High-Resolution Audio: new experiences from old music

How it all began

The first thing to know is that there is no one universally accepted high-resolution audio standard, and that's how different types of music recordings are called. It all started with music CDs. In 1982, the Audio CD standard appeared. And already in 1999, higher-quality alternatives to Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio were developed. However, these discs have not received mass distribution and remain the lot of a narrow circle of enthusiasts.

The statistics of sales of musical disks is rather indicative. Thus, in 2003, according to the RIAA, 400,000 DVD Audio discs, 1.3 million SACDs and 745 million conventional CDs were sold. As you can see, the difference between the sales of "superdiscs" and regular CDs is huge. Music lovers had different opinions about why SACD and DVD-Audio did not become mainstream. Some were not happy with the division of discs into two different standards, others were upset by the high cost of suitable players and the difficulty in purchasing discs, and others lamented that their favorite music was not released on "super discs".

The bright heads of the audio industry drew the right conclusions from this story. Now they offer us high resolution recordings as files without the disadvantages of SACD and DVD-Audio. High-Resolution Audio recordings are available anywhere in the world (where there is Internet), they can be played on a variety of equipment (except for expensive solutions for enthusiasts, there are options for ordinary consumers), there is no format war (equipment usually plays all types of recordings).

New era

2015 can be called the year of High-Resolution Audio. Because manufacturers have released a lot of equipment compatible with Hi-Res Audio, and music labels, in turn, announce the re-release of numerous old records and delight with the release of new high-definition albums. Moreover, these changes affect not only wealthy audiophiles who are ready to shell out more than one thousand dollars for their hobby, but also ordinary music lovers who want to listen to music with good quality. For example, Sony has revived the legendary series of Walkman players with models that play Hi-Res Audio, and Iron Maiden's discography (17 albums and 2 compilations) will be re-released in Hi-Res Audio.

Unlike high-definition video, there is no precise definition of Hi-Res Audio yet. So it is customary to call all recordings with a quality better than conventional Audio CDs or their copies in the form of files. High resolution recordings sound better because the music material is stored at better parameters than CD recordings - 24bit/96kHz or higher instead of 16bit/44.1kHz. The difference in numbers is impressive, but by ear the increase in quality is not so noticeable.

High resolution recordings are closer to analogue sources than CD and lossless

“I can't hear the difference between MP3 320 kbps and FLAC.

“If you don’t hear it, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist!”

Have you seen such discussions on the net? The same will now be with FLAC and Hi-Res Audio. History goes in a spiral? It looks like it. If we compare the difference in quality between MP3, FLAC and Hi-Res Audio and DVD, Blu-Ray and 4K video, then the difference is noticeably better with video. And anyway, even if the differences in quality are not so big, but they will be noticeable. However only with good technology.

The bitrate of High-Resolution Audio is several times greater than that of CD and even more so of MP3

Where can I get Hi-Res Audio recordings?

Many record companies are or will be releasing records in 24bit/96kHz quality and better as files. Including industry giants Warner Music, Universal and Sony Music, as well as small companies like Blue Coast Records. Thanks to their work, many popular trends in music and artists are represented in Hi-Res Audio. Much attention is paid to rock and pop music, as well as classical and jazz. And the number of releases of alternative music, hip-hop, movie soundtracks, etc. is not large.

Music lovers are offered both recordings of "old" music like classic albums (for example, Imagine from John Lennon), and new releases like The Pale Emperor from Marilyn Manson. Moreover, it is important that the records of the 60-80s are usually remastered (mastering is done in the studio in a new way). And contrary to the belief of some conservative music lovers that “remasters are evil,” sometimes reissues turn out to be very successful. For example, like in the Why Pink Floyd... project? So even records that you are already tired of listening to can get a second wind - you will have a reason to listen to your favorite (but a little boring) records, at least in order to assess whether there is a difference or not.

So, the choice of music is great, but where can you get Hi-Res Audio recordings?

1. Special sites serve as a source of legal content. Among the most famous are www.hdtracks.com, www.highresaudio.com, www.nativedsd.com. On them you can buy albums in different formats and different quality. Usually, the better the quality of the recording, the higher its price. Although, many albums are available in the same format and with the same price tag.

2. On the Web, you can find various sites that are sources of illegal content: copies of recordings from SACD and DVD-Audio discs, copies of files from sites like www.hdtracks.com and homemade digitization of vinyl records. By the way, such digitizations are a unique type of content, because it is “produced” only by amateurs for free distribution on the Web.

3. Streaming music services may start streaming Hi-Res Audio in the foreseeable future. So far, popular Apple Music, Google Play, etc. do not support this option. But Tidal (together with hi-fi manufacturer Meridian) has demonstrated the new MQA streaming standard and plans to launch "high-definition broadcasting" over the Web in the UK in 2015. By the way, this duet is not accidental. After all, Tidal positions itself as the first music service with High Fidelity sound quality, and Meridian developed the DVD-Audio standard.

