Article: Complimentary 24/176.4 HRx Downloads Courtesy of Reference Recordings

[JimC]

We have been running a similar series via Twitter, offering up free 24-bit tracks from our catalogue to directly compare these with CD quality files and MP3s. <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Free-Linn-Records-24-bit-Studio-Master-Downloads">See my post here</a> about it.<br />

<br />

Good stuff CA!<br />

<br />

Jim - Linn Records<br />

<br />

<br />

[chrille]

Thanks for your you free sample too.<br />

But it didn´t really tell me that much.<br />

IMHO boring, repetetive Jazz without any DYNAMICS ATT ALL!<br />

Whats the dynamic range of that sample 20 DB?? <br />

Just medium loud all the way through!!!<br />

<br />

Muzak, the kind of stuff they play in bars and at shopping malls!<br />

<br />

<br />

Of course it sounds clearer than low rez. <br />

<br />

But please next time deliver some of your <br />

large scale symphonic music please!!<br />

<br />

I have some of your classical SACDs and it would be interesting to see how your downloadable masterfiles compare to your physical SACDs!

[JimC]

Hi Chrille,<br />

<br />

Well, there are lots of Jazz fans out there (me included) and this is one incredible jazz drummer. There is a vast gulf between this and Muzak!<br />

<br />

Personally I think it really does have some great dynamics, and the 24-bit recording really gets the driving power of the horns and crack of the drums across beautifully. 24-bit is only about dynamics, but a great sense of space too - something that's great to hear in a live band like this.<br />

<br />

But don't worry, as I mentioned in my <a href="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Free-Linn-Records-24-bit-Studio-Master-Downloads">original post</a> we will be catering for the classical aficionados too; next up in the series is a 24/192kHz classical recording!<br />

<br />

And if it's classcal + dynamics you are after - just wait until you hear the next set of Mozart recordings from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Sir Charles Mackerras. I was fortunate enough to be filming the sessions, and spent a few hours in the control room - incredible!<br />

<br />

Jim

[poop]

Chrille you're serious?!<br />

<br />

Guess our ears are different... oh wait, they are I'm hearing it very differently from you, but at least you saved yourself some $ I guess!

[poop]

Are you sure commenting in this thread so as to link people to your competitive offering is entirely ethical? Yeah sure, you made a few comments, but as your third post in the forum it sorta comes across as an excuse to grab a punter or two... I'm sure I'm reading you all wrong...

[JimC]

Hi Poo,<br />

<br />

Well it wasn't intended as that! If any of the moderators agree, the please do take these posts down... not my intention at all.<br />

<br />

We are really quite pleased that other labels are coming on-board with 24-bit music after championing it for a few years now. When people hear the difference (with appropriate hardware of course) we think it will benefit the format as a whole.<br />

<br />

And it seemed an appropriate thread to post in, as it's more 24-bit music for people to go and try out of free - legitimately. <br />

<br />

Incidentally, we are not offering this through our website, pushing people to 'give us their details', or sign up to our mailing list to download these track; It's all done through SoundCloud.com so anyone across the web can test out the format.<br />

<br />

But again, if anyone is from CA or Reference Recordings is unhappy, please do take down my posts!<br />

<br />

Jim - Linn Records

[chrille]

Well, I only downloaded the first one of the two samples from LINN and the sound quality is fine yes, but I find the music uninteresting and I definitely stand by my claim that there is no real dynamic range to speak of in that sample .<br />

<br />

Just a Jazzband blaring away quite loud and once in a while a little bit louder than loud.<br />

<br />

I don´t have a meter, but would guess there is a dynamic range of 20-30 DB or so on that track!<br />

<br />

I know LINN is capable of recording dynamic range .<br />

<br />

I have some of their classical releases on SACD.<br />

<br />

But that free sample is really flat and uninteresting in that respect too .<br />

