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40% off at HDTracks through 1/31

209.95.36.61
Posted on January 29, 2015 at 08:15:53
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 ..on specially priced titles-

With the 20% off code HDblizzard20, and specially priced titles this week, you can get 40% off of several springsteen, dylan, simon and garfunkel, pearl jam, paul simon, santana, and miles davis albums and more.

Amazing deal.

 

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Thanks, I think I'll get a couple of those. nt, posted on January 29, 2015 at 08:54:11
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 nt

 

RE: Thanks, I think I'll get a couple of those. nt, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:00:27
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 I have a good number of them..if there are some you are interested in lemme know, if I own them i will give you a quality assessment.

 

RE: Thanks, I think I'll get a couple of those. nt, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:26:27
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 In particular, I was looking at the two Simon and Garfunkel albums. I have some recent Paul Simon at 24 bit and one or two cassettes of S&G (which I can now only listen to in my truck) but not even any S&G on vinyl. Two 24/96 albums for <$25 is too good to pass up (unless you tell me that the CD versions are just as good).

 

RE: Thanks, I think I'll get a couple of those. nt, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:35:07
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 I highly recommend the S&G albums. These are brand new remasters from the original master analog tapes, with no corresponding CDs I am aware of. I have them all at 192. If you can stretch for 192 I would, if not the 96Khz version are more than good.

EDIT: There is it seems a Complete Albums CD box set that was released in November derived from the 192 masters. Have not compared.

 

Nice, thank you, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:39:46
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 In my trials, I could distinguish 24 from 16 bit but couldn't reliably tell 44 kHz from higher sample rates . . . I usually draw the line at 96 kHz (plus, I'm a cheapskate).

 

RE: Nice, thank you, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:40:55
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Haha..you will be thrilled with the 96 S%Gs then.

 

BTW, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:41:47
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 PONO!!!!!!!

phew, I almost went 24 h w/o giving NY a BJ

;^)

 

RE: BTW, posted on January 29, 2015 at 09:44:30
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 LOL..funny, 20% off, and 40% specific titles from HDT a month after Pono launched. HMMmmmmmmmm.

 

RE: 40% off at HDTracks through 1/31, posted on January 29, 2015 at 10:09:20
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46295
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 Great deal!

I already own many of those titles including a few of them in 'hi-res'.

I'll probably get Toys in the Attic, JT, and Time Out even though I already have these three on CD.

Toys in the Attic in particular sounds not so great on the CD I bought nearly 30 years ago. It will be interesting to hear the 96/24 download.

Time Out sounds fine to me on CD and excellent on vinyl.

Oh, by my calculations the actual savings is more like 36% if I did the math right and still a great deal!



 

I like to think, posted on January 29, 2015 at 10:16:41
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 we'll start seeing prices come down w/o having to use sales and coupons (especially 'cuz HDT quit sending me coupons/newsletters and never replied to my request to be added back into their system).

Hey Pono/HDT, what do you say to $8-10 for 16/44 and $10-12 for 24/88-96? I'd buy a lot more music at those prices (try new artists and re-purchase stuff I already have at 16/44).

 

RE: 40% off at HDTracks through 1/31, posted on January 29, 2015 at 10:45:21
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 40%..36%...what's a few percentage points, right? Heheh.

If you have any of the original CBS Aerosmith CDs, you can now use them as coasters. Atrocious sounding like most of the Columbia and Warner releases from that period. All mastered from LP safety copies.

 

RE: I like to think, posted on January 29, 2015 at 10:46:46
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 I agree 100% with your pricing scheme.

However, yet AGAIN we go back to the rotten apple that is iTunes, where lossy albums are priced at 8-13 dollars.

 

Thanks for the heads up -nt, posted on January 29, 2015 at 11:07:36
E-Stat
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Posts: 37650
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 .

 

LOL - HDT musta seen this!, posted on January 29, 2015 at 17:58:11
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 All their "specials" are now full price! I guess I'll go see how much Pono is asking . . .

 

RE: LOL - HDT musta seen this!, posted on January 29, 2015 at 18:54:02
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Oops! Well they have rotating specials..I would guess there will be another set of albums at reduced pricing, but the 20% additional coupon will not be valid by then.

 

Yup...and bummer..., posted on January 29, 2015 at 19:48:28
jbrrp1
Audiophile

Posts: 483
Location: Minnesota
Joined: April 24, 2007
 I was just going to make an impulse buy, but not with the additional 205 gone.

 

Well, that muddies the water, posted on January 30, 2015 at 06:44:40
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 but, as I understand it, the labels sold the files to Apple in full (CD) resolution and *Apple* threw out the "extra" bits. I see no reason whatsoever that Pono, HDT, et al. should charge *more* for 16/44 than Apple charges for mp3.

 

I bought three albums at the sale price AND took another 20% off, posted on January 30, 2015 at 08:17:05
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46295
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 ...with a net savings of 36%. I did it yesterday afternoon and their system showed the sale price and accepted the coupon. Thanks!

 

RE: Well, that muddies the water, posted on January 30, 2015 at 09:07:48
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 I do NOT know this for sure, but I was under the impression iTunes did not do any conversions, meaning they receive "mastered for iTunes" files already in AAC, and not the master files.

If somebody knows for sure that would interesting.

Say what you want about apple, but the fact hey convinced people to pay 10-12 bucks for lossy slop is skillful marketing.

 

RE: I bought three albums at the sale price AND took another 20% off, posted on January 30, 2015 at 09:08:59
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Feel free to report back on the quality of the titles.

