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Is HDtracks really selling you Hi-Rez music?

I just purchased Santana Abraxas in 176KHz 24 bit resolution from HDTracks that has just been released this week. It was uploaded in AIFF format.

I purchased the 1998 remastered CD which I uploaded in AIFF format in ITunes for comparison and what a disappointment the HDTracks download was. I could not hear any difference between the 2 versions. Seems that the original master tape was not of great quality to start with. I had the same experience with Beach House 'Bloom' hi-rez download for which I previously purchased the CD version as well.

On the other hand I downloaded great hi-Rez albums from HDTracks which were like having the original master under hand. A good example is Kenny Burrell's 'Midnigth Blue' hi-Rez download that just kills the remastered CD version.

It would be great if HDTracks would publish purchaser's review of their downloads like Amazon.com. This would avoid audiophiles paying top dollars for poor quality downloads. I am really annoyed and feel I was screwed by HDTracks! Any similar experiments?
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mrmitch
359 posts
 
JP2108, As Rlwainwright commented on, the Super Bit remastered CD of Abraxas is excellent. Don't know if you play vinyl, but if you do avoid spending the buckos for the Mobile Fidelity remaster, it was a huge disappoint, a lot of compression, squashed dynamics, poor bass. Most of the Mobile Fidelity LP's I have are great but this one.......not so much.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
They sell hi res formats for sure, which means that the format is capable of hi res. The actual resolution of the actual content will almost certainly vary. Just like not all CDs or even LPs are equally detailed. You'll pay a premium nonetheless, so be cautious. ALso, hi res files that are not fully realized add a lot of processing overhead that may also be a negative depending on how well your gear is able to handle that. So you can see that hi res files have potential but are not a panacea yet these days. Someday, maybe....
myredeemer
8 posts
 
My early experience w/HDT was the old Carly Simon standard Your so Vain. My early understanding was "here is a better copy" .. and for those that had the album know it totally over saturates at the high point of the song. My error in ASS U ME-ing! I now own a "totally same" bad recording now in a hi-def file.

Upon bringing to HDT attention they did credit me (after some berating), adding "your file has been notated, dont ask again" (my paraph)

Fast forward, now after 4-5 hundred of dollars in down loads I sense the frustration many have espoused in earlier posts, I cant make a good buying decision because of lack of good info on HDT part.

I am totally dissatisfied w/my latest Sheffield Drum/Track record download .. it is 2-3 orders of magnitude SUBstandard (dynamics/slam, heft of bass, presence) to the Sheffield Lab CD. I was hoping to have a convenient way to carry it along for demo's .. NOT worth the $$ from HDT
orgillian197
119 posts
 

The MFSL SACD version of Abraxas is the best I've heard.

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