HSTracks FLAC VS ALAC

Well, I decided to give Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughn's "In Session" a run from HDTacks.
I already own the album, the CD and DVD combo. I've ripped the CD to my SSD in an ALAC format. It has always sounded okay to me. It does get congested and muddled though.
I was hoping for a cleaner mastering with the HDTracks version. I got the 192/24 download and I'm very happy.
Right off the bat, the mastering is done at a lower volume and appears cleaner. I can right away hear a difference. The instrumental separation is far better and it presents a better soundstage.
I can turn it up and clearly hear the music, where the CD sounded like a muddled mess. the drums, bass, and guitars were clearly separated and had their own place in the soundstage. In the song; "Ask Me No Questions" I can readily hear that the soundstage is FAR more controlled and enjoyable. The diving bass line that is lost on the CD is present and a welcome addition.
"Blues at Sunrise" is one of my all time favorites. It is wonderful on the download. The controlled soundstage really shows its stuff on this track. The dueling guitars shine clear and center. The download shows off Alberts's resonating tone very well, while it also shows off SRV's biting attack.
I have been dipping my toes into downloads and I was VERY hesitant to buy this one. I have read "reviews" that show graphs of it not containing a lot of info beyond CD quality. However, what it does contain is FAR more controlled and better quality.
This download just goes to show, graphs DO NOT show everything in our hobby. I'm borderline angry that I almost skipped this because of BS "reviews" that only show a graph.
I'm slowly going away from physical media at this point. Downloads are just beating physical stuff time and time again...
I already own the album, the CD and DVD combo. I've ripped the CD to my SSD in an ALAC format. It has always sounded okay to me. It does get congested and muddled though.
I was hoping for a cleaner mastering with the HDTracks version. I got the 192/24 download and I'm very happy.
Right off the bat, the mastering is done at a lower volume and appears cleaner. I can right away hear a difference. The instrumental separation is far better and it presents a better soundstage.
I can turn it up and clearly hear the music, where the CD sounded like a muddled mess. the drums, bass, and guitars were clearly separated and had their own place in the soundstage. In the song; "Ask Me No Questions" I can readily hear that the soundstage is FAR more controlled and enjoyable. The diving bass line that is lost on the CD is present and a welcome addition.
"Blues at Sunrise" is one of my all time favorites. It is wonderful on the download. The controlled soundstage really shows its stuff on this track. The dueling guitars shine clear and center. The download shows off Alberts's resonating tone very well, while it also shows off SRV's biting attack.
I have been dipping my toes into downloads and I was VERY hesitant to buy this one. I have read "reviews" that show graphs of it not containing a lot of info beyond CD quality. However, what it does contain is FAR more controlled and better quality.
This download just goes to show, graphs DO NOT show everything in our hobby. I'm borderline angry that I almost skipped this because of BS "reviews" that only show a graph.
I'm slowly going away from physical media at this point. Downloads are just beating physical stuff time and time again...
Living room:
Samsung PN50B860 50" Plasma : XBOX One : Roku Ultra : Oppo UDP-203 : Pioneer Elite SC-87 : APC H15 : Focal 806V mains : Focal 806V Surrounds : SVS SB2000 : SVS SB12-NSD
2Ch:
Sonus Faber Venere S : Rotel RB 1582 MKII : Oppo UDP-205 : Furman Elite 15 DM i : Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with Acryl-It Platter :
Samsung PN50B860 50" Plasma : XBOX One : Roku Ultra : Oppo UDP-203 : Pioneer Elite SC-87 : APC H15 : Focal 806V mains : Focal 806V Surrounds : SVS SB2000 : SVS SB12-NSD
2Ch:
Sonus Faber Venere S : Rotel RB 1582 MKII : Oppo UDP-205 : Furman Elite 15 DM i : Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with Acryl-It Platter :
Comments
First, your title is a bit misleading as this has nothing to do with FLAC vs ALAC. You're comparing a higher resolution version with possibly a different mastering, that's where your sound differences occur. Both formats have the same sound quality and support the same resolutions.
Second, I agree on using charts to judge music. Charts can provide objective information about whether a track is dynamically compressed or not and those can often be used to judge at least specific elements of what a quality recording should be, but nothing can ever fully replace your ears and how you perceive music.
As far as FLAC vs ALAC is concerned, all things equal, I find them to be identical.
