I don't think anyone disagrees that when a record company releases both a standard CD and a "hi-res" version (SACD, DVD Audio, etc.) of the same album, that the two will often be mastered differently - and that most likely, more attention will be paid to the quality of the hi-res mastering, given that it is targeting more discriminating listeners with higher-performance audio systems. In my opinion PCM at lower bit rates always sounds fakey.Īt 24/192 the headache is gone and the skies open up.įirst I look for the high res release over at the Qobuz online store. The CD always comes off as sounding fragmented-the parts don't connect so well.īut it adds a lot to my enjoyment of digital PCM. Not to mention the entire presentation is smoother and more of a whole. That to me is proof the high res is more pleasant and closer to the clarity I experience with a moving coil phono pickup and vinyl. On the high res I hear the "ring" AND I hear the "ching" as the stick hits the cymbal. On the CD all I hear is the "ring" sound. In particular cymbals made by Zildjian have two sounds when you hit them (I played professionally with guys from James Brown's band etc etc). The sound is always more open and the reverb is more real and the top end frequencies better developed and the sound is no longer "closed in" on the high res version. Some cases I have the same title already as a CD I own.
If it has been released as a high res download I look to see if it is available yet for streaming.
Click to expand.First I look for the high res release over at the Qobuz online store.