What download have you bought?

[teamsaint]

Which Bernstein box?

Prolly the DG vol 2 to start with, Dave.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/CDs-Vinyl/Leonard-Bernstein-Collection-Vol-2/B018M84UYS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1487886842&sr=8-4&keywords=bernstein+box+set

there was a brief conversation about it over on " What are you waiting for in the post?"

[mahlerei]

Toyed with the idea of downloading Chandos's 24/96 download of Gardner's recording of Rendering only to opt for the slightly cheaper SACD option on Amazon on the mistaken assumption that I would be able to extract the SACD layer through my Sony BDP S-7200 via an HDMI splitter connected up to my M DAC+. Now lumbered with what is essentially a 16/44 recording which sounds dreadful in its hybrid CD format.

i suspect the awfulness has more to do with the less-than-optimal playback method than anything intrinsic to the recording. That said, I have struggled with recent Chandos releases, especially where balances are concerned. Hard to find an ideal listening level (eg. the Ed Gardner Gurre-Lieder and Zarathustra/Planets). Very frustrating, but they're not the only culprits.

[Sir Velo]

i suspect the awfulness has more to do with the less-than-optimal playback method than anything intrinsic to the recording. That said, I have struggled with recent Chandos releases, especially where balances are concerned. Hard to find an ideal listening level (eg. the Gardner Gurre-Lieder and Zarathustra/Planets). very frustrating, but they're not the only culprits.

Yes, I agree. I suspect you would know far more than I as to why this would happen but in this case, the sound quality was quite disastrous - like listening to an MP3, boxy with a very thin sound. Not nice. Will probably return the CD and try the download, now that the SACD option is a no-no.

[Dave2002]

Prolly the DG vol 2 to start with, Dave.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/CDs-Vinyl/Leonard-Bernstein-Collection-Vol-2/B018M84UYS/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1487886842&sr=8-4&keywords=bernstein+box+set

there was a brief conversation about it over on " What are you waiting for in the post?"

I settled a year or more back for the Sony Symphony Edition - which I recommend. I have some of the DG discs already anyway - such as the Sibelius symphonies - which are different in the two versions. I actually like both, though when push comes to shove I think the NYPO versions of some of the works are actually better. Possibly the same would be the case for Mahler - though again I do have them in both versions. Arguably some of the recordings are better in the DG versions - though most of the Sony ones seem to sound pretty good now.

I didn't get (yet?) the other Sony Bernstein box set with concertos etc.

Did Bernstein do much opera - or record many?

[teamsaint]

I settled a year or more back for the Sony Symphony Edition - which I recommend. I have some of the DG discs already anyway - such as the Sibelius symphonies - which are different in the two versions. I actually like both, though when push comes to shove I think the NYPO versions of some of the works are actually better. Possibly the same would be the case for Mahler - though again I do have them in both versions. Arguably some of the recordings are better in the DG versions - though most of the Sony ones seem to sound pretty good now.

I didn't get (yet?) the other Sony Bernstein box set with concertos etc.

That one is going for some quite keen prices ATM, under £60 , possibly used ?

[Beef Oven!]

Downloaded Bernstein’s recording of symphonies 2 & 3 a few days ago, ahead of tomorrow’s BaL. Good price at £3.09 for 16 Bit CD quality.

Also has a very interesting 13 minute Bernstein discussion of Ives.

[Dave2002]

That one is going for some quite keen prices ATM, under £60 , possibly used ?

I can only see it for around £75 presumably new, right now. However used copies of the Symphony Edition, which I have are available - for around £500! - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bernstein-S...mphony+edition

Makes me wonder if I should order another one of those "cheap" Mozart 225 boxes in the hope of selling one in a few years. Mine arrived a few days ago, and I'm staggered by how much it weighs. Not opened it yet - but it surely must have lead in there. Sorry - now drifting OT - in a download thread.

However, does put beefie's Ives symphony download (which I thought a tad expensive) into a different context - and I'd need to check if my CD from the big box has the 13 minute discussion as well - probably does - looks (from memory) a bit like the CD cover.

[Bryn]

OT, a freebee rather than a purchase, but Dudamel's Beethoven 9th from QOBUZ in Hi Res (96/24).

