Sweating Bullets
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.55 dB      3:42 06-This Was My Life
DR6       -0.30 dB    -7.20 dB      4:17 07-Countdown to Extinction
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.70 dB      4:11 08-High Speed Dirt
DR6       -0.30 dB    -7.60 dB      4:42 09-Psychotron
DR6       -0.30 dB    -7.23 dB      4:14 10-Captive Honour
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.68 dB      6:11 11-Ashes in Your Mouth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  11
Official DR value: DR5

Samplerate:        96000 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   24
Bitrate:           3244 kbps
Codec:             FLAC

This sort of thing should be criminal. The day that the Loudness War hits high-res files in full force is the day that everyone will stop giving a shit about high-res and HDTracks, and go back to buying first press vinyl. It's absolutely the master that matters. Unfortunately a proper master of Countdown doesn't exist. The original was done with a "smile" EQ and is all bass and cymbals, and the remasters are all godawful.
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MorbidToaster

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #15 on: April 04, 2013, 05:31:00 AM »
Not sure about the DR Rating on it but the HD Tracks version of Madman Across the Water is terrible as well. It's smashed and then completely chopped off (it looks pretty hilarious in Audacity).

My $5 bargain bin CD copy sounds better, and my original Polydor CD beats that. You'd pay more for the HD Tracks version over either one of those.

Haven't bought anything from them since. Vinyl has definitely given me more than 'high res' downloads have.
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Anaxilus.

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #16 on: April 04, 2013, 06:26:03 AM »
Quote from: DaveBSC on April 04, 2013, 05:11:37 AM
The day that the Loudness War hits high-res files in full force is the day that everyone will stop giving a shit about high-res and HDTracks, and go back to buying first press vinyl.

Yes, that's why I stopped visiting the site since last year.  I don't trust them anymore.  I've gone back to my transport despite the slight inconvenience.  The potential of digital media and improved quality is turning into a perverted mythology.  I'm not repeating my past errors of walking into a tower records, buying 30 classical cds and ending up with only 4-5 worth a damn.  Until I can track their releases, just No.  I have a very pessimistic view of the direction of digital music currently.
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victor25

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #17 on: April 04, 2013, 09:49:37 AM »
At least 50% of the HDTracks Album's I got are worse than first edition cd's. I have already bought some LP's, and am looking for a turntable. Some of the releases (Adele is a good example), are just so much better on vinyl (not compressed to shit).
« Last Edit: April 04, 2013, 11:43:50 AM by victor25 »
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LFF

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #18 on: April 04, 2013, 02:43:57 PM »
Quote from: DaveBSC on April 04, 2013, 05:11:37 AM
There's a new "audiophile" 24/96 version of Countdown To Extinction on HDTracks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Megadeth / Countdown to Extinction
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR         Peak         RMS     Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.13 dB      3:15 01-Skin O' My Teeth
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.94 dB      4:01 02-Symphony of Destruction
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.82 dB      3:35 03-Architecture of Aggression
DR4       -0.30 dB    -5.92 dB      4:17 04-Foreclosure of a Dream
DR6       -0.30 dB    -8.18 dB      5:03 05-Sweating Bullets
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.55 dB      3:42 06-This Was My Life
DR6       -0.30 dB    -7.20 dB      4:17 07-Countdown to Extinction
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.70 dB      4:11 08-High Speed Dirt
DR6       -0.30 dB    -7.60 dB      4:42 09-Psychotron
DR6       -0.30 dB    -7.23 dB      4:14 10-Captive Honour
DR5       -0.30 dB    -6.68 dB      6:11 11-Ashes in Your Mouth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks:  11
Official DR value: DR5

Samplerate:        96000 Hz
Channels:          2
Bits per sample:   24
Bitrate:           3244 kbps
Codec:             FLAC

This sort of thing should be criminal. The day that the Loudness War hits high-res files in full force is the day that everyone will stop giving a shit about high-res and HDTracks, and go back to buying first press vinyl. It's absolutely the master that matters. Unfortunately a proper master of Countdown doesn't exist. The original was done with a "smile" EQ and is all bass and cymbals, and the remasters are all godawful.


Hmmm...might I suggest...



BTW...I prefer the original first pressing for this one.
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AstralStorm

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Re: DSD or hires nonsense
« Reply #19 on: April 04, 2013, 03:25:31 PM »
The smilie eq is mostly fixable, so just grab the original and remaster as you prefer.

The horrible DRC is not fixable.
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