DB's Hi-Rez Audio Thread

[Danny Boy]

I'm sure no one cares, but I thought it may be nice to have a thread to discuss high resolution audio releases, whether downloads or on disc.

I will post periodic updates that nobody will read.

Random Access Memories should be available tomorrow on HDTracks. I expect it to be 24/88.2

Boards of Canada's new album, Tomorrow's Harvest, will be released in 24-bit WAV on Bleep.com.

R.E.M.'s Green reissue is available in 24/96 and 24/192, but is way overpriced. No thank you.

 

[Danny Boy]

Almost forgot, Local Natives are offering a free download of Wooly Robot, which is a reworking of the track Wooly Mammoth from their recent album. It's in 24/48 WAV.

Wooly Robot by Local Natives on SoundCloud - Hear the world’s sounds

 

[u2popmofo]

I'm admittedly completely ignorant to the values of these types of files or discs versus a typical CD. Please enlighten me.

 

[Danny Boy]

Most digital music is encoded using pulse code modulation. The analog waveform's amplitude is sampled at regular intervals.

The two numbers refer to the frequency at which the waveform is sampled and the bit depth of each sample. The larger the bit depth, the more accurately each sample represents the true value of the amplitude and the larger the available dynamic range (difference between the loudest and quietest possible sound)

The CD standard is 16 bit, 44.1 kHz, so the amplitude is sampled 44,100 times per second and each sample is 16 bits, so there are 2^16 possible values.

The audio on a standard DVD and DAT is 16 bit, 48 kHz.

Most high resolution audio is usually one of a few combinations of sampling frequency and bit depth

24 bit, 44.1 kHz
24 bit, 48 kHz
24 bit, 88.2 kHs
24 bit, 96 kHz
24 bit, 192 kHz

24/96 is often used for studio masters these days.

SACD uses a technology called pulse density modulation that is beyond my understanding.

 

[greenlight7-11]

I think there are several R.E.M. albums that are available to download this way, not just Green. Also, The Jesus And Mary Chain (now out of print) DualDisc reissues from 2006 have 24/96 audio on them.

 

[u2popmofo]

Most digital music is encoded using pulse code modulation. The analog waveform's amplitude is sampled at regular intervals.

The two numbers refer to the frequency at which the waveform is sampled and the bit depth of each sample. The larger the bit depth, the more accurately each sample represents the true value of the amplitude and the larger the available dynamic range (difference between the loudest and quietest possible sound)

The CD standard is 16 bit, 44.1 kHz, so the amplitude is sampled 44,100 times per second and each sample is 16 bits, so there are 2^16 possible values.

The audio on a standard DVD and DAT is 16 bit, 48 kHz.

Most high resolution audio is usually one of a few combinations of sampling frequency and bit depth

24 bit, 44.1 kHz
24 bit, 48 kHz
24 bit, 88.2 kHs
24 bit, 96 kHz
24 bit, 192 kHz

24/96 is often used for studio masters these days.

SACD uses a technology called pulse density modulation that is beyond my understanding.

How noticeable is the difference, and what is required to notice (high volumes, audiophile equipment, etc.)?

 

[Danny Boy]

The minimum sampling frequency required to represent a signal is twice the maximum frequency of the signal. Since human hearing extends only to 20 kHz and declines with age, 44.1 kHz should be plenty with some headroom. There are plenty of theories as to why higher sampling frequencies should sound better, mostly dealing with the sharp rolloff of digital filters, but it's a controversial area.

24-bit is capable of more dynamic range and detail compared to 16-bit. There should be less distortion in louder passages. Using just my outboard DAC and Audio Technica headphones, I'm pretty sure I can hear the difference. TKOL is an example of albums I own in both formats, and the 24-bit sounds fuller to my ears. I've never actually submitted myself to blind testing, though.

 

[Danny Boy]

I think there are several R.E.M. albums that are available to download this way, not just Green. Also, The Jesus And Mary Chain (now out of print) DualDisc reissues from 2006 have 24/96 audio on them.

Yeah, a lot of R.E.M.'s catalog was available on DVD Audio a few years back. The high res downloads are mostly rips of these DVD-A's. I bought Document in that format, but it was too expensive to replace my whole collection.

 

[u2popmofo]

I'm beginning to doubt your commitment to DVDA.

