View Full Version : Steely Dan Gaucho in 24/96 FLAC
Ammonite Audio
11-02-2011, 18:29
Just noticed that HD Tracks have "Gaucho" available for download in 24bit 96kHz FLAC format, at https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD00008811205522 . I might have to treat myself!
Just noticed that HD Tracks have "Gaucho" available for download in 24bit 96kHz FLAC format, at https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD00008811205522 . I might have to treat myself!
Go for it - I have the 24/96 DVD audio version it is a jaw dropping experience.
I have the SACD, which is very good indeed. I marginally prefer the LP, though.
Ali Tait
11-02-2011, 18:53
I have the HDTracks FLAC, it's very good indeed.
Gaucho is probably the best produced album I've heard. I have a decent vinyl copy and the remastered CD and on my humble gear they both sound amazing. Is the SACD still available at a reasonable price?? if so where can I find it??
Just had a look on Amazon..£137 ...too dear fur me I'm afraid.:eek:
Just had a look on Amazon..£137 ...too dear fur me I'm afraid.:eek: I used to have it. Sold it on fleabay years ago for a tenner or something like that :doh:
Ammonite Audio
12-02-2011, 20:29
Well, I have downloaded the HD Tracks 24/96 Gaucho. I sat down, expecting something akin to a religious experience, but I have to say that the LP sounds much better, being much more vibrant and pacey, even on my Kenwood KD-770D which is not the most engaging vinyl spinner. The 24/96 FLAC version sounds rather CD-like, to my ears. I checked all the computer settings and all is as it should be - the Lyngdorf amp correctly indicates 96kHz as the incoming digital signal, using either Foobar or J River Media Center, on a Win7 machine with WASAPI.
So, a bit of a let-down, particularly in light of superb results with music downloaded from Linn Records.
Well, I have downloaded the HD Tracks 24/96 Gaucho. I sat down, expecting something akin to a religious experience, but I have to say that the LP sounds much better, being much more vibrant and pacey, even on my Kenwood KD-770D which is not the most engaging vinyl spinner. The 24/96 FLAC version sounds rather CD-like, to my ears. I checked all the computer settings and all is as it should be - the Lyngdorf amp correctly indicates 96kHz as the incoming digital signal, using either Foobar or J River Media Center, on a Win7 machine with WASAPI.
So, a bit of a let-down, particularly in light of superb results with music downloaded from Linn Records.
You do have a pretty fancy vinyl front end, Hugo. Is it not just the case that good vinyl replay is better than the best digital has to offer? That isn't going to surprise some of the members here.
Ammonite Audio
13-02-2011, 11:28
I wouldn't call the KD-770D 'fancy' at all, but admittedly the Audio Note arm is a bit tasty. The KD-770D is comprehensively shown the door by my TD124 (noisy idler wheel and all), so for now the Jelco is back on the Kenwood and sounding quite respectable - the Audio Note arm is back on the TD124.
As for the 24/96 'Gaucho', I'd like to know how it was produced, eg did they use the original master tapes, or just upsample the CD master to 24/96. I suspect the latter, bearing in mind how good the LP is (and mine is not an audiophile version or anything like that).
I don't agree that vinyl has any inherent superiority over digital - it's all about the quality of the recording and the care taken in different mastering and production processes to preserve that quality, and the performance too. Where digital falls down is in the lazy use of automatic equalisation and level settings in digital mastering; also I suspect some data compression too in a lot of cases. When I hear the stuff that Linn Records sell, I am in no doubt that digital can match and often surpass vinyl. The Beatles 2009 remasters on 24/44.1 can also be held up as good examples of the digital engineer's art.
.
As for the 24/96 'Gaucho', I'd like to know how it was produced, eg did they use the original master tapes, or just upsample the CD master to 24/96. I suspect the latter, bearing in mind how good the LP is (and mine is not an audiophile version or anything like that).
I don't agree that vinyl has any inherent superiority over digital - .
I wasn't suggesting that Vinyl is inherently superior - just that it has a different presentation that a lot of people prefer even to the best of digital recordings.
Ammonite Audio
13-02-2011, 12:41
That's certainly true.
It's an interesting one: vinyl does indeed have a different presentation but maybe not in the way that the anti-vinyl brigade would have it; the common misconceptions that vinyl is bloated, woolly or lacking in dynamics is far from the truth. It's the presentation of soundstage and depth that really pulls vinyl ahead, but I maintain that it is also more dynamic, has a much more natural and extended treble and does something with rhythm and timing that digital seems to lack.
There is no getting over surface noise and minor blemishes, although a good deck reduces them to unnoticeable while the music is playing and a RCM banishes virtually all of it.
Stratmangler
13-02-2011, 14:42
As for the 24/96 'Gaucho', I'd like to know how it was produced, eg did they use the original master tapes, or just upsample the CD master to 24/96. I suspect the latter, bearing in mind how good the LP is (and mine is not an audiophile version or anything like that).
