root9

Ted, thanks very much for the thread summary. That is good news, though I am still having pops after using Bogi's tool. This makes me think that the pops are because I have played DSF from foobar, which is converting to PCM on the fly to my audio interface. I will try playing the DSF files without PCM conversion. Sorry going off topic a bit, but does anybody know if JRiver can stream DSD (as DSF files) to an Oppo 103 without converting to PCM(?) And can the Oppo 103 play DSF files burned to a DVD, gaplessly? Thank you!

Can anybody clarify which, if any, PC based tools can convert to DSF without pops? It seems that some are not having the issue, or is it that maybe some aren't concerned because they don't have many gapless SACDs?

I'm glad you found the problem. I don't have the capability of reproducing your issue since I am not using foo_dsd_asio. I have foo_input_sacd set to convert to PCM. Sacrilege I know! All the same, I want to keep my dsd files dsd of course.

I assume you've had no clicking problems with other file types and foobar, like flac etc..(?)

Ah..I'm used to calling them by their extension, read it as DSF.. My foobar player seems to have no click problems playing those though. I'm using version 1.2.3 of foobar and 0.6.6 of foo_input_sacd.

Anybody spring a bunch of money on this set yet to see if these are from the compressed JP SACDs?

I thought Sonore truncated the last bits of the file when it performs a DSD to DSF conversion. HQplayer is somehow smoothing that out and preventing the clicks?

I heard something about that too, I'm hoping it's not the case! It's pretty surprising to me that gapless wasn't a priority from the beginning. It's unfortunate to have to spare the extra hard drive space, but I think you're right. I don't have access to a MAC unfortunately. I'm not so sure about Audiogate, I don't like the twitter BS, I'd rather pay for it but they don't give you the option.

Thanks Synfreak. I do use foobar, but I also stream to an Oppop BDP-103. The BDP-103 streams have gaps between tracks, (which I think the latest firmware fixed for USB drive input only and not streaming), so the clicks are the least of my problems. I expect that Oppo will figure out a fix in a future firmware update but if not maybe I'll do some kind of workaround for albums where gaps are not acceptable. I just ripped a bunch of SACDs and what I'm trying to do is future-proof this now as much as possible. Convert and tag them now as DSF and be done with it. I don't want to have to worry about staying with a certain player. Since the DSF files converted by this utility are not a complete representation of the ISO because of missing samples, I think I'll hold off until a fix is made. I'm surprised you are occasionally hearing clicks on the DFFs, even faint ones... Maybe foobar can have a small amount of trouble keeping up on the fly when converting to PCM from DFF..? There seems to be zero potential for clicks if playing a PCM already converted from DFF (meaning a DFF converted from ISO by the Sonore utility) by foobar judging by my null test. (well except for any system slowness that might affect foobar..)

I have the problem too. As stated above, the problem is only with DSF not DFF. I did a null test with the original ISO and converted DFF tracks and the two were identical all the way through Dark Side of the Moon- no missing data. I of course had to convert to PCM in foobar for the test, but the DSF had missing data and the DFF did not. Zooming in on the DSF I could see the truncated waveforms causing the audible clicks, but there was no problem with the DFF files. If the problem is really in the PCM conversion I don't understand how it would only affect the conversion from DFS. Hopefully this can be fixed since DFF is worthless for tagging.

I compared the HDtracks with the original CD. The hiss is no worse on the HDtracks, the EQ makes it slightly more apparent, HOWEVER, the original CD has some pretty bad dropouts and noise in the left channel on The Gates of Delirium. The other two songs on the original CD don't have this problem. On the fade out, it's pretty obvious with headphones. It sounds like the whole tape had the problem on that song. So the HDtracks is a HUGE improvement by not having that issue. I don't know if the remasters had that problem, but I'm doubting it. Too bad because the tonality is the best of the CDs IMO. The EQ on the original CD appears slightly smiley-faced compared to the HDtracks when I cloned the EQ. In this case, smiley-faced relative to the HDtracks is not a horrible thing, about a 2db drop around 1-2k, joining up around 10k and down around 100hz. I wouldn't call it that significant, but it's quite audible. It makes the HDtracks sound brighter and a bit more forward. I'd prefer something between the two with a little more bass overall and a tad less high end. Anyway, it's worth the price for the HDtracks just to rid yourself of the awful tape problem in the left channel of Gates if you are an original CD fan. As for the Marino remaster and the Rhino, I'm not a fan of either of those. There's no noise reduction on the HDtracks, (not that anybody suspected that) and I don't hear (or see) any signs of compression at all. The original CD had some slightly early fades. HDtracks has no early fades. I have the 96k version of HDtracks Relayer by the way, though I had to do these comparisons with a 44.1k version I converted to compare to the CD, since my DAW doesn't like different sample rates in the same project. This Relayer is the best yet IMO, but I may tweak the EQ more to my liking.

Thanks for your posts, they helped make buying this one a no-risk purchase for me. I agree about the Rhino, extreme EQ is probably the last thing this album needs. Steve Howe's tone is perfect for it, but it can get to be piercing pretty easily I think if the EQ is too extreme. I agree that the Soon section could have been mixed better. Remixes are a mixed bag for me though. Pun intended : ) I've heard people rave about Steve Wilson's remix work, but haven't heard any myself. To me, original mixes, especially with classics, is like a photograph from those times. The mindset of everybody involved back then, that shines through in the end product. Remixes invariably sound sterile to me, and/or not in the spirit of the times. These HDtrack Yes offerings are perfect for anybody that wants to do their own EQing. Great-sounding transfers. As much as I dislike what Steve Hoffman did on CTTE SACD on the high-end, the bass sounds fantastic. I'm looking forward to his GFTO, but expecting pretty much the same-not enough high end for my tastes, a little scoop out of it or something. I'm hoping the high-end won't suffer as much as the CTTE. I'll buy it of course, then come here to complain about it! LOL

That first section you mention is just because (i think) during mixing Moraz's synth was cranked for that section. Probably because it sounds f*****g awesome. But I think that distortion is the natural sound of the square waves on his synth. As for the part at 12:50, that's my favorite part of the song. I'm hearing what sound like sound effects in the background that were possibly added for ambiance and wondering if that resulted in that distorted sound. I wouldn't doubt if the whole mix level was cranked at that point either, for effect. Jon Anderson has described this song as a "war" . The intense levels, and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach might have been intentional. I'm listening to it now and I am noticing a fair amount of hiss on the quiet sections. I'm going to compare it to the original CD later..It might just be to slightly more high end compared to the original cd. The mastering sounds similar to GFTO from HDtracks. A bit bright without a lot of low end. Could use more bass IMO.

awesome news, can't wait to hear this. thanks for the reviews and analysis people. the rhino is painful, the original cd is pretty good. yep, tales is needed badly. the original cd is too dark. the rhino remaster is too compressed but decent eq. let's not forget about drama, i'd expect that to be coming soon too.

Got this. Compared with the original CD the clarity on this is fantastic. More upper-mids but I think the other disc couldn't be made to sound this good with any adjusting of EQ. Bass-shy maybe, like the other HDtracks YES downloads, no less than the original... a great transfer! As for the music, the first half is a little bit of a mixed bag...never did like Madrigal, Don't Kill the Whale isn't their best moment, Release Release is kind of nice, a little pop-ish after GFTO...Second half gets better..Arriving UFO is a little zany but interesting...Circus of Heaven is great, Jon Anderson sings beautifully, who says lyrics have to make sense...Onward is more tasteful than most of the album and of course On the Silent Wings of Freedom is a must. Scrape off the cheese and enjoy! Now, where's Relayer??