audioexchange

I decided to do a decision table for myself to see why I buy certain music products (vinyl/SACD/DVDA) and actively listen to others – CD and Deezer. I constructed the table below to demonstrate my thought processes. Strangely, old vinyl (or without codes) doesn’t fare particularly well – but I buy lots of it. I think it reflects obsessive behaviour rather than objective reasoning.

Legend: DL = Download Code (may be MP3, FLAC free lossless audio codec or WAV); CD = compact disc 16bit 44.1kHz; SACD = super audio cd 24bit 88kHz; DVD-A = digital versatile disc-audio (either 16 bit 48kHz or 24 bit 44 to 96kHz); BR-PA = Blu-Ray Pure Audio 24bit 96 to 192kHz.

¥ I have ranked 24 bit downloads as better sound quality than SACDs/DVD-A or BR-PA because the data can be sent out to any DAC without restriction. You can use a cheap PC or slingbox as your front end. To get the best out of copy protected “high resolution” discs requires and expensive disc player with built in DAC.

* This refers to how you store the music. CDs can be ripped losslessly or converted to mp3 – and stored on a hard drive or portable device. 24 bit files can be converted to 16 bit and to mp3. SACDs can be ripped (if they are hybrid) as CDs, but ripping the SACD layer is difficult – requiring a specific Sony PS3 and lots of time and effort. As you don’t own anything in Deezer or Spotify – nothing is archived. Vinyl is piled up on a shelf – unless you are disciplined enough to organize your records, you can spend hours looking for the one that you want to hear.

^ This refers to the risk of losing or damaging your musical product. Records are easy to damage and this dramatically reduces their value. CDs/SACDs can be damaged, but they are easy to back up – which I do as soon as I buy them: of course most of us cannot back up the SACD layer. DVD-A and BR-A can be ripped, with appropriate software, so are functionally the same as 24 bit files. Also these discs will play in most DVD or Blu-Ray players. With 24 bit files, if not backed up, there is a high risk of loss- with no ability to re-download from HD tracks (amongst others). Itunes and Spotify allow you to download files to your approved devices, so if you lose your iPod, you can un-approve it, and use a new one.

^$ Obviously, the big risk with vinyl is being ripped off – even near mint copies may sound terrible, and, online, overgrading is a real problem. You are also at high risk of purchasing an expensive record that is either counterfeit or mastered from a 16bit CD. Most modern vinyl records are derived from digital masters (24 bit I presume) – but I honestly don’t think that this detracts from the immersive experience: it is hard to beat vinyl. At least with CD and SACD/DVDA/BR there is a cover to look at. With DVD-audio and Blu-Ray audio, you can also look at pictures on your TV screen, which does add something. 24 bit downloads are a bit – yawn! Deezer/Spotify are immersive because of album suggestions, playlists, biographies etc. Second hand value depends upon scarcity – but vinyl is a winner. SACDs (and to a lesser extent DVD-A) command impressive second hand values due to low volume production.

The winner is: Vinyl with Download or CD (or even better with 24 bit download). It’s a no brainer. CD holds up well because of pretty good quality control, reasonable prices new – amazingly low prices second hand, and rip-ability. 24 bit downloads are just too risky – I can’t hear much audible difference over the CD (for double the price), and the chances that it is an upsampled copy is relatively high. There is a real problem with provenance. SACDs without a hybrid layer to me are a waste of money, unless you have an expensive SACD player, and listen to most of your music in that one location. Itunes – I just don’t understand – you can buy the CD for more or less the same price….

~ by Pat Neligan on May 27, 2014.

Posted in Digital Music, Downloading, High Resolution, Vinyl
Tags: 24 bit downloads, blu-ray audio, deezer, dvda, itunes, sacd, spotify, vinyl records