 

[cobl04]

Fucking nerds!

 

[IWasBored]

Just admit you like 24 bit for the same reason I run dual graphics cards on my computer. Not because my eyes can detect any gameplay difference in the picture, but because I fucking can.

 

[Danny Boy]

I'm beginning to doubt your commitment to DVDA.

It gets expensive. Everything in moderation.

Fucking nerds!

Guilty. Have I mentioned my degree is in electrical engineering?

Just admit you like 24 bit for the same reason I run dual graphics cards on my computer. Not because my eyes can detect any gameplay difference in the picture, but because I fucking can.

I admit nothing.

 

[Danny Boy]

Trouble Will Find Me is available in 24-bit FLAC from 7digital.

Trouble Will Find Me (FLAC Versio... (2013) | The National | MP3 Downloads 7digital United States

 

[Danny Boy]

 

[Danny Boy]

 

[Danny Boy]

I did not realize Big Star was available on SACD.

Big Star-1 RecordRadio City-Hybrid Stereo SACD | Acoustic Sounds

 

[LemonMelon]

It's worth it, particularly for #1 Record, which is an audiophile album for sure. Believe it or not, it was state of the art at the time; their recording studio was stacked.

 

[Danny Boy]

The Smiths Complete - HDtracks

I just bought the CD box set last year, I think. Oh well.

 

[Danny Boy]

DVD-A is dead. Long live High Fidelity Pure Audio.

Spoiler

Honestly, I'm sure the format will be DOA, and it's just a fancy term for Blu-ray audio. I also have no way to rip this, so I can only listen to it in my living room.

 

[Danny Boy]

I just got the Beatles Stereo USB Apple. It contains all 13 studio albums plus Past Masters in 24-bit, 44.1 kHz. Allegedly this is audio straight from the studio masters. I never had upgraded to the remastered CD versions, so I'm glad I held out for this. Haven't actually listened to anything yet. The files are in FLAC and I'm converting them to ALAC so I can play them in iTunes.

The apple itself is much smaller than I was expecting. I thought it would be the size of a small apple, but it's more like a crabapple. Here it is with my R2-D2 USB drive (and a regular USB drive) for scale.

 

[u2popmofo]

Braggart.

 

[Danny Boy]

I knew you would be jealous of my R2-D2.

 

[elevated_u2_fan]

DVD-A is dead. Long live High Fidelity Pure Audio.

Spoiler

Honestly, I'm sure the format will be DOA, and it's just a fancy term for Blu-ray audio. I also have no way to rip this, so I can only listen to it in my living room.

How much are they charging for this, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Danny Boy]

How much are they charging for this, if you don't mind me asking?

MSRP is $30. I think I got it for about $20 online.

 

[Danny Boy]

Look's like R.E.M.'s Chronic Town EP has been re-released in hi-rez with little fanfare or detail. It's available from Acoustic Sounds in 24/96 PCM and DSD (basically SACD in a downloadable file format.)

REM-Chronic Town-FLAC 96kHz24bit Download | Acoustic Sounds
REM-Chronic Town-DSD | Acoustic Sounds

I'm guessing this is the same master they used for the 2010 vinyl release, but they really didn't provide any info. Sounds a little more dynamic to me than the tracks on the Dead Letter Office CD, so I think it must have been remastered.

 

[u2popmofo]

I was just going to listen to the Chronic Town songs off of Dead Letter Office a couple days ago. I didn't though.

What is the point of this story? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

 

[Danny Boy]

The 40th Anniversary Edition of ELP's Brain Salad Surgery is out tomorrow as a 3-disc release. Disc 3 is DVD-A with two high-res stereo mixes and includes high-res FLAC files.

This is a steal for $17.

http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Salad-S...merson+lake+palmer+brain+salad+surgery+deluxe

 

[IWasBored]

Maybe it's a great deal on paper, but it's still Emerson, Lake, and Palmer.

 

[LemonMelon]

I despise ELP and I love prog. I can't imagine how everyone else must feel.

 

[cobl04]

The 40th Anniversary Edition of ELP's Brain Salad Surgery is out tomorrow as a 3-disc release. Disc 3 is DVD-A with two high-res stereo mixes and includes high-res FLAC files.

This is a steal for $17.

Amazon.com: Brain Salad Surgery: Music

you just love acronyms don't you