HDTracks News (part 7)

I'm hoping so much that the Sleater-Kinney catalog is 24/96. I have all the vinyl but it'd be nice to have some hi-rez transfers too. I might check out the Hawkwind and Willie. The Big Star is likely an SACD transfer, if it is I'll pass as I already have it and it's not that great. If it's confirmed to be a new transfer then I might give it a go. I've never really liked any digital copy of those compared to the original vinyl they are very thin.

 

The Big Star is newly remastered. There is a thread on it.

 

I am trying to understand how a hi res of anything by Black Oak Arkansas would be a benefit. Don't get me wrong.....I have most all of their albums and really like their music. I just don't see how hi res would improve it. I'm curious to hear reviews from anyone who buys it.

The Hawkwind Space Ritual sounds interesting. Again, interested in hearing how it sounds.

 

Hi res of anything originally recorded and mastered in analog will benefit from hi res no matter how poor the production or recording. Hi res preserves many of the analog attributes better than 16/44.1 does.

 

Agreed.

 

Anyone download the Big Star hi-res?

 

It looks like they are new versions of the INXS albums on HDtracks. Does anybody have them that can compare to the old versions?

 

If anyone has DR information on Sleater-Kinney please do share. Excited about a 24/96 release but cautious due to the word "remaster".

Edit: Just checked the DR database for the original digital releases. Holy dynamic compression! Hopefully the new remasters will not be squashed like that!

 

Tom Petty's "The Last DJ" and "She's The One" are up....if anyone has purchased them, please share your impressions/DR info if possible.

 

Sleater Kinney have a vinyl collection coming out and it states : The albums were remastered by Sterling Sound's Greg Calbi from the original analog tapes.

I assume thats where the HD tracks files come from.

 

Yes, they sound excellent. Listen to the samples; they are representative.

I downloaded One Beat, and it doesn't sound squashed to me. In fact, it sounds more natural and detailed than I remember my original vinyl release sounding. You can hear individual hits on Janet Weiss' ride cymbal.

 

I'd love to see DR info on Sleater-Kinney's The Woods if anyone has downloaded it. Thanks.

 

The Woods doesn't say 'remastered' like the other SK releases do but it was remastered for the vinyl set so I'm hoping it's just a labeling issue

 

The new ones are all 24/44, too, with the old 24/96 (and 24/192) versions of the albums they had at those resolutions gone.

 

Comparing it to my 1992 Stax/Ardent CD, it is slightly better. A touch clearer, particularly in the low end. I was hoping for a greater improvement. Perhaps there isn't much more that can be done with the original source. Once again I am telling myself not to get hung up on small details; just enjoy the music.

 

I'm pretty certain these are the Rhino remasters. There was a problem with one track on the original Underneath The Colours release. They never fixed it, but gave me a link to the track from the new HD Tracks release of the album. It was clearly from a different master, as it was about 40% louder than the first HD Tracks release.

 

It appears both titles have been removed for some reason.

 

HDTracks Germany has hirez ELO:
http://www.hdtracks.de/electric-light-orchestra
What are the chances of this getting to HDTracks US?

 

Big Star LP is USD18 on HDTracks. The 2fer SACD (including Radio City) is AUD19.50, including postage, from ImportCD. The download doesn't appear to be competitively priced, unless someone can tell me that its way better than the SACD. Can anyone do a comparison? I've been looking at the SACD for a while, and it seems that I won't get a better price.

 

So... I am reading this right? The INXS albums have been replaced on HDtracks with lower rez and louder versions?

 

Probably slim as it was a UK release, might of been taken from this-
http://www.discogs.com/Electric-Light-Orchestra-The-Electric-Light-Orchestra/release/3520404

 

Seems like it. I don't know if all the albums are that way, but Underneath The Colours certainly is. The self-titled debut, Shabooh Shoobah and The Swing were all previously available in 96/24 and I think in 192/24 as well. But now they are just 44.1/24.

 

Listen Like Thieves was also previously available in 96/24 and 192/24. I have the 192/24 and it mirrors the dynamics and volume of the original CD pressings (i.e. not loud or compressed).

There was also previously a 44/24 version of Kick, which has also disappeared. Not sure if it was the same mastering as currently available in the 'Collection'.

 

Tom Petty's first album (at 24/44.1) has now been removed from listing by hdtracks. And they were the only ones who had it. I wonder why it went.

 

I suspect it could be due to the launch of the Pono store next month. It has been announced the Tom Petty signature edition Pono player (which was only available for order via kickstarter several months ago) will ship with a 24/96 version of 'Wildflowers' as well as 'Hypnotic Eye' in 24/48. As Mr. Petty is on board with Pono, hopefully well see his catalog in 24/96 or 24/192 on the Pono store.