I've been a fan of Van Halen since purchasing the cassette of 1984 as a nine year old budding audiophile. The album cover depicting a child with cigarettes was quite controversial back in the day. Soon after immersing myself in all the treasures on the 1984 album I purchased the previous five studio albums completing my collection of Van Halen cassettes. When the Compact Disc versions of the first six albums were released I purchased each one. As a Sophomore in high school I heard Pearl Jam and Nirvana for the first time and my taste in music immediately changed. I subsequently sold all my Van Halen CDs, with the exception of 1984, at the local used record shop. It's hard to believe I collected about a dollar for each of the first five Van Halen CDs, and walked out the door satisfied. The time had finally come to replenish my Van Halen music collection when I noticed HDtracks offering Van Halen's first six studio albums in high resolution at both 24 bit / 96 kHz 
and 24 bit / 192 kHz . I opted for the 24/192 download, containing 8 GB of FLAC files. Thirteen minutes later I had all sixty tracks on my desktop. I started listening to the albums in order of release, Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women And Children First, etc. Soon after the first click of the mouse I was hooked on high resolution Van Halen. The first six albums sound as good or better than any Van Halen release in recent memory. In fact I've had the entire Studio Album collection on repeat for several hours. Maybe I'll watch Fast Times At Ridgemont High tonight so I can see Mike Damone sell Van Halen tickets to two kids for a "sixteen" dollar profit.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Van Halen Studio Albums 1978-1984 24 bit / 192 kHz
I downloaded the Van Halen Studio Albums 1978-1984 from HDtracks at 24 bit / 192 kHz ($109.98). A 24/96 version is available for $79.98. As I said in the opening paragraph the sound of these albums is fantastic. You Really Got Me and Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love both sound great. Eddie's guitar, Alex's drum & cymbal work, and Michael's bass all have great separation from each other throughout the entire two tracks. On disc 2 Van Halen II, I can't get over how great Spanish Fly sounds with its dynamic range score of 15. I only wish the track was 10:02 rather than 1:02. On Disc 3 Women And Children First the first two tracks sound better than ever. The long drum and guitar intro to Everybody Wants Some is worthy of some serious high volume. Disc 4 Fair Warning sounds good, but according to the measurement tools something is amiss with the album. I encourage readers to listen to the album first before making any judgement. The dynamic range values for all the tracks are very good. My favorites on this album Mean Street and Unchained both sound good. I can't definitively conclude this version of the album has been upsampled, but the frequency analysis appears to show upsampling from 44.1 to 192 kHz. On Disc 5 Diver Down tracks five through nine may be the best five tracks in a row on the entire collection. They all sound terrific. Eddie's guitars, electric and acoustic, sound as good as I've ever heard. Finishing up the Studio Album download is 1984. The album is full of hits and the all sound great. Many tech savvy readers will be surprised to see information near 30 kHz in the spectrum analysis for a few tracks. Nobody can hear this information, but it's a sign this is definitely a high resolution download.
The downloaded files all contain embedded metadata also known as tags. All the albums are tagged correctly and the album art is embedded into each file. Some readers may dislike that the albums are tagged as Studio Albums 1978-1984 Disc 1, Studio Albums 1978-1984 Disc 2, Studio Albums 1978-1984 Disc 3, etc… rather than Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women And Children First, etc. However, the downloaded collection is labeled correctly. Each track has the Disc Number metadata tag entered properly. This enables users to sort by disc number. After importing the entire collection into JRiver Media Center I didn't have to change or add any metadata.
Dynamic Range, Frequency, and Bit Depth Analysis
All files were checked for true 24 bit content using Prof. Scott's 16 v. 24 bit checking tool. The results of this check are displayed HERE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Van Halen/Studio Albums 1978-1984/Disc 01 Van Halen
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 -0.83 dB -15.82 dB 01-Runnin' With The Devil.wav
DR12 -1.31 dB -16.16 dB 02-Eruption.wav
DR11 -1.90 dB -15.55 dB 03-You Really Got Me.wav
DR13 -1.80 dB -16.28 dB 04-Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love.wav
DR12 -2.09 dB -16.14 dB 05-I'm The One.wav
DR12 -2.59 dB -17.30 dB 06-Jamie's Cryin'.wav
DR12 -2.70 dB -16.81 dB 07-Atomic Punk.wav
DR12 -3.41 dB -17.42 dB 08-Feel Your Love Tonight.wav
DR13 -2.78 dB -17.59 dB 09-Little Dreamer.wav
DR13 -2.66 dB -18.54 dB 10-Ice Cream Man.wav
DR14 -1.32 dB -17.25 dB 11-On Fire.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of files: 11
Official DR value: DR12
================================================== ==
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5010[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5000[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5001[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5002[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5003[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5004[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5005[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5006[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5007[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5008[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5009[/ATTACH]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Van Halen/Studio Albums 1978-1984/Disc 02 Van Halen II
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 -0.86 dB -16.45 dB 01-You're No Good.wav
DR11 -1.46 dB -15.78 dB 02-Dance The Night Away.wav
DR12 -0.80 dB -15.72 dB 03-Somebody Get Me A Doctor.wav
DR12 -1.46 dB -16.10 dB 04-Bottoms Up!.wav
DR13 -1.48 dB -16.11 dB 05-Outta Love Again.wav
DR12 -1.29 dB -15.57 dB 06-Light Up The Sky.wav
