grateful dead - Road Trips full show FLAC downloads - HDCD-mastered sources?

[emmodad]

grateful dead - Road Trips full show FLAC downloads - HDCD-mastered sources?

 

it seems the dead.net strategy with the "Road Trips" CD releases is moving forward: looks like those CDs are being issued as a "teaser" for full-show downloads (or more precisely, the CDs were issued, and now associated full-show downloads are appearing in the Store on dead.net).

 

For those not aware, the "Road Trips" titles are not complete concerts, but rather collections of songs from various live performances under a certain theme (ie "Fall 79").

 

All of these CDs, as with other recent Grateful Dead releases, are HDCD encoded, generally using most of the HDCD encoding process capabilities (ie, these are not just discs where the HDCD flag gets set because a Pacific Microsonics converter is present in the mastering chain data stream).

 

the Store now has two complete show download-only offerings which are "Road Trips Full Show" titles (in 256k mp3 and FLAC); these are shows which were represented by a few tracks on Road Trips Vol 1 No 1.

 

Obviously, if the source files for the FLAC offering are 16/44.1 HDCD-encoded, lossless encoding will preserve the HDCD functionality, and the buyer can maintain HDCD compatibility either by burning CDs or by sourcing the (decompressed) files from a server through an HDCD decoder to a DAC (as per other HDCD threads in this forum). I am (still) waiting for a response on this from dead.net.........

 

Question: has anyone yet purchased these downloads and created a CD (or played files thru appropriate hardware) which confirms HDCD encoding on playback?

 

advthanxance

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi emmodad - I'm perusing the site right now looking to purchase an album to test the HDCD compatibility. Any suggestions?

 

[emmodad]

first, I've now had input from various other purchasers that all DL FLAC versions are indeed HDCD. I've now purchased the two most recent Road Trips and it certainly appears to be the case.

 

well, I have many of these DLs.... I am admittedly biased toward 70-72 era; having said that, Family Dog SF is a great show, as is vol 10.

 

If they ever sell a lossless DL of the recently-released Winterland box set, you should run, not walk to purchase. Performances are wonderful, mastering and thorough use of HDCD capabilities quite enjoyable; and the Plangent Processes work (http://www.plangentprocesses.com/) takes the end result to a superb level -- I've seldom heard a live GD release with such phenominal focus in phase coherency, bass tightness and transient crispness....

 

then again, you could break down and buy the box..

 

[Ralf11]

does anybody know if any releases prior to 2008 were done with the Plangent Processes ??

[bobbmd]

I recently rediscovered(I had left it in my office years ago) a Harmon-Kardon 5 disc CD changer with HDCD logo. I bought it years ago just for my Dead CD's. Problem was I had nothing to decode the discs with. Is there anything out there that will process HDCD discs and will they sound 'better'?

bobbmd

[Johnseye]

On 9/18/2008 at 9:25 PM, The Computer Audiophile said:

Hi emmodad - I'm perusing the site right now looking to purchase an album to test the HDCD compatibility. Any suggestions?

 

 

Looks like digital downloads are temp disabled.  I'd suggest the Oct '77 show.  Vol 1, No. 2. because I like their music from 1977, but the '79 show looks good as well.  Unless of course you're looking at this from purely an HDCD standpoint.

[Johnseye]

On 10/6/2017 at 8:48 PM, bobbmd said:

I recently rediscovered(I had left it in my office years ago) a Harmon-Kardon 5 disc CD changer with HDCD logo. I bought it years ago just for my Dead CD's. Problem was I had nothing to decode the discs with. Is there anything out there that will process HDCD discs and will they sound 'better'?

bobbmd

 

Does your HK no longer work?  If it has the logo it should decode the discs at playback.  Or are you looking for a software?

[bobbmd]

@Johnseye: Thanks for the reply the HK still works-the disc drawer opening and closing is a little finiky(sic?)-I have to grab and hold it to put discs in! So you don't need software or another unit to decode eh? The Dead discs have HDCD on them but don't sound any different than when I play them on my Yamaha DVD-c750 changer which plays SACD DVD-A CDs and DVD's-was there supposed to be some superiority to the sound like with SACD/DVD-A? 

The only reason I am using the unit was to see if my vintage Pioneer Elite m-90 power amp(200w/channel ) and c-90 preamp still worked and they do after being in storage for 15 years! And the M-90 is driving a pair of 45+year old handmade unidirectional speakers!!.

I am thinking of using the M-90 and C-90 with a Schiit Yaggy or Gungnir Multibit( I already have Schiit pre-multibit Gumby and ME2 plus  Schiit Modi Magni and FULLA) instead of buying the Rggy amp and use the saved money to buy KEF LS50 or Legacy Audio HD studio monitors-what do you think?

bobbmd

[Ralf11]

a search on here for HDCD will be illuminating - IIRC, it just adds a bit or 2 on top - so noise reduction might be the real benefit; only a few DACs will decode HDCD but once a disc is ripped it is there.

 

I use a Cal Audio (with PowerBoss) that has HDCD - it still sounds really good after 20+ years - about as good as the last lower end Oppo player, based on direct comparisons in my system (but not a lot of them or super careful listening).

 

I find the Dave's Picks with Plangent Processing to be the very best Dead SQ -- tho I await some re-releases of the 'regular' albums

[bobbmd]

@Ralf11 thank you

[mjb]

I just went to dead.net to do some shopping, to find “Digital downloads have been temporarily disabled while we work on resolving the technical issues.”

 

[Solstice380]

3 hours ago, mjb said:

I just went to dead.net to do some shopping, to find “Digital downloads have been temporarily disabled while we work on resolving the technical issues.”

 

 

Its been that way for almost a year!  They opened up for the July 78 complete and it didn't work.  They finally emailed links to d/l the 4 shows.   Some things are available at HDTracks, at a premium price!  Ouch.   Dead.net has never had a strong technical staff...  hmmmm wonder why?

[mjb]

17 hours ago, Solstice380 said:

 

Its been that way for almost a year!

Thanks for clarifying, I hope they can sort things out.