New DSD downloads from Acoustic Sounds - Superhirez.com

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/...unds-high-resolution-music-downloads/2710783/

 

"Our customers like the warm sound" - what nonsense, why should DSD be "warmer" than any other digital source, and if it is, that's a fault not a feature!

Tim

 

I am assuming from the article that they use a different file format than FLAC

 

For some albums the downloads are available in DSD and several PCM formats

FLAC 44kHz/24bit
FLAC 88kHz/24bit
FLAC 176kHz/24bit
ALAC 44kHz/24bit
ALAC 88kHz/24bit
ALAC 176kHz/24bit

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/93631/Myra_Taylor-My_Night_To_Dream-FLAC_176kHz24bit_Download

 

While I applaud the effort, I am skeptical based on the pricing, selection, seriously niche market that can actually playback DSD via CPUs/DACs, and as @onlyconnect already pointed out, the ridiculous, "...our customers like the warm sound..." quote.

Also:

Compared to the standard CD, the DSD download had richer sound -- and much more warmth than the portable version on my iPod.

 

It's USA Today, not Stereophile. Not really worth analyzing.

The important thing is that DSD masterings are now alternatively made available in DSD, without additional PCM conversion. It will remain a niche product for owners of DSD file playback. Most new recordings and remasterings are made in PCM, and will be released in PCM.

 

Agreed as re: Snider's 'review', but Kassem (founder of Acoustic Sounds) should know better than to say, "our customers like the warm sound".

I hope I don't sound too dissentious...I like lossless/high-res audio and am waiting - desperately - for someone to come along and do it right.

 

can I burn dsd to a cd?
I did read in the article that I can put the dsd files onto a usb and put them on the back of the Oppo

 

I can confirm that. I have been ripping my SACDs (using a PS3 and sacd-ripper) and the Oppo reads them via one of the standard USB inputs (not the asynchronous).

Edit - just looked at the choices, and I'll probably download one of the Holly Cole titles and one or two others.

 

Foobar2000 with the SACD plugin will convert DSD to PCM. Even to MP3

But if you buy music downloads only to burn audio CDs, there is not point in buying (more expensive) hi-rez files in the first place.

 

if they are the ones controlling the mastering process for the finished product, then I can see the extra cost. but if the record label is supplying the same junk as what's on iTunes but in DSD form, someone is making a killing for no reason other than sucker audiophiles will pay for it. $25 for a download? it boggles my mind. Maybe an extra dollar for bandwidth to download a larger file....

 

Most of the titles I saw exist as SACDs. (Some were simply unfamiliar to me, so they may all exist as SACDs.) I think it's pretty reasonable to presume you get the equivalent SQ of the discs. The titles include several of the Nat King Cole recordings done by our host. I suspect they are a pretty safe bet.

 

the point is they are removing the lions share of the cost of production of physical product....yet charging almost the same money.

 

For the Nat Cole album, the DSD download costs 30% less than the SACD ($25 vs $35). I don't think the manufacturing cost is 30% of the SACD price.

 

Does the site (Acoustic Sounds) have an area that just shows the available downloads? I can't find it.

 

Maybe Alison Krauss' SACDs will be available soon for download.

 

http://store.acousticsounds.com/superhirez

 

Here is my prediction:
"Tea for the Tillerman" will sound significant better on DSD download compared to the hybrid SACD

Other albums will also sound a bit better as DSD downloads, everything else equal.

 

I agree - downloads should cost a fraction of the price of physical media.

 

No interest for downloads

 

No, my point was that we are not getting the "same junk as what's on iTunes" (your language from your prior post). We are getting a high rez product. We can get it in a physical form for $30-$35 (maybe less if ImportCDs has it) or we can get it in download form for $25. I take it you would like to see AcousticSounds lower its price some more. Ain't gonna happen. At this point in time, at least, DSD downloads are a smaller niche even than SACDs and the price reflects that.

I should add that for people who do not have the capability to rip SACDs, the physical format is arguably the less secure. As long as I keep backups of my files I can be reasonably assured that I will have the music forever. What happens if a SACD is damaged?

 

Press release

http://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...ounds-Hits-High-Note-Advanced-High-Resolution

 

I love this announcement. Especially if, they open up the catalog by next year.

 

Gadzooks is this horribly misleading (from the press release):

The content can then be easily transferred to virtually any music system and played back via an array of software and hardware options all available directly on the Super HiRez site.

Downloaded DSD can be easily transferred to virtually any music system?!?

 

Can anyone who bites and downloads anything from superhirez.com please advise as to whether/not they come w/artwork, liners, digital booklets, etc.?