Reference Recordings HRx Review

Berkeley Audio Design Associates has a DAC called the Alpha that is HDCD compatible. When I play an HDCD recording such as the HRx files the HDCD indicator illuminates only if I am streaming a bit perfect signal. In fact if I move the iTunes volume slider to anything other than 100% the HDCD indicator goes dark meaning the stream is no longer bit perfect.<br />

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http://www.berkeleyaudiodesign.com/

Chris, <br />

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Thanks for the info. Is your current setup using a Macbook Pro? Which version of Mac OS and iTunes are you using?

Hey Musicalsound - Right now I am using a MacBook Pro but I am always looking at different options. I am thinking about getting a Mac Pro right now.<br />

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I'm always using the most current version of OS X and iTunes.

Is there another way to test for bit perfect files? I often use a Denon DVD-5000 player that is capable of HDCD. It happens to be the unit Savant Audio recommends to be used as a DAC only for their $100K+ systems. Unfortunately it only does 16/44.1 and 24/96 so I would not expect the HDCD light to come on for HRx files at 24/176.4, which I know are bit perfect. I'm not even sure if I should expect the light to come on if I fed it bit perfect 24/96 files through the toslink or coaxial digital inputs. However, the light definitely comes on when I play HDCD discs.<br />

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I am also not sure about the playback quality differences between iTunes, Cog and Play on the Mac. I sometimes feel that each player excels with different tracks, then you throw in different bit/sampling rates and different I/O digital connections I can get so uncertain that I am ready to put it aside for vinyl. In the end I settle for iTunes, which may or may not be the best, but it is the most convenient and capable player, ripper and library manager for digital audio on Macs in my opinion.

Hey audiozorro - Bit perfect is often used to describe two different concepts in the computer audio world. The wording of your post seems to interweave the two, but I have a feeling I know what you're getting at.<br />

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Bit perfect files - An exact digital copy of the original source audio file. If losslessly compressed the track will be exactly the same when uncompressed<br />

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Bit perfect playback - Outputting audio without changing the stream one bit. The word bit is used in the literal sense here. <br />

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When you asked, <i>"Is there another way to test for bit perfect files?"</i> I assume you are talking about bit perfect playback not necessarily the files. Please let me know if this is incorrect. The HDCD method is really the only real world way I know to test for bit perfect playback in an audio system. Those with home theater receivers can check for perfect DTS playback or other audio formats with indicators that illuminate. In your system I am guessing the playback is bit perfect for everything at 24/96 and below as long as you make the appropriate software adjustments on the Mac when switching resolutions. For 16/44.1 the HDCD light should work for sure and I don't really know of any publicly available 24/96 HDCD recordings off the top of my head.<br />

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One of the big topics in the computer audiophile world is the different sound of applications. As long as you're outputting bit perfect streams the applications are a matter of choice. In reality they are always a matter of choice but I like to rule out apps without bit perfect playback in my system. In this next phase of audiophile sound applications will fuel the next Tube v. Solid Sate arguments. iTunes will be the application of the foreseeable future that saves the high-end. Crazy as it sounds! In the not too distant future there is at least one other application in development that may be much better than iTunes. That's all I can say about it for now.<br />

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After hearing the HRx 24/196.4 albums through the Minerva and the Berkeley DAC I am very willing to forget about vinyl as a reference source, but not as a source of great sound and enjoyment.

Thanks for doing your best to read into our minds. Bit perfect playback is exactly what I meant. The HDCD light comes on in my Denon DVD-5000 player whenever I play a HDCD disc from Reference Recordings. But I don't think the HDCD light ever comes on when I play my digital files from my Mac into the Denon and I don't know enough about the Denon circuitry to know if it ever should come on when just using the digital inputs and outputs as opposed to using the cd player. Relying on the HDCD light seems to be a bit too unscientific to me and if by chance you were to hook up your Mac to my Denon and the HDCD light did not come on I would not think that your front end digital had become any less than before.<br />

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I am looking forward to hearing about the application that may be much better than iTunes. I previously stated my uncertainties about the playback quality differences between iTunes, Cog and Play. For instance, do FLAC files played in Cog sound better than AIFF played in iTunes? I also mentioned that my Redbook CDs ripped in Max and played in Cog were 24/44.1 files versus the 16/44.1 files in iTunes. Is this desirable for better sonics? But superior sonics aside, it is hard to imagine an easier application than iTunes except for the lack of FLAC capabilities. That to me is what computer audio is all about - excellent sonics, ease and convenience, and having your entire music library and music database at your immediate disposal and use. Though, I guess for the foreseeable future I will always compare recorded music on digital to vinyl. Linn has provided us to compare their Messiah Studio Master FLAC files with the corresponding vinyl (albeit expensive at $100). I can't wait until Reference Recordings starts releasing vinyl again and I hope they issue their HRx title on vinyl for comparison.