<br />

Not really a very good choice to demonstrate the benefits of HI REZ IMO.<br />

<br />

The Reference Recordings samples on the other hand, THE TCHAIKOVSKY ONE, is a very good example of what a symphony orchestra actually sounds like in a real hall,when it has not been dumbed down to general CD or MP3 standard.<br />

<br />

It will probably not sound very good on Joe Sixpack´s boombox.<br />

Or via computer speakers.<br />

<br />

But then again, I don´t think it was really intended too, unlike most other commercial dynamically limited crap released on standard CDs or MP3.<br />

<br />

But since you all already know I am a self-confessed elitist not only when it comes to sound quality.<br />

<br />

I am also one in my choice of music, and while I am at it:<br />

<br />

When I listen to music I do that ,and only that, nothing else! <br />

<br />

I really wish Reference Recordings would release more real music !<br />

<br />

Not only warhorses and HI FI spectaculars, Military Marches and other really lighweight stuff.<br />

<br />

I want music that is really worhty of my full attention!<br />

<br />

They have a very good recording engineer in Keith o Johnsson but their musical choices leave something to be desired all too often.<br />

<br />

I have some, but very few HDCDs of really interesting world class quality music .<br />

<br />

Janacek with Mackerras and the Istomin Mozart plus the Bernstein Dances disc,<br />

are the ones I can think of that are of any real musical quality from Reference Recordings in my book,<br />

<br />

Good sound on its own in more or less total isolation ,is of little or no interest to me.<br />

<br />

I am not a HI FI NERD, I am a MUSIC-LOVER.<br />

<br />

I need a combination of both good music and excellent sound quality in order to spend my dollars!<br />

<br />

In that respect it seems that LINN has a LOT more to offer than Reference Recordings so far!<br />

<br />

But let me finish by saying that both LINN´s downloads and Reference Recordings HRx discs are ridiculously overpriced!<br />

<br />

To take just one example.<br />

I bought the SACD set ,two SACDs, of Mozart symphonies on LINN for 11. Pounds 32 pence!<br />

<br />

But downloading the same material would cost more than twice as much!!!<br />

Why, why why ????<br />

<br />

On the other hand, I downloaded all these samples in seconds!<br />

<br />

I am on a 100mbps broadband connection.<br />

<br />

If I could download the Reference Recordings Tchaikovsky and maybe a couple more of theirs, at a decent price! I would buy some.<br />

<br />

But as things stand, I am not going to have a physical disc for 45 bucks!sent from the USA all the way to Sweden just to be able to listen to music on my computer!<br />

<br />

In other words, with today´s broadband connections there is NO EXCUSE at all for selling only ridiculously expensive HRx discs when the material could be downloaded fast by many!<br />

Both I and many others can download 4-5 gigabyte in a few minutes!<br />

<br />

My advice to both these two and other companies starting out in the HI REZ download market is :If you really mean to and seriously are expecting to get some real business from this, for God´s sake price your stuff at non rip off prices!<br />

<br />

The only time I have actually tried to buy downloads so far, was from HD Tracks where prices are not quite so rip off ridiculous!<br />

But since I live in Sweden I can´t do that!<br />

Brave New World!<br />

<br />

All the best chrille<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

[poop]

I think I misunderstood you and thought you were talking about the Reference Recordings samples when you said "let me hear music with some dynamics next time!". I personally have not heard the Linn offerings so am not in a position to comment. Sorry for my mistake, It seems we both agree that the RR samples sound pretty impressive!

[Blu]

I think Linn downloads are priced around the same price as an SACD, but they don't have the cost of pressing, they don't have the cost of storage, they don't have the cost of shipping discs around the world and their is not the cost of a retailers 100% markup.<br />

<br />

So I cannot see why they are priced so high, they are twice as expensive as they should be. Just check out HD Tracks which has some of the best recordings made by Reference Recordings available at 24/96 for US$15.98 a CD's worth of download, which is half the price Linn Records is charging.<br />

<br />

I won't be buying any of Linn Records downloads, until they start charging a reasonable price.

