dizziness

Yes, Bitperfect shows integer but isn't working too well. Some tracks yes and others no.

FYI: I'm getting Integer Mode again with Bitperfect and Decibel in 10.9 Mavericks. The fidelity is much improved. I forgot how much I missed it.

The S/T released has something weird going on. Here's a spectrograph from "Black Clouds and Silver Linings" (DR10): https://www.dropbox.com/s/xkv3gwdnp834uji/Screenshot%202013-09-30%2012.30.44.png And also from "Systematic Chaos" (DR10): https://www.dropbox.com/s/h5a0r4g7u0cviq2/Screenshot%202013-09-30%2012.33.03.png But from the S/T (DR12): https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ynd9n4tfmfhdnx/Screenshot%202013-09-30%2012.34.12.png What strange HF limiting is going on there?

HDTracks version is the "Loud" master but with the extra tracks from the iTunes Deluxe and also interview. Curious though, they dropped every track 0.5dB to avoid the "overs". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed folder: /Volumes/Media/iTunes/iTunes Music/Music/Nine Inch Nails/Hesitation Marks (HDTracks) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 -0.77 dB -17.44 dB 01 The Eater of Dreams.m4a DR4 -0.50 dB -7.53 dB 02 Copy of A.m4a DR4 -0.50 dB -6.30 dB 03 Came Back Haunted.m4a DR6 -0.60 dB -8.93 dB 04 Find My Way.m4a DR5 -0.50 dB -7.65 dB 05 All Time Low.m4a DR6 -0.50 dB -9.12 dB 06 Disappointed.m4a DR3 -1.00 dB -5.73 dB 07 Everything.m4a DR5 -0.50 dB -7.38 dB 08 Satellite.m4a DR5 -0.50 dB -8.51 dB 09 Various Methods of Escape.m4a DR7 -0.67 dB -8.61 dB 10 Running.m4a DR5 -0.50 dB -7.25 dB 11 I Would For You.m4a DR6 -0.50 dB -9.85 dB 12 In Two.m4a DR8 -0.50 dB -9.79 dB 13 While I'm Still Here.m4a DR4 -0.50 dB -7.11 dB 14 Black Noise.m4a ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 14 Official DR value: DR5

While there isn't much DR difference between the two, the overall tonal balance is more weighty, individual instruments/busses have less limiting, and the sound staging is much better.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed folder: /Volumes/Media/iTunes/iTunes Music/Music/Nine Inch Nails/Hesitation Marks ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 -0.27 dB -16.94 dB 01 The Eater Of Dreams.m4a DR4 -0.00 dB -7.03 dB 02 Copy Of A.m4a DR4 -0.00 dB -5.80 dB 03 Came Back Haunted.m4a DR6 -0.10 dB -8.43 dB 04 Find My Way.m4a DR5 -0.00 dB -7.15 dB 05 All Time Low.m4a DR6 over -8.62 dB 06 Disappointed.m4a DR3 -0.50 dB -5.23 dB 07 Everything.m4a DR5 over -6.88 dB 08 Satellite.m4a DR5 -0.00 dB -8.01 dB 09 Various Methods Of Escape.m4a DR7 -0.17 dB -8.11 dB 10 Running.m4a DR5 over -6.75 dB 11 I Would For You.m4a DR6 over -9.35 dB 12 In Two.m4a DR8 over -9.29 dB 13 While I'm Still Here.m4a DR4 over -6.61 dB 14 Black Noise.m4a ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 14 Official DR value: DR5 ============================================================================================== and ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Analyzed folder: /Volumes/Media/iTunes/iTunes Music/Music/Nine Inch Nails/Hesitation Marks (Audiophile Mastered Version) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR9 -1.51 dB -18.68 dB 01 The Eater Of Dreams.m4a DR5 -0.05 dB -7.97 dB 02 Copy Of A.m4a DR5 -0.05 dB -6.64 dB 03 Came Back Haunted.m4a DR5 -0.05 dB -8.33 dB 04 Find My Way.m4a DR7 -0.05 dB -9.54 dB 05 All Time Low.m4a DR6 -0.05 dB -8.81 dB 06 Disappointed.m4a DR5 -0.05 dB -6.81 dB 07 Everything.m4a DR7 -0.05 dB -9.35 dB 08 Satellite.m4a DR5 -0.05 dB -8.34 dB 09 Various Methods Of Escape.m4a DR6 -0.05 dB -7.28 dB 10 Running.m4a DR6 -0.05 dB -7.78 dB 11 I Would For You.m4a DR7 -0.05 dB -10.91 dB 12 In Two.m4a DR7 over -9.10 dB 13 While I'm Still Here.m4a DR5 over -7.73 dB 14 Black Noise.m4a ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of files: 14 Official DR value: DR6 ==============================================================================================

