Pink Floyd in High Resolution

[Randy Myers]

HD Tracks just released much of the Pink Floyd cataloged in high resolution releases. Many up to 192khz!

"As part of a monumental audiophile release, Pink Floyd is releasing 20 studio albums, compilations, and live concerts - all in remastered 24-bit studio master quality Hi-Res.

THIS JUST IN...

20 NEW HI-RES PINK FLOYD RELEASES

Get 20% off with code FLOYDHIRES20"

I have SACD versions of Dark Side Of The Moon and Wish You Were Here (and rips of each on my server), but I have never seen any of the other actual albums released in high-res!

[BlueFox]

Tempting. I bought, and rebought, DSOTM when it was released, and constantly listened to it for 10-15 years, along with their other albums.

[Randy Myers]

Yea, they are definitely a go to for me. I purchased four of these (so far).... Don't need the two I have in SACD... still considering The Wall because the CD rip is the only digital version I have (I have vinyl of many also).... Animals is sounding pretty darn good from my portable here at work .

[LenWhite]

I opted for the new Analogue Productions DSOTM SACD release. Mastered from the original master tape it rocks!
Pink Floyd-The Dark Side Of The Moon-Hybrid Multichannel SACD|Acoustic Sounds

[Randy Myers]

Awesome! Would love to see AP take the original tape and make their incredible 45 RPM versions of this album!

I have the SACD disks from a little bit ago and the 2016 remaster vinyl which is superb!

I broke down and purchased The Wall in the high res also (listening to it on the A&K now... seems very good to me)... Been waiting for true high res versions of many of these albums for a long while....

[astrotoy]

I bought the DTOSM and WYWH SACDs so I could get the multichannel versions. I haven't compared the stereo versions yet with my 1/2" tape safety masters of the two albums. Those date from the 1980's when they were used for creating vinyl or CD masters.

Larry

[dminches]

Are they providing details on the specific mastering of these albums? I think that is more important than the bit depth/resolution.

[Randy Myers]

I don't disagree, however they only state remastered but not specifics. I can say that from owning several versions of many of these: CD, vinyl, remastered vinyl, etc., that these are very good in my view.

[JohnJ]

Randy-

Thanks for this post. It inspired a search that lead me to the Pink Floyd site. I ordered the re-mix of Momentary Lapse of Reason to be shipped next week. Like was mentioned, re-mix/mastering is more important than bit depth/resolution. Looking forward to this CD arriving.

John

[Randy Myers]

Awesome... more people enjoying Pink Floyd is always a good thing .

[Mr Peabody]

The high res PF is also on the streaming services now. I listned to a trac from Wish You Were Here, it didn't strike me as being a stand out. In time I'll compare to my CD rips.

[AJR]

Awesome... more people enjoying Pink Floyd is always a good thing .

Amen to that. Although I find that me, my close friends and family are divided on this question: which is better - Wish You Were Here or Brothers in Arms. Love asking everyone this question.

[Randy Myers]

The high res PF is also on the streaming services now. I listned to a trac from Wish You Were Here, it didn't strike me as being a stand out. In time I'll compare to my CD rips.

I did not get the Wish You Were Here since I have the SACD and already have a DSD64 version from it. I assume that they were not streaming the 192 version of Wish You Were here... but I would doubt the CD would be as good.

I do know that the 192 versions of the ones I got sound much better than the CD (and CD rips).

[Randy Myers]

Amen to that. Although I find that me, my close friends and family are divided on this question: which is better - Wish You Were Here or Brothers in Arms. Love asking everyone this question.

I love Dire Straits... but if I had to choose only one it would have to be Pink Floyd .

[AJR]

I love Dire Straits... but if I had to choose only one it would have to be Pink Floyd .

Me too. But for me, Brothers in Arms beats all of it. Just a personal preference.

[Randy Myers]

Me too. But for me, Brothers in Arms beats all of it. Just a personal preference.

... Brothers In Arms is my second favorite Dire Straits album, sorry, but I love the original Dire Straits album. I have the 45 RPM versions of the original five... great stuff!

[AJR]

Love that also. Am partial to Brothers in Arms as that was my first ever album. Cassette (is that even a word!) on a crappy tapedeck (does that word exist?).