As far as I know the 24/96 files are the same as those that appeared on the DVD-A release a few years back.
As DVD-Audio was one of the formats vying for acceptance at the time I'd be surprised if the record company didn't spend money and have the job done properly - for this reason I do not think it's a 16/44.1 upsampling job.
As far as I know the 24/96 files are the same as those that appeared on the DVD-A release a few years back.
As DVD-Audio was one of the formats vying for acceptance at the time I'd be surprised if the record company didn't spend money and have the job done properly - for this reason I do not think it's a 16/44.1 upsampling job.
According to the notes on my DVD-A Bob Ludwig did the mastering both times, immplying it is a remaster and not an upsample.
magiccarpetride
14-02-2011, 17:55
The Beatles 2009 remasters on 24/44.1 can also be held up as good examples of the digital engineer's art.
Yes, the more I listen to these 24/44.1 Beatles remasters, the more I realize how the increase in the bit depth, when used properly, can truly yield phenomenal sound quality.
Hmm, I must be missing something here.
I’ve got Steely Dan on MCA Masterdisc Gold and Gaucho CD remastered (can’t remember which and can’t find it atm) and the HD tracks download and to my ears the MCA Mastedisc sounds the best. Wish I hadn’t bothered with the HD download tbh.
Not even sure that I think the recording quality on any of the above is particularly special; isn’t just more like they can play (?)
Now Donald Fagen, Morph The Cat is a different matter; this is a good recording imo.
I’ll just go and get my hearing aid batteries checked :eyebrows:
Are we sure that vinyl has greater dynamic range :scratch:
Not even sure that I think the recording quality on any of the above is particularly special; isn’t just more like they can play (?)
They certainly can play, but I think Gaucho is a showcase recording. If it isn't doing it for you then maybe there's something wrong somewhere? I don't have the standard CD but the SACD is superb and the (standard) LP outstanding.
I’ll just go and get my hearing aid batteries checked :eyebrows:
That might be a good idea ;)
Are we sure that vinyl has greater dynamic range :scratch:
In the case of Gaucho, emphatically yes!
Ali Tait
15-02-2011, 07:37
Never heard Gaucho on anything but the HDTracks release, so have nothing to judge it against.
Well, I’ve checked my hearing aid batteries, got it in the right way round and had another go ;)
I must say that I do remember Gaucho being excellent on vinyl, at least on par with Ry Cooders Bop Till You Drop (vinyl) but that was a digital recording if my memory serves me.
Anyway, got slightly confuzzeled bout the albums.
I have HD tracks Gaucho download and I’m not overly impressed.
I also have Gaucho on standard CD; sure, a good recording but compared to say The Raconteurs, Consolers Of The Lonely, the Donald Fagen track I mentioned or even Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk, the percussion seems a bit flat and the album while very slick and smooth in recording quality and play isn’t what I would describe as outstandingly dynamic. Perhaps it’s the recording style rather than the clarity :scratch:
But I have Hey Nineteen and Babylon Sisters on the Definitive Collection which is a re-master and on a Decade of Steely Dan (MCA Masterdisc Gold) and I prefer these tracks on the MCA Gold offering.
Oh well, strange what different people hear isn’t it.
(maybe I ought to run the albums through a frequency analyser later, might have a dodgy download)
Still not sure about this more dynamic vinyl; I have always thought that a digital recording gave a greater dynamic range capability than a cut vinyl could, something to do with groove depth and width.
Oh well, I’m prolly wrong.
I must say that I do remember Gaucho being excellent on vinyl, at least on par with Ry Cooders Bop Till You Drop (vinyl) but that was a digital recording if my memory serves me.
The Ry Cooder was the first digitally recorded rock album and sounds very good on vinyl, a little splashy in the treble but nevertheless impressive overall. Gaucho is harder hitting dynamically, by comparison.
Managed to buy the SACD from the Bay...just over £11..look forward to it's arrival .
Managed to buy the SACD from the Bay...just over £11..look forward to it's arrival .
Well done. Let me know what you think. I'm currently without my SACD player but I will compare again the SACD with the LP on its return.
Well done. Let me know what you think. I'm currently without my SACD player but I will compare again the SACD with the LP on its return.
I just have a cheap Pioneer sacd player..doesn't even play in multi channel ..My dear old Sony packed up just before Christmas. They are getting hard to come by these days.
doesn't even play in multi channel
Personally, I see that as a benefit :)
Personally, I see that as a benefit :)
So do I..I paid £350 for it last month from Amazon..and I know it's not high end by a long way but on my system it sounds decent. If I could slow down buying CD's & vinyl I could buy much better gear to play it on....:rolleyes:
Some labels are supporting SACD very well, keeping it alive. Tends to be classical and jazz mostly.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2026 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.