Amazing how they have the nerve to sell it for 17.99$.
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/569-and-winner-%85/
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/569-and-winner-%85/
I am done with HDTracks
- Thread starter Sonus
- Start date
I personally don't have a problem with pricing of hirez digital downloads considering royalties. And although I haven't heard this Beck digital download, it appears to be another example of the importance of the (recording) and (mastering) process regardless of the format. So far the only label I've found with consistent SQ is Analogue Productions.
So far I've purchased a two DD/DSD files from Acoustic sounds and they both sounded awesome with the AP Holly Cole: Temptation sounding slightly better than the Premonition Patricia Barber: Cafe Blue). I've purchased five FLAC DD files from HDTracks (Eages: Eagles, Hotel California; Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac, Rumours; Allison Krauss/Robert Plant: Raising Sand). While they all sounded better than the RBCD versions I have, the results were more mixed - I suspect because of the recording and/or mastering.
But it is troubling that ones willingness to pay for good SQ doesn't necessarily equate to good SQ!
So far I've purchased a two DD/DSD files from Acoustic sounds and they both sounded awesome with the AP Holly Cole: Temptation sounding slightly better than the Premonition Patricia Barber: Cafe Blue). I've purchased five FLAC DD files from HDTracks (Eages: Eagles, Hotel California; Fleetwood Mac: Fleetwood Mac, Rumours; Allison Krauss/Robert Plant: Raising Sand). While they all sounded better than the RBCD versions I have, the results were more mixed - I suspect because of the recording and/or mastering.
But it is troubling that ones willingness to pay for good SQ doesn't necessarily equate to good SQ!
If possible, it pays to wait and let someone else take the plunge for lots of stuff. I've found it's fairly safe to get music from labels like ECM, Ref Recordings, Channel Classics, Pentatone, BlueNote,etc., and classical music in general. Otherwise, caveat emptor!
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
What does this have to do with HDtracks? They are a distributor. They have no control over what the content sounds like. Old news... move on.
Maybe I should put all my files through FFT and a DR meter to see how it sounds.... too bad no one can do that.
Maybe I should put all my files through FFT and a DR meter to see how it sounds.... too bad no one can do that.
LOL
They are a brand.
BMW is also a distributor according to your logic, they don't make most of the parts in their cars.
HD tracks, what exactly HD about it? the MP3 version has more dynamic range than the HD version and you are telling me to move on??
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Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Who gives a Rat's A** about dynamic range. I've heard great music with a DR6. Yes, HDtracks is a distributor. Get over it and get a life. You don't like them... don't buy from them. This horse has been beat enough
I do. You should care if you are an audiophile.
So what? it would have sound better if it was above that.
Doesn't look like it.
As I posted earlier, it pays to do some research. HDtracks is a retailer and distributor, not a brand, not a record company. The same files HDtracks sells are sold in other countries by other retailers, where those retailers have the license to sell them and HDtracks doesn't. As far as bearing a dead horse, there are discussion threads on HDtracks on almost every audio-related Internet forum. if you want to criticize, aim it in the right direction, at the record companies.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
No, they are an online store. Sort of like a virtual Tower Records. However, they do have a tiny bit of the record company's ear, and they need to be constantly harping that they need well recorded tracks.
Yeah, I'm going to complain to Amazon that my CDs are coming all brickwalled 
Or my LPs are taken from CDs...
I agree HDTracks is a distributor, but I also think they should, as an influencer, have a more proactive attitude towards the product they sell. Maybe if they adopted kind of an advisory position towards the labels...
It appears the Beck stuff was the label's doing, since I read an interview with Beck himself claiming he didn't even hear some of the mixes that ended up on the street.
I like the attitude of one of UK's hi fi mags (Hi Fi News, perhaps?). They analyse the quality of hi res downloads, both objectively as well as subjectively. But of course, they're a print mag, with only so much space to devote to this endeavour.
I think if somebody out there took this task out of the forums (and out of the Audacity Cowboys' hands), and came up with a website that reviews and analyses hi res downloads, independently, it'd do everybody a huge favour. It'd also help if this website knew the difference between labels and distributors...
alexandre
Or my LPs are taken from CDs...I agree HDTracks is a distributor, but I also think they should, as an influencer, have a more proactive attitude towards the product they sell. Maybe if they adopted kind of an advisory position towards the labels...
It appears the Beck stuff was the label's doing, since I read an interview with Beck himself claiming he didn't even hear some of the mixes that ended up on the street.
I like the attitude of one of UK's hi fi mags (Hi Fi News, perhaps?). They analyse the quality of hi res downloads, both objectively as well as subjectively. But of course, they're a print mag, with only so much space to devote to this endeavour.
I think if somebody out there took this task out of the forums (and out of the Audacity Cowboys' hands), and came up with a website that reviews and analyses hi res downloads, independently, it'd do everybody a huge favour. It'd also help if this website knew the difference between labels and distributors...
alexandre
What if we created a thread here with users contributing their data? I would happily do this but can't go through the expense of buying so much music
.HD tracks like any "online store" that distributes a product, it's garage in garbage out, but maybe asking something in the $9.99 range would have been more appropriate for this download. The artist and the label let this mess happen not HD Tracks.
garylkoh
WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
What if we created a thread here with users contributing their data? I would happily do this but can't go through the expense of buying so much music
Already available......
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=hdtracks
garylkoh
WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
But like any successful store, they can't and shouldn't stock everything. A good retail outlet should have a buyer or buying department to make decisions on products to stock. That decision is either made on quality, or price, or some other criteria, and the store should stick to that. That is why you would shop at Nordstroms and not Walmart (or vice versa).
garylkoh
WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
This is also interesting:
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=acoustic+sounds
As Acoustic Sounds promotes the DSD format, of course the DSD download is more expensive and has better dynamic range. Strangely, the FLAC download is 24/96 - whereas the DSD is converted to 24/88.2.
If any WBF member has the DSD, can you convert it to FLAC (or WAV) and get the official DR?
Foobar component for measuring DR is here: http://dr.loudness-war.info/downloads/foo_dynamic_range_1.1.1.zip
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=acoustic+sounds
As Acoustic Sounds promotes the DSD format, of course the DSD download is more expensive and has better dynamic range. Strangely, the FLAC download is 24/96 - whereas the DSD is converted to 24/88.2.
If any WBF member has the DSD, can you convert it to FLAC (or WAV) and get the official DR?
Foobar component for measuring DR is here: http://dr.loudness-war.info/downloads/foo_dynamic_range_1.1.1.zip
Now all that's missing is the subjective evaluation
I still think a proper review website, like we have for equipment, will work out better than scattered info on forums and DR numbers...
alexandre
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