[Marcia at Reference Recordings]

Hi Everyone,<br />

Glad to see the discussions and thanks to Chris at Computeraudiophile.com for putting these RR samples up! None of this is supposed to be a contest. We like Linn and their material very much and we encourage everyone to try the high res content available from all sources. Linn is a pioneer, as we are too. Keep working on your computer music setups (a lot of the time sonic problems are caused by errors in your playback system) , keep an open mind, and keep the comments coming! <br />

BTW, elsewhere some people commented on downloads- there really are roadblocks to RR offering downloads internationally (which is why HDtracks isn't doing it either)... <br />

Marcia at Reference Recordings

[got tinnitus]

Thanks Marcia for the samples!<br />

<br />

I'm downloading a track now but with my connection it's going to take almost 2 hours. Grrrr.<br />

No 'cable' in my area....<br />

<br />

Can't wait to hear the result, however.<br />

<br />

James<br />

[chrille]

Hello there Chris,<br />

Sorry to disturb you with a stupid question again.<br />

<br />

After the pleasant surprise of the these downloads I also tried paying for and downloading from 2L which worked VERY WELL very fast and very good music Mirror Canon super music piano Beethoven´last piano sonata among others in superb sound!!!<br />

I had no problems whatsoever downloading or playing my purchase.<br />

<br />

But when trying the same with the BSO this morning it was like entering HELL nothing worked as expected !!!!!<br />

<br />

Very confusing and simply beyond me! obviously!<br />

It is supposed to work internationally but ,I simply can´t make it work or find my music which some strange appelet says it has downloaded on my screen???<br />

But where and how do I find it and play it in itunes?<br />

What I thought I had downloaded was Brahms´s Requiem but it is nowhere to be found .<br />

And what´s more my computer hanged got jammed and I had to force exit !!!Very frustrating to say the least!<br />

<br />

When I finally was about to jump aboard wholeheartedly I end up with the most frustrating download experience ever!!!<br />

<br />

Can you help me ?<br />

chrille completetely lost and frustrated now

[chrille]

Hello there Chris,<br />

Sorry to disturb you with a stupid question again.<br />

<br />

After the pleasant surprise of the these downloads I also tried paying for and downloading from 2L which worked VERY WELL very fast and very good music Mirror Canon super music piano Beethoven´last piano sonata among others in superb sound!!!<br />

I had no problems whatsoever downloading or playing my purchase.<br />

<br />

But when trying the same with the BSO this morning it was like entering HELL nothing worked as expected !!!!!<br />

<br />

Very confusing and simply beyond me! obviously!<br />

It is supposed to work internationally but ,I simply can´t make it work or find my music which some strange appelet says it has downloaded on my screen???<br />

But where and how do I find it and play it in itunes?<br />

What I thought I had downloaded was Brahms´s Requiem but it is nowhere to be found .<br />

And what´s more my computer hanged got jammed and I had to force exit !!!Very frustrating to say the least!<br />

<br />

When I finally was about to jump aboard wholeheartedly I end up with the most frustrating download experience ever!!!<br />

<br />

Can you help me ?<br />

chrille completetely lost and frustrated now

[chrille]

Hello there Chris,<br />

Sorry to disturb you with a stupid question again.<br />

<br />

After the pleasant surprise of the these downloads I also tried paying for and downloading from 2L which worked VERY WELL very fast and very good music Mirror Canon super music piano Beethoven´last piano sonata among others in superb sound!!!<br />

I had no problems whatsoever downloading or playing my purchase.<br />

<br />

But when trying the same with the BSO this morning it was like entering HELL nothing worked as expected !!!!!<br />

<br />

Very confusing and simply beyond me! obviously!<br />

It is supposed to work internationally but ,I simply can´t make it work or find my music which some strange appelet says it has downloaded on my screen???<br />

But where and how do I find it and play it in itunes?<br />

What I thought I had downloaded was Brahms´s Requiem but it is nowhere to be found .<br />

And what´s more my computer hanged got jammed and I had to force exit !!!Very frustrating to say the least!<br />