Interestingly, the DAC used is capable of 24/192. See: Rogue Amoeba - Under The Microscope » Blog Archive » Airport Express (Dual-Band) Disassembly. Asahi Kasei AKM4430. Too bad its not iOS based, then maybe someone could write a jailbreak firmware with 24/192 support. Has anyone tried this for the AppleTV2/3?

A new bug/flaw is introduced in Bitperfect 1.0. With Bitperfect enabled, Home Sharing/Shared Library sources are mute. Bitperfect has to be disabled to stream these sources. While I know it is impossible for Bitperfect to play these stream sources, it is awkward to manually disable when switching to a remote source. I don't know if Bitperfect can offer any benefit (such as switching sampling rate).

I love my rDAC but now am considering the Teddy Pardo rDAC PSU. At nearly $400 USD shipped, I'm wondering if there isn't a cheaper state-side solution. Ideas?

I don't think this is true. I just payed some of the Beatles 24-bit stereo issues and King Crimson ripped from DVD-A. No problem on my iPhone 4 with iOS5.

Yeah, the CD and HDTracks download are the same mastering job. But the HD Tracks is clearly the hi-res master BEFORE it was downsampled and dithered to 16-bit. As I said before (and I agree with Chris), the HD Tracks release is audibly superior, albeit with limited dynamic range. The fidelity difference is smaller than an "Audiophile" recording but heck, it's rock and roll.

The current 20th Anniversary Redbook and HDTracks releases are identical masters. I compared to a friend and the HDTracks matches: Analyzed folder: /Volumes/Media/iTunes/iTunes Music/Music/Nirvana/Nevermind (Deluxe Edition) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR Peak RMS Filename ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DR6 over -7.81 dB 1-01 Smells Like Teen Spirit.m4a DR7 over -7.82 dB 1-02 In Bloom.m4a DR7 over -8.37 dB 1-03 Come As Your Are.m4a DR7 over -7.80 dB 1-04 Breed.m4a DR7 over -8.98 dB 1-05 Lithium.m4a DR9 -0.08 dB -10.31 dB 1-06 Polly.m4a DR7 -0.02 dB -7.97 dB 1-07 Territorial Pissings.m4a DR7 over -7.73 dB 1-08 Drain You.m4a DR7 over -7.81 dB 1-09 Lounge Act.m4a DR7 -0.02 dB -7.63 dB 1-10 Stay Away.m4a DR7 over -7.48 dB 1-11 On A Plain.m4a DR7 over -9.22 dB 1-12 Something In The Way.m4a Comparing the two, there is a positive effect of not being frequency limited by sampling rate. It adds just a touch of perceived dynamics, especially on cymbal crashes and snare hits. I perceive a slight amount of bass dynamic or precision improvement. I don't think anyone expected much fidelity from Nevermind, given the recording chain and such. On the other hand, In Utero could benefit from a lightly mastered hi-res release. Albini's recording and Grohl's drumming was a match made in heaven.

Plus listen to an absolutely smashed dynamic range release in hi-res! Post waveforms and spectrographs. I expect I'll be keeping my MoFi release.

I believe the liner notes for this and "Workingman's Dead" both credit Mickey Hart as mixing engineer for both the 5.1 and the stereo mixes.

I re-ripped the Redbook CD of Monster and compared to the DVD-A 2.0 rip. They are definitely the same mix, with improved depth and bass resolution on the DVD-A. Yes, there is audible fuzz distortion on the guitar on both rips. If the mix available from HD Tracks sounds different, you're likely hearing a 5.1 mix down.