[Mike Lavigne]

really love my 1/4", 15ips master dub of "Wish You Were Here". helps it's an analog recording, 'Brother's in Arms' is a favorite too, but it's digital DNA does make a difference.

[Randy Myers]

Hehe... trying to remember.... I think my first albums were Steppenwolf and Alice Cooper on an 8-Track ....

[Randy Myers]

really love my 1/4", 15ips master dub of "Wish You Were Here". helps it's an analog recording, 'Brother's in Arms' is a favorite too, but it's digital DNA does make a difference.

That must be awesome Mike!

[AJR]

Now I feel inspired to go vinyl

[Mike Lavigne]

That must be awesome Mike!

when i have visitors, and they want to hear how great tape can be for rock, played at warp 9, there are two tapes i play. side 1 of LZ 1, and 'Wish You Were Here' on the Studer A-820. the combination of ultra, ultra iconic cuts which we all have such a locked in reference from our daily lives, and the quality of the transfers, is magical. it's how God intended for us to hear it.

the vinyl transfers of 'Wish You Were Here' are not great, just good. and the tape is in another world. with LZ1, i do have my Classic 45rpm box set so the difference is not as dramatic a step up.

[AJR]

when i have visitors, and they want to hear how great tape can be for rock, played at warp 9, there are two tapes i play. side 1 of LZ 1, and 'Wish You Were Here' on the Studer A-820. the combination of ultra, ultra iconic cuts which we all have such a locked in reference from our daily lives, and the quality of the transfers is magical.

the vinyl transfers of 'Wish You Were Here' are not great, just good. and the tape is in another world. with LZ1, i do have my Classic 45rpm box set so the difference is not as dramatic a step up.

So are you saying Tidal does not cut it

[Mike Lavigne]

So are you saying Tidal does not cut it

not at all; i love streaming, do it at least 50% of the time. i do prefer Quboz to Tidal, and i do use TAS (Taiko Audio System) to listen to Quboz, not Roon most of the time. when i'm using Roon, then i do listen to Tidal which is very good. it's just that i like hirez, and Tidal does not do it except for 'hirez lite' = MQA. another 20% of my listening is to digital files. do i prefer analog? sure, but the digital is so good and easy to access (millions of titles, new music) it's the majority of my listening.

if you click on my system link you will see i have a considerable commitment to digital, as much as anyone. and as much as my vinyl or tape commitments.

i listen to tape about 2-4% of the time. but with visitors, they want the really, really good stuff, and that is vinyl and tape. with visitors typically there is also a streaming session where they choose the digital cuts they want to hear.

it's about the music, while certainly enjoying the best possible way to enjoy each recording.

[rbbert]

Some of these are really good and notable improvements over previous digital versions. Pulse, The Wall, and Animals all stand out. Ummagumma is a notable improvement but the source recordings are a bit hissy. I haven't listened to every one of the albums, and I would bet that Momentary Lapse of Reason and Delicate Sound of Thunder have the same compressed masterings as the 2019 ones (they are listed as that), but I suspect all that most of the earlier albums are improvements except perhaps DSOTM and WYWH (each of which has had several previous hi-res releases)

I also have a 15ips 2-track of WYWH which sounds great, but I don't know how far it is removed from the master tape.

[Audiophilehi]

I just finished listening to The Wall and while it does sound good it doesn’t beat my 1st issue Japan or Canada CD. Next up is Animals.

[Randy Myers]

Some of these are really good and notable improvements over previous digital versions. Pulse, The Wall, and Animals all stand out. Ummagumma is a notable improvement but the source recordings are a bit hissy. I haven't listened to every one of the albums, and I would bet that Momentary Lapse of Reason and Delicate Sound of Thunder have the same compressed masterings as the 2019 ones (they are listed as that), but I suspect all that most of the earlier albums are improvements except perhaps DSOTM and WYWH (each of which has had several previous hi-res releases)

I also have a 15ips 2-track of WYWH which sounds great, but I don't know how far it is removed from the master tape.

I also have been impressed with Meddle and Obscured By Clouds. Animals is good, in my view better than the CD, but not as impressive as some of the others. I also like The Final Cut!

[rbbert]

I just finished listening to The Wall and while it does sound good it doesn’t beat my 1st issue Japan or Canada CD. Next up is Animals.