The HDCD light should come on when playing files from your Mac as long as everything is bit perfect. Make sure your iTunes volume is set at 100%. This one got me for the first few minutes I connected an HDCD DAC. I couldn't figure out why the light didn't illuminate. Then the proverbial light went on in my head and I set the volume to max. The people I talk to in the industry whose opinions I respect very much all agree that using the HDCD indicator is a very good way to determine bit perfect playback. bolstering this opinion is that fact that when listening to an HDCD with the light illuminated I can change settings that I know cause the signal to become less than bit perfect. Doing this makes the light go dark every time. then setting everything back to the "correct" settings causes the light to illuminate once again. I think this is a pretty good test although not infallible. <br />

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<i>"..I also mentioned that my Redbook CDs ripped in Max and played in Cog were 24/44.1 files versus the 16/44.1 files in iTunes. Is this desirable for better sonics?"</i><br />

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In my opinion this is not desirable unless you are in the business of selling hard drives. You won't get any real benefit, but if you like the sound then I'm totally cool with that.

In all your comments about the recordings, I read no mention of sound staging or imaging.

Hey robjob - Welcome to Computer Audiophile. Are you asking for an opinion on the sound staging and imaging or are you just reviewing my review? Since it's your first post I'm not familiar with your style yet and can't really tell.<br />

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I highly suggest you pick up a copy of at least one HRx album as sound staging and imaging are so different from system to system. A huge sound stage on my system may be quite closed in on another system.

Hello Chris,<br />

I was thinking of getting a Mac laptop.<br />

Now, how could I connect it to my DAC with an AES/EBU cable?<br />

Is there a way to use the Lynx card you recommend?<br />

Have you tried the Magma PCI/XPress adapter?<br />

Considering the price of the Magma box ($800), it's probably better to buy a MacPro which comes with the necessary slots for the Lynx card. Add a screen or iPod as a RC and I'm OK.<br />

What do you think?<br />

Thanks,<br />

GM

Hi GM - The Magma box is really the only way to get AES out of a laptop. Haven't tried it because it seems a little clunky and could be rather loud with a built-in fan (I believe). You could always get a Weiss Engineering Vesta which converts FireWire to AES/EBU. A little expensive, but a very nice way to go.<br />

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Are you sold on Macs and laptops?

Hello Chris,<br />

Yes, I'd rather use a Mac.<br />

The laptop option is cheaper but not an "open" one.<br />

When you add the price of a Magma Box or worse (pricewise) a Weiss whatever you then start thinking MacPro + iPod.<br />

Now, your last remark seems to indicate that maybe you're changing your mind about PC's (?).<br />

Is that a hint at your soon-to-be-revealed new reference system?;-)<br />

And what about the Almarra etc. option?<br />

Questions, questions!<br />

Thanks,<br />

GM

Hi GM - You may be on to something :-)<br />

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Both PC and Mac are capable of great sound and more options to make each sound better continue to be released.

I would like to know if anybody has an idea how to convert wav into hrx??<br />

i use protools 8 for recording editing and mastering and i am interested in any kind of software that enables me to convert protool formats into HRx if any such software even exists. <br />

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if anybody has experience using the Apogee MiniDAC i would like to know how it works with the HRx (subjectively of cause) <br />

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Bassmann

Hi Bassmann - HRx consists of WAV files at 24/176.4 sample rate. There is no such thing as a conversion to HRx. All HRx releases either started in 24/176.4 digital or came from analog tapes digitized at 24/176.4.

Is a DAC with HDCD decoding, in a addition to being able to convert 24/176.4, necessary to realize the full potential of HRx?

listened to Reveries last night. It's simply amazing. Once you hit the play button, you will not be able to leave the seat until the last track ends. <br />

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Wonderfully beautiful!!<br />

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and the booklet it comes with is great too. Well worth it.

I just bought another set of HRx's with the 20% discount. Awesome.

I just bought another set of HRx's with the 20% discount. Awesome.

How does one get a discount for HRx music? Thanks