HD Music Is Going Mainstream - Slowly, But It's Getting There

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  • David Meek
    Moderator Emeritus
    • Aug 2000
    • 8938

    HD Music Is Going Mainstream - Slowly, But It's Getting There

    I've been a member of HD Tracks since I purchased my Olive Opus music server. At first there were just a couple of albums that interested me, and over the past couple of years there have been the occasional offering that I downloaded. Now, that lack of popular titles seems to be changing with the introduction of several artists and catalogs. My little collection is starting to grow:

    Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughn - In Session
    Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Raising Sand
    Chesky Records - Ultimate Demonstration Disc, Vol. II
    Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
    Elton John & Leon Russell - The Union
    Eric Clapton - Slowhand
    George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Move It On Over
    Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run
    Peter Framton - Frampton Comes Alive
    Rush - Moving Pictures
    Steely Dan - Gaucho
    Stevie Vai - Where The Wild Things Are
    The Who - Tommy Soundtrack
    Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Damn The Torpedos

    Plus, there have been recent big name additions: The Rolling Stones have around a dozen early albums available, along with The Kinks, The Smithereens, etc. There are loads of classical, blues, jazz, you name it. If you haven't tried high-def you are shorting yourself on an amazing experience. Clarity, tonality, extension, background silence, imaging, everything you can think of is a major improvement over even good import-quality CDs. I'll still buy the occasional CD, but with music like this starting to appear, I'm focusing on it.

    The lowest quality of the available HD music is SACD-level with the majority being 96kHz/24bit taken directly from the masters. There is even some 192kHz/24bit content but it's only 2-3 titles (haven't tried it).

    Full disclosure: I'm not affiliated with HD Tracks in any way other than as a highly satisfied customer.
    .

    David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin
  • Kevin P
    Member
    • Aug 2000
    • 10809

    #2
    Cool. :T Some of those titles are favorites of mine too. I might have to check them out, though lately it seems I listen in the car and on my iPod more than on anything "audiophile", so MP3 suits me fine for the most part. I should start ripping my CDs in lossless though.

    Comment

    • Chris D
      Moderator Emeritus
      • Dec 2000
      • 16877

      #3
      Ditto. Haven't downloaded HD music, but I'm interested, and do like some of that music.
      CHRIS

      Well, we're safe for now. Thank goodness we're in a bowling alley.
      - Pleasantville

      Comment

      • David Meek
        Moderator Emeritus
        • Aug 2000
        • 8938

        #4
        Chalk up another "classic" album. Just downloaded The Moody Blues' Days Of Future Passed.

        As my kids say (I think): WOOT! :banana:
        .

        David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin

        Comment

        • stuofsci02
          Super Senior Member
          • Nov 2009
          • 1241

          #5
          Yes.. HD Music is awesome.. If you haven't looked at Linn records it is worth having a look. Not as much mainstream stuff, but excellent recordings non the less.

          I have also found that if I burn this stuff to DVD-A then I can play it on my Oppo-83SE without converting it to 16-bit 44. I also use my SB Touch through my DAC as well..
          Main System:
          B&W 801D
          Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
          Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
          Oppo BDP-105
          Squeezebox Touch


          Second System:
          B&W CM7
          Emotiva UMC-1
          Emotiva UPA-2
          Oppo BDP-83SE
          Grant Fidelity DAC-09

          Comment

          • David Meek
            Moderator Emeritus
            • Aug 2000
            • 8938

            #6
            Just an update about the ever-expanding catalog. I just picked up four more "classics":

            The Doobie Brothers - The Captain And Me
            Eagles - Hotel California
            Deep Purple - Machine Head
            Chicago - II
            .

            David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin

            Comment

            • Ovation
              Super Senior Member
              • Sep 2004
              • 2202

              #7
              Sadly, the service is not available in Canada (at least it wasn't when I last checked). But enjoy.

              Comment

              • David Meek
                Moderator Emeritus
                • Aug 2000
                • 8938

                #8
                Paul, that's ridiculous. What possible reason do they have to stop your purchase of downloadable music just because you are further north than we are?
                .

                David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin

                Comment

                • David Meek
                  Moderator Emeritus
                  • Aug 2000
                  • 8938

                  #9
                  Just checked the site FAQs and they don't sell to anyone outside the US. Bogus. Bogus. Bogus. :stupid:
                  .

                  David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin

                  Comment

                  • mjb
                    Super Senior Member
                    • Mar 2005
                    • 1483

                    #10
                    Originally posted by David Meek
                    Just checked the site FAQs and they don't sell to anyone outside the US. Bogus. Bogus. Bogus. :stupid:
                    I think you'll find this is unfortunately a common problem, certainly between the US and Europe. Record companies need to work this out. At least we don't have "regional coding" on physical music CD's preventing them form being enjoyed in another continent.
                    - Mike

                    Main System:
                    B&W 802D, HTM2D, SCMS
                    Classé SSP-800, CA-2200, CA-5100

                    Comment

                    • stuofsci02
                      Super Senior Member
                      • Nov 2009
                      • 1241

                      #11
                      Yep... I have been wanting to purchase Steely Dan Gaucho in HD from HD tracks, but no go...
                      Main System:
                      B&W 801D
                      Emotiva USP-1 Pre-Amp
                      Chord SPM-650 Stereo Amp
                      Oppo BDP-105
                      Squeezebox Touch


                      Second System:
                      B&W CM7
                      Emotiva UMC-1
                      Emotiva UPA-2
                      Oppo BDP-83SE
                      Grant Fidelity DAC-09

                      Comment

                      • Ovation
                        Super Senior Member
                        • Sep 2004
                        • 2202

                        #12
                        Originally posted by David Meek
                        Paul, that's ridiculous. What possible reason do they have to stop your purchase of downloadable music just because you are further north than we are?
                        Music is not always on the same label in each country. It is the same kind of licensing issue that makes our Netflix streaming selections much more limited than in the US.

                        Thankfully, I secured Gaucho on DVD-A for a very reasonable price some time back. As for "HD" music online in Canada, I'm not holding my breath. Would be nice if the rumour that iTunes will be offering Apple Lossless versions of its music would actually come true. Until then, it's CD to ripping in Apple Lossless, for the most part.

                        Comment

                        • Hdale85
                          Moderator Emeritus
                          • Jan 2006
                          • 16075

                          #13
                          Also generally downloadable content laws are quite different in different countries.

                          Comment

                          • David Meek
                            Moderator Emeritus
                            • Aug 2000
                            • 8938

                            #14
                            I hope the restrictions get resolved soon so that you can all enjoy this quality of music. More and more titles are showing up. I added:

                            Derek & The Dominoes - Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
                            Foreigner - 4
                            .

                            David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin

                            Comment

                            • David Meek
                              Moderator Emeritus
                              • Aug 2000
                              • 8938

                              #15
                              One of my all-time favorites just made it to High Def:

                              Yes - Fragile

                              Buwahahahaha! It's mine. It's all mine. :B Now it's just a matter of time until The Yes Album, Close To The Edge, Yessongs and 90125 get here!
                              .

                              David - Trigger-happy HTGuide Admin

                              Comment

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