I do not have Time Out DSD256 from HDTT, and I like the SACD. I have purchased a number of DSD256 files from HDTT lately. They sound in general more analog-like, but in DS most of mine sounded on the warmer towards dark even. However, I like them more in DS MK2. A great DAC does make a significant difference in processing these big files.
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I wanted a little taste of the HDTT so I bought a gold cd (looks as if it actually may be a CDR) of Duke Ellington āEllington Indigosā as it is a recording I have had a long long time on both mono and stereo LPs, and three different cd versions. I love this music, and I know if intimately. I donāt play files and I suppose I could get a DSD256 and put it on a USB stick and play it through the PST but. . .not yet going to do that.
So the cd from HDTT sounds very good. It sounds to me like a dub from a commercial reel to reel Columbia may have offered back in the day. Before I moved back to vinyl as well as digital about a dozen years ago Iād say it sounded more āanalogā but in fact now analog sounds different to me, so I would say it sounds a bit smoother, a bit veiled and soft, in comparison to my favorite digital version, the gold cd from Impex (which gives you more material, including mono tracks that are alternate to the stereo). Both are great ways to listen to the core album material.
Oddly the HDTT puts side 2 first, then side 1, a very disorienting listen for someone who has heard this music for three decades.
Ultimately both the mono and stereo LPs are better listens for me in my system (both LP and cd listening for me mainly involve the DSD DAC as I use a NuWave Phono Converter and send DSD vis I2S to the DAC most of the time rather than the balanced out from the NuWave). And yeah, Iām only hearing the Redbook version, Iām sure a DSD256 will sound different. So. . . okay. . . not likely to buy any more cds from HDTT but Iām okay with this oneā¦
A general question: how are these legitimate releases? Has that been explained?
First, casual listen of the 24/96 download of Time Out this AM on the iMac/DragonFly Red/Grado SR80 rig via JRiver Media Center this AM. (I expect the 24K Gold CD to arrive sometime today.)
So far, so good; but Iāll leave the comparative analysis for later - after I have had a chance to settle in with this file on the Big Rig.
In the meantime, I found this interesting:
First time I have ever noticed variations in the bitrate among digital download tracks.
Thoughtsā¦?
Yes, this has been discussed many times. HDTT releases material that is out of copyright. Exceptions are the IPI recordings from Jonathan Horwich and some other tapes for which they receive masters from the owners of those tapes (e.g., Desmar).
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PCM files will have varying bitrates. I see that is all of my PCM albums. Dunno why.
Indigos is a fairly early transfer by HDTT. It is available up to DSD128, but not as a DSD256. Iād guess you are correct that it comes from an early Columbia commercial tape, probably like this 7.5ips release shown at Reel-to-Reel:
Well, their transfer didnāt exactly WOW me. And Iām not likely to go the files route so not being available in 256 is okay; if I were to go that route as a test 128 would suit.
Thereās not a whole lot of titles Iām interested in.
Thanks for the response re: legitimacy, I havenāt had the stamina to go through this whole thread. I should have figured, a āgray marketā company.
Once you make that leap to DSD256, it can become addictive. I use a usb flash drive connected to my 4k blu ray player to play DSD256 files, and love what Iām hearing.
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Iām probably not going to make that leap.
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For those following the thoughts being shared about the sound of the HDTT DSD256 reissue of Brubeckās Time Out, I just had to post a snip of this comment about the release from @tedsmith over on the eponymous thread @Buho started:
Okay, with this, Iāll be quiet unless some folks want to discuss this further and invite me to join in the conversation. 
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When you are done listening to the HDTT version do yourself a favor if you donāt already own the Analogue Productions Take Five Itās so much better than the HDTT version! I love all the HDTT releases but Time Out is a disappointment IMO.
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The Columbia SACD is the best I own.
The CD from HDTT and the 24/96 file I got with the CD purchase are not nearly as musical as the SACD.
Would you recommend buying the AP release as compared to the SACD?
Agree about the Analogue Productions Take Five. I have the SACD (Austria) and it is my goto version of Take Five.
I have learned to rethink and classify it differently once I realized that we here are usually talking to fellow listeners who previously decided against an analog chain and only have the digital option. For them, the HDTT releases are the closest thing to hear analog magic at least in mids ā¦ and partly even from the inferior ones as this seems to be. In case of those HDTT which are really too recessed, Iād even prefer the better normal digital releases if it needs to be digitalā¦.as some here seem to do in case of Time out.
I had the original Columbia release 2 channel only. I have no interest in multichannel and yes the AP version is better. I also have the standard Redbook CD and the AP is better than that also. The HDTT version seems slower paced and heavily veiled IMO.
That matches my earsā impressions as wellā¦a distinct lack of clarity and sharpnessā¦
My litmus test is the drums on the introduction to Take Five. If they are not resonant and donāt sound like āsticks on skinā, thenā¦
Unfortunately, the HDTT 24K CD and 24/96 download are not as āgoodā in this regard, when compared to my Columbia SACD release. I have not had a chance to dig up my garden variety CD version and compare it yet.
All that said, the higher resolution DSD files from HDTT might be fantastic.
Do you really think the higher DSD resolution cures what you perceive as āheavily veiledā? Is this your experience about the differences between CD and hires DSD?
I would have said, thatās mainly add. ambiance information and air, but I didnāt hear over DSD64 yet in my setup (except from the PC but that was worse anyway).
No, not really.
Hence, my polite observation: āā¦the higher resolution DSD files from HDTT might be fantastic.ā
Itās always going to be on a case by case basis, but the DSD256 of Ben Webster Live in Copenhagen sounds better in DSD256 versus DSD64, and both sound absolutely stunningly phenominal, and worth every penny. (I know, I sound like a broken record, but sounds like real, live music. Does not get any better) (I think @aangen said that about a DSD256 release at Kyomiā¦)
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