<br />

When I finally was about to jump aboard wholeheartedly I end up with the most frustrating download experience ever!!!<br />

<br />

Can you help me ?<br />

chrille completetely lost and frustrated now

[chrille]

Sorry !<br />

I think all I showed in my frustration was my own stupidity here.<br />

<br />

It turned out that I could find and play the files simply by opening i Tunes and loading the files there from where they where hiding!<br />

<br />

But it was still a bit frustrating that my computer jammed and I had to force exit from the appelet!<br />

<br />

I don´t know what happend there?<br />

<br />

And if you wonder why, my post here was added three times!!<br />

<br />

Haven´t got a clue why that happened either?<br />

<br />

Let´s see if this one gets posted three times as well!<br />

<br />

If so sorry again, it is not intentional.<br />

<br />

Anyway it turned out that my Brahms download was good too.<br />

<br />

It is actually quite fascinating that I can within an hour even with my studipidity and whatever strange things happened with the download, listen to a HI REZ version of Brahm´s masterpiece from the BSO in sound quality that NO rBCD or 16/44 file ever made could approach !<br />

And I am in Sweden on the other side of the world so to say!<br />

<br />

Quite cool.<br />

<br />

Sorry to bother you chris , Chrille<br />

<br />

ps And thanks for your admirable patience with my stupididity before.<br />

[The Computer Audiophile]

No worries chrille, I'm just happy to hear everything is working well for you.

[chrille]

I forgot to ask how come the BSO can sell their hi res stuff internationally and Reference Recordings and HD Track can´t??<br />

Or won´t ?<br />

<br />

Would you know anything about these hurdles?<br />

<br />

With LINN being way overpriced IMO I would like to buy stuff from HD Tracks as well but can´t as things stand, do that because I am in Sweden. <br />

<br />

Or should I buy whatever I can from BSO before they realize they can´t either?<br />

<br />

All the best Chrille

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Chrille - Check out this comment about international sales etc...<br />

<br />

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/24192-Chesky-Records#comment-16879

[mtan002]

Hi Chris, did you get an outcome with Asus on the above?<br />

<br />

Cheers.

[Jammrock]

Good gravy these recordings are gorgeous! I own a lot of RR HDCDs, but this...this is something special! Thank you Computer Audiophile and Reference Recordings! Simply amazing!<br />

<br />

For those who do not have a 176.1 kHz compatible system there is a little trickier you can do to get this working. Grab a program called foobar2000, install and setup. Open Preferences > Playback > DSP Manager.<br />

<br />

Move "Resampler (PPHS)" to the Active DSP side. Configure the plug-in for the highest support sampling rate your sound card and/or stereo supports (96 kHz in my case). Turn on ultra mode if you have a fairly beefy system. Play and enjoy.<br />

<br />

If you get an error, go to Playback > Output and mess with the Output Device and buffer setting. I could go on for days about configuring foobar2000, but this should get the samples working for most people.

[nunhgrader]

Thank you for the free samples - looks like a wonderful way to check out new hi-rez music!

[pixelphoto]

I downloaded the FLAC files to my Mac and converted them to WAV format. I then burned a DVD-A disc using Burn, free at ( http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html) and Minnetonka Discwelder Bronzehttp. Well both discs worked just fine. In fact the glorious sound from my humble system made my week. I replayed the disc 3 times in the last hour. I thank you from the bottom of my woofers.<br />

<br />

Marvin

[UCSD5]

These recordings sound great on my <a href="http://www.klipsch.com/na-en/products/headphones-earphones/">headphones</a> here at work, but I can't wait to get them home and listen to them on my real rig!

[Williamfallin]

The post is written in very a good manner and it entails many useful information for me. I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now <a href="http://www.logo-genie.com/">landing page design</a> you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept. Thank you for the post.<br />

[nunhgrader]

Thanks for the heads up and links!<br />

<br />

I am in the process of adding computer / dac / server capability to my 2nd system - their site will be a monthly shopping spree