Samsung PN50B860 50" Plasma : XBOX One : Roku Ultra : Oppo UDP-203 : Pioneer Elite SC-87 : APC H15 : Focal 806V mains : Focal 806V Surrounds : SVS SB2000 : SVS SB12-NSD
2Ch:
Sonus Faber Venere S : Rotel RB 1582 MKII : Oppo UDP-205 : Furman Elite 15 DM i : Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with Acryl-It Platter :
Vizio P55-E1UHD Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Pioneer Elite N-50 Panamax M5300-EX
Living room 2ch:
Integra ADM 2.1 Teac EQ MKII Squeezebox Touch Fluance SX Speakers Panamax M5100-EX
Upstairs media room:
Vizio D1 32" Pioneer Elite VSX 32 Sony PS4 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio Rti 6's fronts Polk CSR Center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax M5300-EX
Master bedroom:
Vizio VF550M Pioneer Elite VSX 33 Pioneer Elite BDP 80FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio Monitor 40 II fronts, Rears Dayton B652 Polk Audio CS10 center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax 5100
That sure wouldn't be the first time that's happened. I have many cd's that just sound god awful.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Never expect being "High Rez" to make it better. Matter of fact, I said this:
I have a lot of CD's that sound fantastic, and many that sound terrible. I don't expect 192/24 up-sampling to magically fix a crap mastering. I decided to buy this version because I heard that the mastering was different from the CD, plus I'm slowly moving away from physical media...
Samsung PN50B860 50" Plasma : XBOX One : Roku Ultra : Oppo UDP-203 : Pioneer Elite SC-87 : APC H15 : Focal 806V mains : Focal 806V Surrounds : SVS SB2000 : SVS SB12-NSD
2Ch:
Sonus Faber Venere S : Rotel RB 1582 MKII : Oppo UDP-205 : Furman Elite 15 DM i : Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with Acryl-It Platter :
Sony XA-5400ES SACD
Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits.
A bad master sounds bad no matter which version you use.
Vizio P55-E1UHD Pioneer Elite SC-LX502 Pioneer Elite BDP 85FD Pioneer Elite N-50 Panamax M5300-EX
Living room 2ch:
Integra ADM 2.1 Teac EQ MKII Squeezebox Touch Fluance SX Speakers Panamax M5100-EX
Upstairs media room:
Vizio D1 32" Pioneer Elite VSX 32 Sony PS4 Squeezebox Touch Polkaudio Rti 6's fronts Polk CSR Center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax M5300-EX
Master bedroom:
Vizio VF550M Pioneer Elite VSX 33 Pioneer Elite BDP 80FD Squeezebox Touch Polk audio Monitor 40 II fronts, Rears Dayton B652 Polk Audio CS10 center Polkaudio PSW 10 sub Panamax 5100
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
Great idea. I'm usually looking up the reviews of different masterings before I buy older recorded CD's now. It does take time.
Ethernet Filter: GigaFOILv4 with Keces P3 LPS
Source: Roon via ethernet to DAC interface
DAC: Bricasti M1SE
Pre/Pro: Marantz AV8805
Tube Preamp Buffer: Tortuga TPB.V1
Amp1: Nord One NC1200DM Signature, Amp2: W4S MC-5, AMP3: W4S MMC-7
Front: Salk SoundScape 8's, Center: Salk SoundScape C7
Surround: Polk FXIA6, Surround Back: Polk RTIA9, Atmos: Polk 70-RT
Subs: 2 - Rythmik F25's
IC & Speaker Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, Signal Cable
Power Cables: Acoustic Zen, Wireworld, PS Audio
Room Treatments: GIK Acoustics
SRS 2.3TL (Fully Modded)...Velodyne Optimum 8 subwoofer
1KVA Dreadnought
Marantz SA 8005
Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable - Shure SC35C/N35X - V15III/VN35HE
Yamaha TX-540 Tuner...Sony BDP-S570
Sony PS4
Separate subpanel with four dedicated 20 amp circuits.
1. Amplification 2. Analog 3. Digital 4. Video
"All THAT IS LOST FROM THE SOURCE IS LOST FOREVER"
I would use it. Would be very helpful.
Legacy Focus SE, 2 REL Carbon Limited, McIntosh C50, McIntosh MC601's, VPI Prime w/SoundSmith Zephyr MIMC, Parasound Halo JC3, Denon DP-59l w/Ortofon 2m Bronze, Marantz SA-14s1, Oppo BDP-105, Technics RS-1500, Furman Elite 15PFi, Douglas Connection (Furutech) Alpha Interconnects, Douglas Connection (Furutech) Alpha Speaker Cables, Pangea Power Cables
Now if you wanted to start a Cannoli thread, I'm your guy.
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's
I posted this link in the music section of this forum but nobody seems interested.
It does address dynamic range compression and can help in selecting a quality master.
You can click on the release in question to get song by song details.
Check it out.
Comments?
http://dr.loudness-war.info/
SRS 2.3TL (Fully Modded)...Velodyne Optimum 8 subwoofer
1KVA Dreadnought
Marantz SA 8005
Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable - Shure SC35C/N35X - V15III/VN35HE
Yamaha TX-540 Tuner...Sony BDP-S570
Sony PS4
Separate subpanel with four dedicated 20 amp circuits.
1. Amplification 2. Analog 3. Digital 4. Video
"All THAT IS LOST FROM THE SOURCE IS LOST FOREVER"