It is interesting how we perceive sound quality in different ways.

I love the track You're My Everything - Miles Davis Quintet/Relaxin, album downloaded from HD Tracks at the modest price of $20 in 24/96. It was remastered by Rudy himself in 2005.

The song opens with studio chatter between Miles and Rudy Van Gelder, literally transporting the listener into the studio, witnessing Miles Davis in his prime. Poor Rudy only had a couple of microphones. The 2 horn blowers Miles/Coltrane shares one, and the piano and the rhythm section sharing the rest.
Of course there is lack of bass and treble. It is recorded in 1956, after all. But when I listen to “historical” recordings like this, I tend to filter out the anomalies. The muted trumpet is remarkable present and “in the room”, even more than on some modern recordings.

It was just an example of splendid preservation of a 55 year old 2-track mono recording.

It can probably be found here somewhere, 2nd hand as low as $5.-.

But according to Rudy Van Gelder, buying the original CD is a waste of time. Contrary to your believe, he disapproves about the first generation CD from this particular session, due to bad sound. You can read the interesting interview here: in-conversation-with-rudy-van-gelder

BTW: I brought the 24/96 download to a friend. (You know who). He has €50,000,- vinyl rig. The 24/96 was much better than his 180g audiophile reissue. The vinyl was muted and dull in comparison. Then he pulled out a second copy. -A very old pressing. Apart from lots of scratches and surface noise, it sounded much better than the reissue, and more or less equal to the download (through a Buffalo II). Through my NOS1 the 24/96 probably sounds even better than the old vinyl pressing.

Never say never! You should try ELP/Brain Salad Surgery, then. The last track #9 Lucky Man on the 24/96 DVD-A. It was originally recorded in 1970, included here as a bonus track. Sounds fresh like a daisy, 41 years later. 

Oh, I have experienced lot’s of bad hi-rez albums. After purchasing hundreds I have paid dearly for it. But in spite of some stinkers, I am very fond of the good ones. And I applaud the increasing number of new hi-rez titles arriving every month. Old and new music. This market is certainly growing.

This discussion is all Déjà vu. Let’s put the hi-rez controversy in perspective, and paraphrase the topic of this thread:

"DO WE NEED STEREO?"

-Many listeners were dissatisfied with the first generation of stereo recordings in the 60s.
The first records sounded very annoying, with the vocals pan potted to the extreme left and the instruments to the extreme right channel.

Listeners felt that the established technology (mono) sounded better.
Even the musicians preferred mono. The Beatles recorded all albums in mono up until Abbey Road in 1969. (Stereo mixes was an afterthought, post-produced in the studio, mainly for the US marked).     

Because the recording industry hadn’t adopted the new technology, the first examples of the art were not so successful. At least not for pop/rock. (Early jazz/classical fared better).

--------------

There is nothing “wrong” with hi-rez, technology wise.
What’s wrong is the implementation of the technology.

But it will improve. Hi-rez is the future!


PS: Peter, did you listen to the Miles Davis track #2 from 1956? It's in glorious mono! 

Hmmm, seems we are viewing hi-rez from different angles. I am stating the obvious; The original SQ of a mastertape is better preserved in 24/192 than in 16/44. For this reason I want consumers to support hi-rez formats, so the music industry will be encouraged to increase their hi-rez output. Although there are some stinkers, I think the hi-rez catalogue will improve both in quality and choice of titles. Sooner or later you will get a flat hi-rez transfer of the NHOP mastertapes too.

I guess the ratio between hi-rez titles and CD is 1:10000. Of course, right now it’s easier to handpick super sounding CDs, simply because there are so many to choose from. And if, additionally, you want to keep modern hi-rez recordings out of the picture, then the “match terms” becomes rather unfair.

All in all, I do applaud the arrival and growth of hi-rez music


Really? All of the old stuff sucks? -I dont think so.
The oldest hi-rez album I have is probably the 24/96 version of Miles Davis - Relaxin With The Miles Davis Q. Track 2: You're My Everything. It's a recording from 1956.

You have it too, I think. Give it a listen and tell me if it sucks 

Doing this in a scien'tistic way, I think there are 2 ways:

1. I have some CDs from Chesky Records which I also later bought as hi-rez downloads. I have compared them in the past, and they sound very similar, except for the tiny hi-rez difference (smoothness). I will double check this to see if we truly compare "apples with apples". Stay tuned.

2. The second solution is much easier: Take any well recorded hi-rez album in 24/192 and convert it to 16/44 with a suitable software. (This is what they do in the masterstudio anyway). Then listen and compare.

PS: Peter - I am surprised that you dont recognize the benefit of 24Bit recording and reply, opposed to 16Bit. 