DR15 -1.41 dB -20.95 dB 07-Spanish Fly.wav
DR12 -1.64 dB -16.24 dB 08-D.O.A..wav
DR13 -0.93 dB -16.28 dB 09-Women In Love....wav
DR12 -0.63 dB -15.53 dB 10-Beautiful Girls.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of files: 10
Official DR value: DR12
================================================== ==
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5011[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5012[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5013[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5014[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5015[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5016[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5017[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5018[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5019[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5020[/ATTACH]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Van Halen/Studio Albums 1978-1984/Disc 03 Women And Children First
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR13 -0.54 dB -16.80 dB 01-And The Cradle Will Rock....wav
DR13 -2.19 dB -17.15 dB 02-Everybody Wants Some!!.wav
DR12 -2.28 dB -17.29 dB 03-Fools.wav
DR12 -2.85 dB -17.81 dB 04-Romeo Delight.wav
DR13 -1.94 dB -18.72 dB 05-Tora! Tora!.wav
DR13 -2.28 dB -17.13 dB 06-Loss Of Control.wav
DR14 -1.84 dB -17.26 dB 07-Take Your Whiskey Home.wav
DR13 -5.38 dB -20.99 dB 08-Could This Be Magic.wav
DR13 -2.76 dB -18.38 dB 09-In A Simple Rhyme.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of files: 9
Official DR value: DR13
================================================== ==
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5021[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5022[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5023[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5024[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5025[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5026[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5027[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5028[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5029[/ATTACH]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Van Halen/Studio Albums 1978-1984/Disc 04 Fair Warning
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 -1.97 dB -16.78 dB 01-Mean Street.wav
DR12 -1.46 dB -15.54 dB 02-Dirty Movies.wav
DR12 -0.98 dB -14.76 dB 03-Sinner's Swing!.wav
DR12 -1.50 dB -15.33 dB 04-Hear About It Later.wav
DR12 -2.01 dB -15.80 dB 05-Unchained.wav
DR13 -1.49 dB -16.64 dB 06-Push Comes To Shove.wav
DR12 -0.35 dB -14.44 dB 07-So This Is Love.wav
DR13 -2.01 dB -16.35 dB 08-Sunday Afternoon In The Park.wav
DR12 -2.16 dB -15.32 dB 09-One Foot Out The Door.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of files: 9
Official DR value: DR12
================================================== ==
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5030[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5031[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5032[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5033[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5034[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5035[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5036[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5037[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5038[/ATTACH]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Van Halen/Studio Albums 1978-1984/Disc 05 Diver Down
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 -1.96 dB -15.95 dB 01-Where Have All The Good Times Gone!.wav
DR11 -1.32 dB -14.46 dB 02-Hang 'em High.wav
DR9 -5.00 dB -19.19 dB 03-Cathedral.wav
DR13 -1.72 dB -16.82 dB 04-Secrets.wav
DR12 -0.45 dB -14.94 dB 05-Intruder.wav
DR11 -1.43 dB -14.08 dB 06-(Oh) Pretty Woman.wav
DR13 -0.89 dB -15.42 dB 07-Dancing In The Street.wav
DR12 -5.29 dB -20.80 dB 08-Little Guitars (Intro).wav
DR12 -2.02 dB -15.58 dB 09-Little Guitars.wav
DR12 -2.54 dB -16.86 dB 10-Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now).wav
DR12 -1.53 dB -15.82 dB 11-The Full Bug.wav
DR11 -3.70 dB -18.43 dB 12-Happy Trails.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of files: 12
Official DR value: DR12
================================================== ==
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5049[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5050[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5039[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5040[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5041[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5042[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5043[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5044[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5045[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5046[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5047[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5048[/ATTACH]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed folder: /Van Halen/Studio Albums 1978-1984/Disc 06 1984
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR Peak RMS Filename
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR12 -3.34 dB -18.89 dB 01-1984.wav
DR12 -1.60 dB -15.74 dB 02-Jump.wav
DR12 -1.51 dB -15.39 dB 03-Panama.wav
DR13 -1.31 dB -16.07 dB 04-Top Jimmy.wav
DR12 -1.08 dB -15.03 dB 05-Drop Dead Legs.wav
DR13 -1.00 dB -15.92 dB 06-Hot For Teacher.wav
DR13 -0.70 dB -16.01 dB 07-I'll Wait.wav
DR12 -0.67 dB -15.47 dB 08-Girl Gone Bad.wav
DR11 -0.36 dB -13.82 dB 09-House Of Pain.wav
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of files: 9
Official DR value: DR12
================================================== ==
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5051[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5052[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5053[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5054[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5055[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5056[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5057[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5058[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5059[/ATTACH]
Recommended Comments