??

Are you playing your Canada CD on a player that will de-emphasize? Only a few players made in the last 20 years do, and no “universal” players do.

Some fans still like the 1994 Doug Sax version best, and some prefer the 1987 UK Harvest. I have to say I don’t know what audio qualities of any of these older versions listeners are preferring, but of course everyone is entitled to their preferences and opinions.

Animals could benefit from remixing (rather than just remastering); that is supposedly coming next year, along with a 5.1 version.

[Audiophilehi]

??

Are you playing your Canada CD on a player that will de-emphasize? Only a few players made in the last 20 years do, and no “universal” players do.

Some fans still like the 1994 Doug Sax version best, and some prefer the 1987 UK Harvest. I have to say I don’t know what audio qualities of any of these older versions listeners are preferring, but of course everyone is entitled to their preferences and opinions.

Animals could benefit from remixing (rather than just remastering); that is supposedly coming next year, along with a 5.1 version.

It was de-emphasized using xACT. I listen to it on my N100H and also made a CD-R copy. I also forgot to mention the 1987 UK CD I have a prefer as well. The 2011 CD sounds very similar to the current Hi-Res.

[Mr Peabody]

The 1st Dire Straits album sounds good, I like Making Movies but production not as good, never got into Brothers In Arms.

The high res version Take 5 by Dave brubeck is excellent and probably one of the more dramatic differences in recordings I've experienced, 44.1 vs HR.

Personally I like about 4 PF albums and never really use them as a reference unless someone wants to hear something.

[mep]

The 1st Dire Straits album sounds good, I like Making Movies but production not as good, never got into Brothers In Arms.

The high res version Take 5 by Dave brubeck is excellent and probably one of the more dramatic differences in recordings I've experienced, 44.1 vs HR.

Personally I like about 4 PF albums and never really use them as a reference unless someone wants to hear something.

MQA Take 5 or Quobuz Take 5?

[Mike Lavigne]

MQA Take 5 or Quobuz Take 5?

in this particular case, on my system the MQA Take Five (176/24) does better the Quobuz 44/16. slightly more dynamics and more textural information.....more analog. not huge.

the 176/24 version on my internal hard drive (played through Roon) is another issue; it betters the MQA. more dynamics, life and tonal richness and complexity, a sparkle if you like. even more analog.

all three are great listens. if Quobuz had a 176/24 or other higher rez that would be a question. but i did not see one.

i had not fired up Roon for a month or so and had to do a software update for my 'versions' tab to appear. the best digital version would be using the Taiko (TAS) software and not Roon with my file. but Roon is pretty good.

[JohnJ]

Pink Floyd "Hi-Rez" now on Qobuz.

[Mr Peabody]

Yes, the Tidal version, 176.4. I only get the first unfold, even with that the 176 was much better than the 44.1. Usually the differences are more subtle.

However,I listened to a Cowboy Junkies album last night on Tidal, both 44.1 but one was MQA, the MQA version was definitely better. In comparing on Tidal I find no definite, not sure if remastering is involved when the MQA versions are made or what makes some mor evident than others.

MQA Take 5 or Quobuz Take 5?

[mep]

I will play the Take 5 versions and see what I think.

[crwilli]

Listened to the new 24/96 DSOTM this afternoon via Qobuz. It is good but not better than my SACD rip. Not sure I would miss the RIP if I didn’t have it.

The quality of streaming has come a long way.

[Randy Myers]

Yea, I did not get the DSOTH or the WYWH because I have my SACD of each (ripped to server of course), but I have been happy with the SQ of the five I did purchase.

[aKnyght]

listened to the 24/96 DSOTM on qobuz ...can't say it wowed me. the mids seemed pretty lifeless.

but then i had just been listening to the OJC masterings of sunday at the village vanguard and waltz for derby immediately prior which are absolute reference material, imo ...so, the new hi-rez DSOTM could have suffered by comparison.

i will give it another listen -- maybe i will put on some mp3s before

[rbbert]

Yea, I did not get the DSOTH or the WYWH because I have my SACD of each (ripped to server of course), but I have been happy with the SQ of the five I did purchase.

