DVD-Audiobahn

RE: Reference Recordings HRx

71.166.136.220

In Reply to: RE: New DVD-Audio disc from Classic Records posted by Botanico92007 on March 29, 2008 at 09:12:35

I eagerly await the RR HRx discs and I plan to spend many of my digital dollars there. This discs will are a digit-for-digit copy of the original hi-resolution Reference Recordings 24-bit/176.4kHz digital masters. They are aimed towards computer audio enthusiasts with hi-rez DACs. They are not playable in the current conventional player, whether the lower Redbook cd or SACD resolutions. It is possible that some future universal players may be designed to play Rdbk cds, SACDs, DVD-As, MP3s and HRxs (or for that matter audio Blu-ray discs). But RR currently views the HRx discs as an interim step until high resolution audio and video downloads become the norm rather than the exception. As a user that has downloaded a few of the Linn Records Studio Master files I am a firm believer that is this is the way to achieve the very best of digital. I can also say that the problem for me (I only have DSL) most users is the time required for downloading huge files. HRx discs solve that problem but perhaps when I get a high-speed fiber optics internet connection I may feel differently. Regardless the HRx discs will provide a permanent backup copy of my computer audio files (although Linn has told me that I could download any music I previously bought in case my hard drive crashes). There are some people that want to download digital files only to burn optical CD or DVD discs. I prefer not to deal with any optical disc or transport and I want the same high resolution files the recording studios have on their computers without being compromised by lower resolution formats or processing.
The below is from the Reference Recordings website:
Some of you have inquired about our plans for these high-resolution formats.

Our friends in the industry, who have experience with SACD and/or DVD-A advise us now to "sit them out." We were hoping that DVD-A would win this senseless format war, but for many reasons, it did not, and now it appears to be a dead issue. Despite a withdrawal of support from Sony, its "birth mother," SACD does continue, with advocacy from several other labels. But we are advised from reliable sources that the potential sales of a new SACD release is low, no more than a few thousand discs worldwide, and often less. In view of the considerable investment of work and capital necessary to edit and master for SACD, there is no chance for profit.
There is also the question of sound quality, RR's prime calling card. Our sizeable backlog of discrete five-channel masters is archived in high-resolution PCM. We have been advised by digital experts that, to convert our masters to SACD--in the digital realm or by PCM-to-analogue-to-DSD--would degrade our renowned sonics unacceptably.
And the below is from audiojunkies (David Kay):

While the CD format has made huge improvements in sound quality since first appearing in 1982, its 16-bit, 44.1kHz limitation is an insurmountable barrier to getting truly high resolution audio to the consumer. The SACD and DVD-A formats meant to replace the CD both failed in the market for numerous reasons, perhaps chief among which were practicality issues, as the discs initially would only play in home SACD and DVD-A players. Dual-layer CD/SACDs and DVD-A playback ability in computers and a few cars were both far too little, too late. The public had already moved on to downloading 128kbps tracks from iTunes. Reference Recordings, a small audiophile record label from California, has created a new "format" for high-res audio far better than both SACD and DVD-A.

Rather than yet another new optical disc design incompatible with all previous optical disc players and loaded to the gills with industry friendly DRM, Reference Recording's HRx discs are simply DVD-R data discs containing digit-for-digit copies of original Reference Recordings 24-bit/176.4kHz digital masters in .wav format, designed to be copied onto a computer or music server. The physical HRx discs are an interim step to the eventual goal of making Reference Recordings' high-resolution masters available for direct download. The genius of this idea is that the .wav files could be stored on the home music server, while copies could be made and easily converted into .mp3 or other formats for use with portable players. Production HRx discs should be available for purchase soon.

Also good info from Stereophile.

http://www.stereophile.com/news/010508ref/ (Open in New Window)

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