I want better than CD quality sound

[Trollslayer]

At the moment I have CDs ripped to FLAC and would like something better that I can store on my NAS and play from my PC to AV receiver.
Could I do this with DVD-A? SACD seems to have so much copy protection that noone has anything that wil let me rip discs (my own of course).
Thanks.

 

[overkill]

You can rip (your own) DVD-A using a number of tools. If you then create Flac files and use Foobar to play them back there is no issue with watermarking.

You will have to search the web for these tools as I doubt AVforums would be too happy with links being posted, whether it's for your use on your own discs or not.

You can rip SACD - easily. Sony (ironic huh?) provided both the Firmware and the ability to do it for Playstation 3. It can be done only on certain models though, as Sony (wonder why?) removed SACD playback from later PS3's.

 

[windhoek]

There are way to get hi-res music onto your PC.

1) Buy music from websites such as HDtracks.com as they offer hi-res downloads.
2) Use software to rip hi-res DVD content.
3) Use a HDMI Audio De-Embedder such as this one to back up hi-res (24/96 LPCM) stereo content from your SACDs. You can also do this with an SACD compatible PS3 if it's running firmware version 3.55 or less.

There was some discussion about the HDMI Audio De-Embedder in this thread and another member found a similar device for a lot less which achieved similar results.

 

[Trollslayer]

Thanks guys, this gives me a lot to think about.
HDtracks.com only seems to do rock in 44kh/16 bit so that is out.

 

[windhoek]

Thanks guys, this gives me a lot to think about.
HDtracks.com only seems to do rock in 44kh/16 bit so that is out.

The Rolling Stones titles are available as hi-res downloads. I suppose this is only of interest if you like The Stones (I do), but at least it shows that there are hi-res downloads available.

 

[windhoek]

I had another look on their website and you can list all their hi-res downlaods together for easier viewing.

https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=9624albums&search_key=all&genre=

 

[overkill]

The only problem with HDtracks is the source. Was it hi-res, being the first one? Going on the albums appearing on there that don't have a hi-res format, and that HDtracks have no masters to work from, you need to be careful. Add to that, some more tech savvy people than I, have found HDtracks have used upsampled files from 16/44 which sort of defeats the object.

The owner of the site is has stated he is vetting much more carefully now, but I doubt his team can vet all the files with a fine toothcomb.

Just a thought.

 

[windhoek]

The only problem with HDtracks is the source. Was it hi-res, being the first one? Going on the albums appearing on there that don't have a hi-res format, and that HDtracks have no masters to work from, you need to be careful. Add to that, some more tech savvy people than I, have found HDtracks have used upsampled files from 16/44 which sort of defeats the object.

The owner of the site is has stated he is vetting much more carefully now, but I doubt his team can vet all the files with a fine toothcomb.

Just a thought.

That's not good. I've never bought a hi-res download and after what you say, am not likely to.

 

[overkill]

The best way to buy hi-res downloads is from the artists themselves or sites like burning shed where they work directly with the artists.

A lot of acts now provide Flac (24bit) on their websites.

It's a bit of a trawl but worth it when you get them!

 

[RickDastardly]

The best way to buy hi-res downloads is from the artists themselves or sites like burning shed where they work directly with the artists.

A lot of acts now provide Flac (24bit) on their websites.

It's a bit of a trawl but worth it when you get them!

Yep - great way to get high res is via the artists themselves. I know Paul McCartney and Kate Bush have high res downloads available on their websites. It's also worth checking out bandcamp as some artists offer 24 bit downloads there.

HDTracks don't have a huge selection if you are in the UK. There is a German site called Highresaudio which has started doing a lot of the labels that aren't available on HDTracks if you're a UK resident. It's still worth searching for reviews to see if the High res versions are worth it though.

While I have a few high res downloads, the albums I have that sound the best are those that have been well produced and have no dynamic range compression (most of the albums that fit this bracket I only have in 16/44.1 ALAC/AIFF.

 

[overkill]

Yep - great way to get high res is via the artists themselves. I know Paul McCartney and Kate Bush have high res downloads available on their websites. It's also worth checking out bandcamp as some artists offer 24 bit downloads there.

HDTracks don't have a huge selection if you are in the UK. There is a German site called Highresaudio which has started doing a lot of the labels that aren't available on HDTracks if you're a UK resident. It's still worth searching for reviews to see if the High res versions are worth it though.

While I have a few high res downloads, the albums I have that sound the best are those that have been well produced and have no dynamic range compression (most of the albums that fit this bracket I only have in 24/44.1 ALAC/AIFF.

Roy Harper and Porcupine Tree to name a few others also do hi-res downloads.

That is why I am back to vinyl and hi-res downloads. Very few albums aren't victims of the loudness war on CD, in fact that vast majority since 1994 are. The exceptions also tend to be jazz and classical rather than mainstream.

The latest VH album for example, is listenable on vinyl, but a total mess on CD.

It's no wonder artists like Rush are saying the album format is dying.......

...and with downloads (low-res) recently overtaking Albums as the number one sales, it's looking like the prediction so scorned by certain people is coming true.

 

[windhoek]

Paul McCartney and Kate Bush have high res downloads available on their websites.

I never knew that and would love to hear their music in hi-res, cheers

 

[overkill]

I never knew that and would love to hear their music in hi-res, cheers

Kate Yes, Macca, no.

 

[windhoek]

Kate Yes, Macca, no.

Boo McCartney! (That's boo as in disapproval, not boo as in I want to scare him.)