Hope this link works:

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/pages/dudamel?utm_medium=e-mail&utm_source=newsletter-hebdo-playlists_104_fr&j=12108&e=bryn.harris@ntlworld.com&sfmc_sub=11540354&l=29_HTML&u=262916&mid=7290575&jb=5

[Beef Oven!]

OT, a freebee rather than a purchase, but Dudamel's Beethoven 9th from QOBUZ in Hi Res (96/24).

Hope this link works:

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/pages/dud...d=7290575&jb=5

Worked!

[Dave2002]

OT, a freebee rather than a purchase, but Dudamel's Beethoven 9th from QOBUZ in Hi Res (96/24).

Hope this link works:

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/pages/dud...d=7290575&jb=5

Is this a situation where most MAC users are at a disadvantage?
Assuming that most are still using basic iTunes, then even if they have hardware which will play 96/24 files it might not work - unless perhaps iTunes has been updated to cope with Hi Res files (and presumably FLAC ...) - which I don't think it has been to date.

Of course there are technical fixes, and even Windows users may have to do some work to benefit, though perhaps most FLAC capable players in Windows will do something, even if they simply do on the fly downsampling.

Perhaps see https://pooraudiophile.com/2016/02/h...le-itunes.html

[Bryn]

Is this a situation where most MAC users are at a disadvantage?
Assuming that most are still using basic iTunes, then even if they have hardware which will play 96/24 files it might not work - unless perhaps iTunes has been updated to cope with Hi Res files (and presumably FLAC ...) - which I don't think it has been to date.

Of course there are technical fixes, and even Windows users may have to do some work to benefit, though perhaps most FLAC capable players in Windows will do something, even if they simply do on the fly downsampling.

Perhaps see https://pooraudiophile.com/2016/02/h...le-itunes.html

ALAC is supposedly one of the options. However, as mentioned, when I selected FLAC, I got WMA. You can also select CD rate if so desired,

[Beef Oven!]

Mine automatically downloaded as an ALAC (my default Qobuz setting) 24 Bit/96.000 kHz Hi-Res recording and is in my iTunes library now. No problems here.

Many thanks, Bryn.

[Dave2002]

ALAC is supposedly one of the options. However, as mentioned, when I selected FLAC, I got WMA. You can also select CD rate if so desired,

Personally I should be able to download FLAC and convert to (say) ALAC and downsample if needed, but maybe not everyone will be able to do that if they only have basic iTunes. If there's an ALAC option maybe I'll try that, as I could do the reverse conversion too if needed I expect - though it might be more difficult.

As you hint though, it might be worth checking that the hi-res formats are actually available.

[Stunsworth]

Is this a situation where most MAC users are at a disadvantage?
Assuming that most are still using basic iTunes, then even if they have hardware which will play 96/24 files it might not work - unless perhaps iTunes has been updated to cope with Hi Res files (and presumably FLAC ...) - which I don't think it has been to date.

Of course there are technical fixes, and even Windows users may have to do some work to benefit, though perhaps most FLAC capable players in Windows will do something, even if they simply do on the fly downsampling.

Perhaps see https://pooraudiophile.com/2016/02/h...le-itunes.html

itunes can certainly replay up to 24/96 - that's the highest my current DAC can go - and higher. The problem is that you need to adjust the bit depth and sampling frequency manually in the Audio/Midi app - that's why many use a program such as Audirvana or Pure Music as those can integrate with iTunes and handle the switching automatically.

Ios devices on the other hand are limited to a maximum of 24/48.

[Dave2002]

itunes can certainly replay up to 24/96 - that's the highest my current DAC can go - and higher. The problem is that you need to adjust the bit depth and sampling frequency manually in the Audio/Midi app - that's why many use a program such as Audirvana or Pure Music as those can integrate with iTunes and handle the switching automatically.

Ios devices on the other hand are limited to a maximum of 24/48.

Interesting about iTunes. I just haven't got round to it.

Re iOS, is there a way which iOS users can do the Hi Res download and play them? I think maybe it can be done with the Player Extreme app or some other apps, though the hardware itself may limit output. Some users might want to play on several different devices, so would not just want a version which would only play on iOS, and another for more "hi-res" purposes.

The article here gives some clues for iOS - http://www.macworld.com/article/2064...s-devices.html