2. music
  3. 1359598503

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?
128x128dasign
mingles
792 posts
 
Has anyone else noticed HD Tracks high rez to be louder than Redbook? I noticed it with Fleetwood Mac Rumors and verified my hunch with an spl meter. The high rez version is 3 dB louder than cd. There are folks in the forums who swear that ALL high rez versions are significant improvements over Redbook. I wonder if loudness is winning them over.
jp1208
502 posts
 
I have not been able to find a good recording of Santana Abraxas, ever! The HD tracks version may be hi-rez but that might not mean much with this recording.
dollysowner
47 posts
 
HDTracks doesn't remaster anything. They simply post files which they have obtained from the record labels. However, they do stand by their product. They recently posted a 24 bit 176k version of Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, which I purchased. It sounded very different than what I was accustomed to. I was evidently not alone, because HDTracks received a number of complaints, which resulted in their getting a replacement file from the label, and the replacement file made all the difference in the world. Moreover, they offered a 20% discount on my next purchase as compensation for the inconvenience.
chayro
2,934 posts
 
Not speaking about HD Tracks specifically, but with any medium, CD, hi-rez digital, vinyl or tape - the end product delivered to the user will always be dependant on the quality of the original master tape used and the care in converting the master to the product that reaches your hands. At their best, all of the aforementioned formats can deliver wonderful sound, but things aren't always at their best, as you have found out. It's often been said that a system can never be better than its source. This is usually applied to the record player or CD player, but in reality, the quality of the music (record, file, whatever) will determine the quality of the sound.
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,047 posts
 
Dollysowner - I agree that HDTracks does not do their own remastering and they do not simply up convert CDs. The company that provides the files to HDTracks may up convert, but HDTracks does not do it themselves. And, I think we are seeing less and less of that.

What i would like to see is for HDTracks to provide information on each album as to the history of how it was made. Is is the SACD version converted to 88/24? Or was it a remaster and if so, did they go back to the master tapes? Etc. They mostly seem to just take what the record companies give them without suitable explanations. If you buy a new vinyl or a new CD they usually tout the lineage if it was redone. Unfortunately, HDTracks does not typically provide that information. Doing so would make me much more likely to buy, especially on the older albums.
More to discover