 

I waited too long, posted on January 30, 2015 at 10:27:20
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 I tried to buy yesterday evening and all the sale prices were removed even tho' the albums were still listed under the "weekly specials" tab.

 

Me too. Thanks! (nt), posted on January 30, 2015 at 10:50:17
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 nt

 

LOL long time audiophile music fans must be on like the 16th copy of most of those LPs, posted on January 30, 2015 at 11:16:16
Goober58
 As if at this point in time any audiophile hasn't already owned several versions of those recordings. I listened to The Flaming Lips With A Little Help From My Friends colored vinyl and thought it was pretty darn awesome. And FWIW my CD quality copies of my old Neil Young records sound pretty much as rich and warm as the original vinyl it copied from.

It's hardly a deal even saving 90% to buy something I already own. Personally I wouldn't buy the vast majority of the stuff they are selling even at $5.

But alas why buy new music from new artists, or new music from old artists that I've missed, when I can buy the same music over and over again? I mean GD why not if I can save 40%? LMAO!

 

RE: LOL long time audiophile music fans must be on like the 16th copy of most of those LPs, posted on January 30, 2015 at 11:19:51
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 And besides trying to threadcrap and shit on everyone, your point is?

Not only do I buy HEAPS of new music from current artists, archival releases, but also the DEFINITIVE versions of albums I deem essential.

But then again, you are part of the "good enough" crowd.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

 

RE: LOL long time audiophile music fans must be on like the 16th copy of most of those LPs, posted on January 30, 2015 at 11:26:24
Goober58
 "Not only do I buy HEAPS of new music from current artists, archival releases, but also the DEFINITIVE versions of albums I deem essential."

Then how about posting about these "DEFINITIVE" versions as well as those High Def downloads that have fallen short of such a status?

"But then again, you are part of the "good enough" crowd."

As if being a stooge caught up in a marketing hubris is enough to establish one as being better than the "good enough" crowd.

 

RE: I bought three albums at the sale price AND took another 20% off, posted on January 30, 2015 at 12:19:48
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46295
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
Aerosmith Toys in the Attic 24/96 is far superior to the old CD that I have..... but I suspect this has at least as much to due to the 2012 remaster.

I haven't listened closely to the others yet. I found Bruebeck's Time Out to be very enjoyable on CD so it will be interesting to compare against the 24/88 download.

I don't have that JT album on my Mac and I'm not going to hunt down the CD in my basement so won't be able to compare that one.

Thanks again for the tip.

 

RE: I bought three albums at the sale price AND took another 20% off, posted on January 30, 2015 at 12:48:53
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Thanks for the report.

 

RE: Well, that muddies the water, posted on January 30, 2015 at 12:50:50
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 In the end it is not who did what, not even who payed whom to do what. In the end it's what's in the contract, since this is all intellectual property rights, not material goods.

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: LOL long time audiophile music fans must be on like the 16th copy of most of those LPs, posted on January 30, 2015 at 21:06:56
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 I already had all of these from HDtracks that I was interested in.

One that is very good is Brubeck's Time Out(176/24). The title track is excellent. The instruments sound individually very realistic. The recording is a multiple microphone mix, not a stereo recording. As such it does not have a real sound stage. Otherwise this track would be demonstration quality. On some of the other tracks the drums, bass and sax are excellent, but there is some distortion on the piano. If I had to guess the piano distortion comes from an overloaded microphone preamp.

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

Thanks Tony, posted on January 31, 2015 at 10:54:48
Goober58
 Great! I wonder how that compares to the original release and other audiophile reissues.

I'm thinking about starting a Jazz collection. If I wanted to base it on sound quality should I go with audiophile vinyl reissues or higher res digital? I think original vinyl would be cost prohibitive. I haven't been posting on this topic was because of this desire, the thought of doing the Jazz in high rez, not vinyl, just came to me this am.

 

I did buy BOTW w/ the coupon (after the sale ended), posted on January 31, 2015 at 15:09:21
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 On the one hand, it's probably the best I've ever heard that album (didn't have a system this good last time I heard it, tho'). Crystal clear vocals and nuances in production that I'd not previously noticed. And on the other, I've never heard a recording with so much tape hiss. It's really obvious on the dynamic title track; my QB-9 lays it bare.

 

RE: I did buy BOTW w/ the coupon (after the sale ended), posted on January 31, 2015 at 17:03:31
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 The 2014 192 (and 96) mastering is by far the definitive digital edition.

Tape hiss on BOTW is well known, and has been on every version I have ever had. It was especially annoying on the LP!

The QB9 is primo! I really wish Ayre made a DAC with an AES, BNC, and USB input. I would buy it in a heardbeat.

 

Thanks for the info, posted on January 31, 2015 at 18:30:29
Beetlemania
Audiophile

Posts: 1217
Location: Utah
Joined: November 1, 2003
 It has been a long time since I've heard these songs, wasn't aware of the tape hiss issue - lol.

Ayre showed a new headphone amp/DAC at CES with a "Toslink" input (I think that's the same as AES?). The engineer claimed it sounds nearly as good as the QB-9 and at a price point far cheaper. Maybe Ayre will introduce more affordable products?

 

RE: Thanks for the info, posted on February 1, 2015 at 07:08:34
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 4585
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 For some reason, Bridge is the hissiest of the S&G albums, probably, I am guessing, because they probably bounced between multitracks.

Yes! Saw that Ayre product in the various CES reports. Looks nice.

 

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