24/96 Yes

steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,538
edited March 2012 in Music & Movies
Downloaded Yes Fragile last night from HDTracks, 24/96 flac, outstanding. $17.98. Never heard this much detail from this album--well worth the coin.
Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
Post edited by steveinaz on
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,649
    edited March 2012
    I have the DVD-Audio and it sounds pretty darn good. Do you know how it compares to that?
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,649
    edited March 2012
    Oh Boy I just hit the 1000 post mark woo hoo:lol:
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2012
    I don't know bud, haven't heard the DVDA. I do know it would be hard to imagine it being much better. I've had this album on practically every format from 8-track tape to CD, and it's never sounded this good.

    My next "grab" will be Paul McCartney Band on the Run. My CD version sounds like poo-poo. They have both versions on HDTracks, the "compressed" version and the "uncompressed." Why anybody would want limited dynamic range, I have no idea.

    I'm trying to replace all my mediocre sounding CD's first; then I'll move on to grabbing the classics on 24/96.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,649
    edited March 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I don't know bud, haven't heard the DVDA. I do know it would be hard to imagine it being much better. I've had this album on practically every format from 8-track tape to CD, and it's never sounded this good.
    My next "grab" will be Paul McCartney Band on the Run. My CD version sounds like poo-poo.

    I too had yes on CD it was just OK... DVD-A 1000% better I also almost bought Band on the run on DVDa for 9.99. OH MAN I messed up on that one. Only heard the song on the radio as a young kid 1975-1976 maybe, anyway just about 6 months later that DVD-A was well over a 100.00 as a OOP....Should of spent that 10 bucks...
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2012
    You should definately get the MFSL Gold CD Fragile and MFSL Gold CD The YES Album. The mastering itself is better than the 24/96 in both cases although it may not be in 24/96 in either case, the MFSL masters sound better IMO. I own the DVD-Audio of Fragile and have heard it in 24/96. The MFSL IMO sounds more analog and has more resolution than the 24/96 DVD-Audio. You won't be dissapointed with these CD's, IMO.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited March 2012
    That's a funny statement.

    The remastered Redbook has more resolution than the hi-rez 24/96 version. This is why it ALL comes down to mastering and not always high rez as default. It's impossible to make general statements about a format because of the murkiness of the waters.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2012
    heiney9 wrote: »
    That's a funny statement.

    The remastered Redbook has more resolution than the hi-rez 24/96 version. This is why it ALL comes down to mastering and not always high rez as default. It's impossible to make general statements about a format because of the murkiness of the waters.

    H9

    That's a good point Brock. Maybe I should have worded it "Sounds more resolute". I can hear more detail from the MFSL mastered CD than the DVD-Audio 24/96. From a technical sense the 24/96 master would have to have more resolution, but it does not sound as resolute as the MFSL, IMO.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2012
    When comparing the 24/96 flac download to the CD, you can tell that it was most definitely remastered for 24/96 version--now, as I said before I haven't heard the DVDA version--so I can't draw any conclusions there. What I DO know, is the 24/96 flac version is completely satisfying, and the best mastering of this album I've ever heard.

    I'm fairly confident the MFSL Gold CD (if it is better) is gonna be hell-and-gone in cost from the $17.98 24/96 flac download. Having champagne taste, and beer money; I like my horse.

    The purpose of this thread was to inform people who may have been looking at that download on HDTracks and wondering if it might be worth it--to let them know I feel that it is a worthy investment. HDtracks has had some "issues" with quality from time to time.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited March 2012
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I'm fairly confident the MFSL Gold CD (if it is better) is gonna be hell-and-gone in cost from the $17.98 24/96 flac download. Having champagne taste, and beer money; I like my horse.

    It's a $2.49 difference for a new MFSL disc.

    http://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Omr-Yes/dp/B000J10HO4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331743009&sr=8-1

    Steve, my purpose of responding was to not "bash" Flacs, 24/96 downloads. It was to offer the best sounding YES music possible, IMO of course. I appologize if you felt I was trying to derail the thread. That was not my intent.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited March 2012
    No problem, I didn't mean to come off like a dick or anything. I DO apprecaite the heads up on the CD's. My apology Greg if it came off that way.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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