What to listen to?

The most significant contribution to the development of digital music and Hi-Res Audio has been made by Japanese companies. In particular, Sony, Pioneer, Marantz have done a lot both to distribute "superdiscs" and to popularize Hi-Res Audio in the form of files. So, Sony took part in the development of the SACD standard, Pioneer's DV-AX10 became the first player to play SACD and DVD-Audio discs, and Marantz almost all CD players play SACD discs. In the past few years, Japanese industry giants have stepped up their efforts. In 2013, Sony introduced a series of new products, from source to speaker, that play 24-bit/96kHz recordings. However, other companies, and not only from the Land of the Rising Sun, but also from the USA and Europe, began to present their solutions. If we study the product range of many companies in 2015, we can draw several optimistic conclusions.

Firstly, it is clear that manufacturers are trying to implement Hi-Res Audio support almost everywhere where it is possible - from portable players to AV receivers. It is quite possible that soon this "trick" will become an integral feature of high-quality equipment. Secondly, we note that in order to join high-resolution recordings, it is not necessary to buy Hi-Fi equipment with frightening price tags. You can use products that are more or less accessible to many music lovers. Thirdly, to immerse yourself in, for example, the Drones concept album from Muse, it is not necessary to pile up a system of large speakers, an amplifier, etc. at home. You can get by with compact solutions like a DAC connected to a computer and headphones. What's more, you can listen to music with first-class quality not only at home and in the office, but even on the go.

Special logos will help you quickly identify the equipment, compatible with Hi-Res Audio, and related music recordings

Consider several systems where sources play Hi-Res Audio files, and amplifiers, speakers and headphones play recordings up to 40 kHz. By the way, it is believed that the technique should have an extended frequency range, because records with a sampling rate of 96 kHz and higher can save sounds up to 40 kHz. How important this is, given that we hear sounds up to 20 kHz, is a difficult question. The main thing is that the technique should be of high quality - otherwise, the differences between Hi-Res Audio and ordinary recordings will not be noticeable.

Listen to music on the go - portable player + headphones.

Sony NWZ-15 + SONY-MDR-1A.htm, FiiO X3 2nd gen + Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7.

We listen to music at the computer - PC + sound card or DAC + headphones or amplifier with acoustics.

PC or Mac + AudioQuest DragonFly v1.2 + Audio-Technica ATH-MSR7 or Arcam FMJ A19 + Monitor Audio Gold 100 (2015 version).

We listen to music using a stationary stereo system - a network player + an amplifier with acoustics.

Marantz NA8005 + Marantz PM8005 + Dali Mentor 1.

We listen to music using a home theater - a network player + an AV receiver with multi-channel acoustics.

Pioneer N-50 + Pioneer VSX-824 + Magnat Quantum 750 series.

A PC with special software can serve as a repository for music of all formats, including high-resolution recordings

Cons of the concept of High-Resolution Audio

Consider the pitfalls you will encounter:

1. You need more disk space to store files. An album recorded at 24bit/96kHz is about twice as long as a lossless copy of a regular Audio CD (standard 16bit/44.1kHz). Although if you have already decided to go from MP3 to FLAC for the sake of sound quality, then you are probably willing to sacrifice disk space for even better quality.

2. On the Web you can find "fakes" - recordings in 24 bit / 96 or 196 kHz format made by craftsmen from ordinary CDs (the so-called upconvert from the words up convert). They may have good sound quality, but it's still not Hi-Res Audio. Use trusted content sources...and trust your ears.

3. Mobile devices consume battery faster. Playing high resolution recordings drains the battery of mobile devices faster. For example, the Sony NWZ-A15 player plays MP3 files for up to 50 hours, while high-definition FLAC plays only 30 hours.

4. Many standards and formats. At first it is difficult to understand what is better FLAC or WAV with 24bit / 96kHz recording parameters, what is the difference between DXD and DSD files, etc. If you find the right recording sources (like www.hdtracks.com), then you can not delve into into such subtleties and take what they offer - the choice is usually small.

5. You need to get out of your comfort zone. The disadvantage of the new standard of music storage is that in order to join it, music lovers need to look for music recordings, update equipment, etc. However, the search for new musical experiences is an integral feature of the music lover's character. And joining Hi-Res Audio may not change your idea of music, but it will provide new impressions, give you a reason to communicate with friends, etc.

If you have equipment that supports Hi-Res Audio, you can start acquaintance with high-resolution recordings quite legally. For example, the portal www.hdtracks.com offers a free download of a collection of music recordings of different genres. Try it - perhaps this experiment will be clearer than similar articles. After all, to paraphrase a well-known saying, it is better to hear once than read a hundred times.