Yes, unfortunately there are some stinkers among the hi-rez titles. But we shouldn't focus too much on the bad ones. With time, HD Tracks and the rest of the music industry will improve their hi-rez quality. The major artists will join too.

But don't forget that major artists like Bruce Springsteens mix and master their albums monitoring through a ghettoblaster.    Transfering these rubbish mastertapes to hi-rez doesnt make much sense...

Yes, of course we do.
When done right, hi-rez simply sounds (slightly) better.

BTW: Thanks to the ARC Prediction function, the combination of XX/NOS1 allmost closes the gap between CD and higher sampling frequencies, when it comes to natural treble.
With my previous Buffalo II DAC I heard a "clearly better" treble when comparing CD and hi-rez download of same master.
-Repeating the same comparison with my NOS1 USB, they are very, very close.

But hi-rez is not only a matter of ultra sonic freqencies.
The 24bit resolution provides better accuracy for all frequencies. The sound is more "fluid" and "analog". There is a certain "naturalness" with (good) 24/192 that makes even the best CDs sound slightly "reproduced". There is a "16bit signature" to the sound.

It's a common misconception that more bits means more dynamic range only. -That the 16bit resolution is good enough for all signals within the the 96dB range of red book CD.

My guess is that whats going on below -96dB is the least interesting benefit of increased bit depth. -The improved accuracy within the 96dB window is more important. What I hear as a kind of smoother rendering of micro dynamics. You hear it on acoustic bass too.

Bob James Trio/Straight Up.
Today I had a first encounter with The Bob James Trio. There are probably more jazz trio recordings than chess moves, but never the less this format never stops to satisfy my music appetite. There is something “magic” going on when talented jazz musicians succeed with their interplay, and this album is a gem. Straight Up is timeless, modern jazz at its best. To be played again and again.

Pinao: Bob James
Bass: Christian McBride
Drums: Brian Blade

Recorded in 1996, the sound is stellar. -A transparent “alive in studio” recording, with very realistic treble. -Lots of “real” attack and energy on the cymbals.  

The Dynamic Range is pretty good: DR13

Highly recommended! (Well, probably you already own it. I am maybe the last one to discover it…)

Thanks, juanpmar! 

One of the most useful comments I've seen lately, regarding the numerous settings in XX!

-I have to admit that I have lost track of how all the settings work, and which one to choose. Although I have been around here for some years and I own the NOS1 USB, the whole XX concept has become somewhat overwhelming. Work, wife and kids fill up the calender. During the week, my quality time in front of the stereo is limited to only a few hours. I prefer to use those scarce moments listening to music, rather than testing out, rebooting and A-B'ing the same track for an hour. I wish there was an updated "quick setup guide" for XX. Maybe it cannot be done. Perhaps not, due to the variety of PCs in use.


PS: Although Peter is living by a lake, it would take a miracle for this message in a bottle to reach him. But I am a patient man. I have time to wait. 

Played my Miles Davis KOB SACD iso rip tonight, converted from DSD to 24/176PCM, and it played fine at x2 upsampling.

Better skip the phono amp and do the RIAA digitally, I guess.
I would like to know if there is a recording software with a build in RIAA filter option. Anybody knows?`
-Then I could use the line input of my RME 400 soundcard (which also does the AD conversion).

Something else which I have been wondering about: Is iteasier to do A/D conversion, than D/A conversion? -I think so, because you can skip the linestage.

I have the same problem! It happens when trying to play SACD PS3 rips converted to WAV 24/176.4 by Foobar plug-in.
In the past I did not have this problem with my Rolling Stones 24/176.4 Flac files purchased from HDTracks.

Spikes (usually made of metal) is a double edged sword.
Often you get a cleaner, tighter bas and a more "rythmic" feel to the music. On the flip side of the coin you get a hardness and a coloration in the midrange. (Try piano, vocal music or massed strings to hear the negative effects).
-The explaination is because spikes doesnt remove any vibrations, they only move them up in frequency...

Something soft or springy is theoretically better, providing a 1st order low-pass filter. With the "optimum" softness, the cut of frequency will be very low.

Here is a seller of such rubber feet tailored for Hi-Fi equipment: SONIC DESIGN link: http://www.sonicdesign.se/sdfeet.html

I use TeamViewer. Its free and works during Minimize OS.
Remote Desktop sometimes takes up a lot of resources, especially if the connection is poor.

I have TeamViewer as an app for Android. Controling all my PCs at home/work.

I would like to purchase a remote solution too.

A solution working with Android OS would be better from my perspective. (But if it will be only iPad I'll join anyway).

But the Hi-Fi democrat in me says "no hurry". Let the others get their NOS1 USB first.