DTOSM is the 2011 version (better than the stereo tracks of the 2003 SACD.) WYWH is a new transfer and mastering (clearly different from the 2011 BD and the SACD), though I'm not sure it is better.

[Mike Lavigne]

i might have 15+ versions of DSOTM. i'm sure i'm not alone.

at least -3- CD's, -2- SACD's, at least -8- vinyl pressings, and -2- 15ips, 1/4" tape master dubs (one is really good, one is just ok). the best sounding of all these versions to my ears is my MFSL UHQR pressing, even better than the 2 master dubs for whatever reason. i have a couple of early pressings, but not an original pressing. i'm told the UHQR surpasses the OP but i can't verify that.

this afternoon i played side one of the UHQR pressing at warp 9, to calibrate my ears on how DSOTM can sound. have not played that in maybe 5-6 years, and my system has taken some steps forward since then. like a new fresh experience.

is DSOTM a tired war horse? not a chance.

i love the digital of Pink Floyd, and from time to time end my evening listening with a few PF cuts. seems to hit the spot for me. but good to get in touch with the vinyl again.

[Mr Peabody]

Some of the high res geeks online were up in arms about some issues with the streaming services versions. One thing the tracks seemed to vary in what master they were from, one guy says his varied from 96k to 192k on tracks in the same album.

Another issue was with the version Tidal used in Europe, I didn't fully grasp the particulars on that one.

I hav to say that first one always bothered me. I could tell prior from descriptions that tracks were pulled from various places to complete an album. When I play an album I expect all tracks to be from the same album/master etc. not piece milled. Hopefully this isn' an issue with buying downloads.

[rbbert]

Some of the high res geeks online were up in arms about some issues with the streaming services versions. One thing the tracks seemed to vary in what master they were from, one guy says his varied from 96k to 192k on tracks in the same album.

Another issue was with the version Tidal used in Europe, I didn't fully grasp the particulars on that one.

I hav to say that first one always bothered me. I could tell prior from descriptions that tracks were pulled from various places to complete an album. When I play an album I expect all tracks to be from the same album/master etc. not piece milled. Hopefully this isn' an issue with buying downloads.

Just another argument against streaming as a primary listening source (along with some degree of sound quality compromise in most listening setups). I wonder how long it might take for the bugs to get worked out as only a very small percentage of listeners seem to care enough about the "problems"?

[Dizzie]

Is there a recommended CD version of "The Wall"?

[rbbert]

Is there a recommended CD version of "The Wall"?

See some comments above. I would say the consensus outside of this topic would be either the 2011 Immersion or the 1994 Doug Sax masterings

[Bart001]

DTOSM is the 2011 version (better than the stereo tracks of the 2003 SACD.) WYWH is a new transfer and mastering (clearly different from the 2011 BD and the SACD), though I'm not sure it is better.

What's the source of info re WYWH being a new mastering? Just genuine curiosity here. People on Steve Hoffman forum looked and the waveforms and are seeing the 2011 remasters.

[rbbert]

I am comparing the waveforms from the 2011 BD stereo and the new download. Although the DR meter value is the same and the waveforms are similar, they are not identical. I have not looked at that topic in the past few days so I am not sure how closely posters there are checking the waveforms.

[Bart001]

There's also no news release etc. about any of this, much less any of it being remastered. Not that that's conclusive at all!

[Mr Peabody]

I did see some places who sell downloads are providing a new version to customers for free to replace the first one purchased. The new version is said to be more of the complete album where the first had the correct track names but were mis matched sources, and had some issue with track length on some.

[rbbert]

What's the source of info re WYWH being a new mastering? Just genuine curiosity here. People on Steve Hoffman forum looked and the waveforms and are seeing the 2011 remasters.

I've posted on the SHForums to see if anyone has more info. The documentation with the "new" 24/192 indicates a copyright year of 2016, when there was a CD release of WYWH which I don't have for comparison, so it is possible that this is a hi-res version of that transfer/mastering (not previously available except on that CD.)

[steve59]

Iv’e got everything from animals on cd and just today checked tidal and found they now have hi rez in 24/96 and 24/192. I put momentary lapse of reason in since it’s currently the most familiar and it doesn’t sound like the same pressing. I’m saying it’s hard to believe what I’m hearing is the difference between 16/44 and 24/96! They must have cleaned it up.