Hi-Res Download News (HDTracks, ProStudioMasters, Pono, etc.) & Software/Mastering Part 12**

Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady\Before We Were Them

I got this today. Sound is really fantastic.
Analyzed Folder: I:\Music\Jorma Kaukonen & Jack Casady\Before We Were Them\Before We Were Them_dr.txt
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR14 -0.20 dB -16.85 dB 01 - Rock Me Baby.flac
DR16 -0.54 dB -18.81 dB 02 - Turnaround.flac
DR16 -0.20 dB -17.91 dB 03 - Star Track.flac
DR16 -0.20 dB -18.55 dB 04 - Through The Golden Gate.flac
DR15 -0.45 dB -18.43 dB 05 - Come Back Baby.flac
DR17 -0.21 dB -19.19 dB 06 - Through The Grove.flac
DR14 -0.44 dB -16.47 dB 07 - Inspiration In The Hall Of Arrivals.flac
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Number of Files: 7
Official DR Value: DR15

 

THIS WEEK on HDtracks...


Linda Ronstadt - Live In Hollywood
Joyce DiDonato - Songplay
Shirley Horn Trio - Softly
Dead & Company - 2 albums


plus much much more...

 

I think the Dead & Co stuff is cheaper through Dead.net

 

Anybody determine if this is the same as or different from the version that was available for several years before the 2017 release?

 

It makes me nostalgic that for this near-dead thread (does anybody BUY hi-res anymore?) the first thing that catches your eye on the front page when we hit the never-ending part 12 is:

So what's good in the Pono store this weekend?

 

Not so frequently, but yes. Nonetheless, I sympathize with you.

 

I notice many new releases are now less expensive at Qobuz than at HDTracks, even with the HDTracks new release discount. And way cheaper if you subscribe to their streaming service.

 

I still miss the selection that Pono offered.

 

Any active HD Tracks coupons for general (not new) titles? I want to pick up the 2017 Billy Idol titles.

 

Thinking about picking up Book of Dreams and Serious Moonlight tonight. Anybody give them a listen? Would love any thoughts you might have.

 

I'm curious about Book of Dreams as well. No numbers on DR Database yet.

 

As I was deleting the e-mail, I noticed that Camel - Mirage is available on ProStudioMasters as a 24/44.1 release. The samples sound a bit loud however, at least to my ears (based on the listening volume I use for Spotify).

 

I'll upload this to the database shortly.

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Analyzed Folder: D:\Downloads\Camel - Mirage\Camel\Mirage\Mirage_dr.txt
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR12 -2.02 dB -15.36 dB Camel - 01. Freefall.flac
DR11 -2.38 dB -16.53 dB Camel - 02. Supertwister.flac
DR10 -2.18 dB -15.13 dB Camel - 03. Nimrodel _ The Procession _ The White Rider.flac
DR10 -1.94 dB -13.55 dB Camel - 04. Earthrise.flac
DR11 -1.99 dB -14.28 dB Camel - 05. Lady Fantasy_ Encounter _ Smiles for You _ .flac
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Number of Files: 5
Official DR Value: DR11

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Oh, that's great then. Going to buy it as soon as I get home. Cheers!

 

I think many people these days actively don't want the physical thing clogging up their bookshelves etc, and would rather just have the files without having to bother ripping them. They are happy to pay extra not to have the CD.

Profit margins on CDs must be tiny now compared to a download.

 

Thanks for this. Looks good. How's the eq? I personally found the original CD to be too bright and the remaster to have a better eq, although it does have some digital compression. Hopefully this is the best of both worlds.

 

This is actually the first time I've listened to the album, so I don't have any other release to compare it to. I've been looking for a time to get Camel's early albums. It sounds good on my crappy earbuds that they let me wear at work. . I'll put it on my stereo tonight, but I anticipate it will also sound good there.

 

Yes but I've been Sublime(+) since the start and hardly ever used this facility since +. Now I might as well go what is called "Studio" I believe...

 

It's on Qobuz too

 

I got the Hi-Res download from Qobuz out of curiosity, and while it is good, I don't think it is fantastic.

Compared with my original vinyl, the bass isn't as deep, the dense passages are a bit congested (although no limiting is visible, I would think compression has been employed), and the tonality is a bit skewed towards bright.
Plus the 44.1kHz sample rate doesn't help the preciseness of the soundstage or the lack of air around the instruments.
For the low price (7,45€) it is okay, but I have heard this album sound better on vinyl -I don't have any of the CDs to compare it to though, so it might well be better than either the original CD or the remaster.

 

Does anyone know how the 24 / 192 release of Fleetwood Mac’s “Then Play On” sounds?

 

Pretty amazing to my ears. If I’m not mistaken it is the same mastering that was used for the CD re-issue a few years ago only it’s the Hi-Rez capture.

 

Thanks for the review.

 

Thank you! I have the 2013 CD re-issue... I’ve been debating purchasing the MQA release of “Then Play On” and “Future Games” since they are both on sale at ProStudioMasters.

 

I'm interested to get the new Gary Clark jr album in 24/96 from prostudiomasters but am put off by the technical details:

96 kHz / 24-bit PCM – Warner Bros. Studio Masters

Tracks 1-17 – 48 kHz / 24-bit PCM, mastered in 96 kHz / 24-bit

Does this mean it's upsampled?