 

[RickDastardly]

RAM is excellent. Get the "unlimited" version, which I believe means that it has not had dynamic range compression applied. There are a lot of positive feelings about Kate Bush 50 words for snow, but I haven't heard it yet. It doesn't feel right to download it while the weather is good

 

[RickDastardly]

Roy Harper and Porcupine Tree to name a few others also do hi-res downloads.

That is why I am back to vinyl and hi-res downloads. Very few albums aren't victims of the loudness war on CD, in fact that vast majority since 1994 are. The exceptions also tend to be jazz and classical rather than mainstream.

The latest VH album for example, is listenable on vinyl, but a total mess on CD.

It's no wonder artists like Rush are saying the album format is dying.......

...and with downloads (low-res) recently overtaking Albums as the number one sales, it's looking like the prediction so scorned by certain people is coming true.

Thanks. Will need to checkout Roy Harper's site.

P.S. I had actually meant to type 16/44.1 and not 24/44.1. There are still one or two great sounding CDs out there, but you are correct, there are many many victims of the loudness war.

 

[RickDastardly]

At the moment I have CDs ripped to FLAC and would like something better that I can store on my NAS and play from my PC to AV receiver.
Could I do this with DVD-A? SACD seems to have so much copy protection that noone has anything that wil let me rip discs (my own of course).
Thanks.

Another thing to think about (if you haven't already done so) is to use a standalone DAC and then feed the output into your AV amp. This is what I did, and it has had a massive impact on the sound quality. There is no need to spend tons of money either.

 

[expat]

The only problem with HDtracks is the source. Was it hi-res, being the first one? Going on the albums appearing on there that don't have a hi-res format, and that HDtracks have no masters to work from, you need to be careful. Add to that, some more tech savvy people than I, have found HDtracks have used upsampled files from 16/44 which sort of defeats the object.

The owner of the site is has stated he is vetting much more carefully now, but I doubt his team can vet all the files with a fine toothcomb.

Just a thought.

HDTracks says the following regarding their Blue Note jazz releases:

These recordings represent some of music’s greatest albums, digitally remastered for the first time in 192kHz/24bit and 96kHz/24bit from their original analog multi-track masters.

Are you implying that such claims are unreliable?

 

[Duncan G]

Thanks. Will need to checkout Roy Harper's site.

Catch Roy at the 2012 Cambridge folk festival showing on sky arts this Friday and over the weekend.

Sky Arts HD - Sky Arts HD

Re vinyl sound v CD, some audio geeks explain;

HowStuffWorks "Is the sound on vinyl records better than on CDs or DVDs?"

Myths (Vinyl) - Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase

 

[overkill]

HDTracks says the following regarding their Blue Note jazz releases:

Are you implying that such claims are unreliable?

I couldn't say. Go away and read for yourself.

HDtracks files have been compared with exactly the same source material in disc version and found to: a) have a lower DR value, which is impossible if they are taken from the same source, and b) that they have used upsampled files.

So yes, they have been incorrect in what they state about the files. That doesn't mean every file is not what it seems, and, as I stated, they have said they are checking files more closely now.

Why say that if they haven't been incorrectly labelling files in the past?

 

[overkill]

Catch Roy at the 2012 Cambridge folk festival showing on sky arts this Friday and over the weekend.

Sky Arts HD - Sky Arts HD

Re vinyl sound v CD, some audio geeks explain;

HowStuffWorks "Is the sound on vinyl records better than on CDs or DVDs?"

Myths (Vinyl) - Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase

Waste of time. Hydoregena have been shown that they know nothing anyone, including members on here, doesn't know. Worse, they make claims derided by some very high profile audio industry figures.

Beside we are not talking about which is better, we are talking preference, in this case caused by the loudness wars.

Interesting quote from how it works, as that is exactly the problem with Digital recording and one that will never go away. The best we can hope for is that with high resolution filters the waveform can be better reconstructed with less Digital 'noise' distorting the final output.

Interestingly, a leading High end CD player manufacturer state that they feel you will never get a sonic match from Digital to Analogue.

 

[expat]

So yes, they have been incorrect in what they state about the files. That doesn't mean every file is not what it seems, and, as I stated, they have said they are checking files more closely now.

Why say that if they haven't been incorrectly labelling files in the past?

Thanks, Overkill. I have been quite happy with some of the music I have bought from HDTracks (e.g. Change of the Century by Ornette Coleman), but I don't know if I will continue to purchase music there for the following reasons:

1. Not convinced the improvement in sound quality -- to my ears on my equipment -- over CD release is sufficient to warrant increased price.

2. Lack of portability with downloaded files -- I can only listen to them in my living room!

 

[Trollslayer]

Another thing to think about (if you haven't already done so) is to use a standalone DAC and then feed the output into your AV amp. This is what I did, and it has had a massive impact on the sound quality. There is no need to spend tons of money either.

Was this with analogue or SPDIF from the PC?
I can understand analogue from a PC being poor.
Thanks.

 

[overkill]

Thanks, Overkill. I have been quite happy with some of the music I have bought from HDTracks (e.g. Change of the Century by Ornette Coleman), but I don't know if I will continue to purchase music there for the following reasons:

1. Not convinced the improvement in sound quality -- to my ears on my equipment -- over CD release is sufficient to warrant increased price.

2. Lack of portability with downloaded files -- I can only listen to them in my living room!

The only thing I would say, is if the HDtracks version is an original in high resolution it 'might' be a better choice due to lack of compression.

However, if Jazz is one of your main choices of music, and classical another, then those are genres that suffer the least from Compression. Many Jazz CD's have a DR through the roof! As such why bother with HD tracks?

 

[overkill]

Was this with analogue or SPDIF from the PC?
I can understand analogue from a PC being poor.
Thanks.

You can use USB, as many DAC's are now made to work between PC and Hifi now.