HDCD on a non machine

Posted by: garyi on 08 September 2001

I bought Tubular Bells this weekend, (Just thought it was something I should have)

Anyhoo its an HDCD recording, now I have a couple of these things, thing is they just don't sound right on a non HDCD machine.

The main issue is there is very little bass. Mabye you will disagree with me but I have found it with three cds, (By virtue of the fact I only have three HDCD recordings)

So is tubular bells inherently un-bassy in its recording, or are my suspicions bore out?

Actually listening right now, to track two the high notes are sibulent, and frankly horrible, I am going to have to turn it off......

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by Steve B

I wouldn't use Tubular Bells as a Yardstick as even the vinyl version is pretty poor as far as I remember.

Last time I heard it I thought the timing was way off as well, although that was the performers rather than the recording.

I might see if I can find my copy and have another listen as I haven't heard it for a long while.

Steve B

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by garyi

This version seems to be a newish one on Virgin?

Anyhoo its horrible. I have another HDCD which is a demo with Frank Zappas Inca roads, again very little bass goin on.

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by Rico

This is not a case of playng DBX-encoded records or tapes on a non-DBX machine. An HDCD cd should play and sound just fine on a non-HDCD machine. Anything lacking is more likely something preceding the disc in your posession, or a system problem.

You paid for Tubular Bells?

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by Steve B

quote:
You paid for Tubular Bells?

Nice one Rico.

Steve B

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by garyi

Bastards!

I gave a lame excuse at the beginning.

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by BrianD

quote:
Last time I heard it I thought the timing was way off as well

Well, it can't be easy playing all those instruments at the same time, can it?

Brian

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by Rico

Oh come on now! I admit to owning a copy of this somewhere in the archive. My recomendation would be to forget fidelity, and try listening to a cassette-tape copy created some time in the 80's, on something lossy like Sony CHF or BHF (TDK AD would be much too good for this purpose)... listen on a decent deck like a sub-£200 used Nak... and you can instead marvel on how the Nak manages to drag so much info from the tape. Of course this highlights the fact that there is little or no musical merit in the entire album (unless you're sampling the delights of a small skinny racehorse while listening) to distract you from the terrible sonics.

I'm sure we only pursue better fidelity when listening to crap music - why else is "Audiophile music" created by equipment manufacturers of The "High End" ?

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by garyi

Ok lets not get off the track of this thread, although I can see where its going.

Basically I am blaming HDCD for a crap recording, where as you are saying that Tubular bells was a crap recording in the first place.

So can somene with slightly more perspective tell me if tubular bells is generally a high frequency piano twinkling load of crap, or is there some bass down there somewhere which I ain't getting.

Rico. I am not about to start poncing around with my system to get this load of old crap sounding good, my system sounds great, this CD don't.

Posted on: 08 September 2001 by Steve Toy

Reed and pipe organ....
Bass guitar....
I'm playing this track as we speak, and yes, there is not much bass, apart from transients.
Ah, when the tubular bells themselves kick in the bass picks up a bit as well...
The vocal chords are added...
Fade...
Next track, "Let there be light."
Punchy bass transient running through the track, underpinning the rhythm,
"Bambababambam, bambababambam..."
Great openness, fluidity and overall timing.
On to,
"Only time will tell!"
The bass seems to be with the kitchen below...
Tubular Bells III, last track, is stunning. The bassline is fast and deep. The QS Reference table is keeping it all together...
Sounds good to me, although it is 6am Sunday morning!

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one
Steve

[This message was edited by Steven Toy on SUNDAY 09 September 2001 at 06:22.]

Posted on: 09 September 2001 by Rico

quote:
Basically I am blaming HDCD for a crap recording, where as you are saying that Tubular bells was a crap recording in the first place.

No, Garyi I am saying that the music was crap in the first place - you're looking for better sound because you're hearing the same crap music.

quote:
So can somene with slightly more perspective tell me if tubular bells is generally a high frequency piano twinkling load of crap,

Perspective? Oh sod off. And do it quietly in the corner, will you. Try to help a forum poster, add a little humour, and you get revenge of the Mike Oldfield fan. What is this place coming to.

quote:
Rico. I am not about to start poncing around with my system to get this load of old crap sounding good, my system sounds great, this CD don't.

Well there - you've answered your own question.

Oh, and BTW - HDCD processing cannot screw up a recording for you.

Buy some music!

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 09 September 2001 by Steve B

quote:
So can somene with slightly more perspective tell me if tubular bells is generally a high frequency piano twinkling load of crap, or is there some bass down there somewhere which I ain't getting.

In order to gain more perspective I've just dug out my copy and had another listen. (Anything for a fellow forum member, although 5 minutes was enough).

As far as sound quality goes my vinyl copy sounds thin and crashy, very processed and unmusical. There's enough bass there but I had to turn it up pretty loud to get it.

As for musical quality. I admit that when I first bought it all those decades ago I loved it. It was different and original from anything I'd previously bought but I quickly got tired of it and now I hate it.

A piano twinkling load of crap?

Yep.

Steve B

Posted on: 09 September 2001 by garyi

Rico, sorry no offence intended, however you are just getting personal calling me a mike oldfield fan

Anyhoo, I listened to some of it again, and i hate it, suppose this could be the music as apposed to the recording, after all I bought an old BBC recording of Yes, the recording is very poor but I am always playing it. Will probably take the Bells thing back get something else, any recommendations?

Posted on: 09 September 2001 by Rico

quote:
Rico, sorry no offence intended, however you are just getting personal calling me a mike oldfield fan

Yes sorry about that, Gary - I know that's well below the belt. I apologise.

quote:

Will probably take the Bells thing back get something else, any recommendations?

In keeping with the timeline, how about this?

It's one of our favourite reference CD's at Mullet Works - used to evaluate any stand, if one's still awake at the end of it, the stand must be lively.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

Posted on: 09 September 2001 by Eric Barry

I have a few of these that sound great--the Art Ensemble of Chicago releases (Baptizum and Fanfare for the Warriors) on Koch--even with HDCD decoding.

--Eric

Posted on: 10 September 2001 by garyi

Jon, I don't have anyhthing against Oldfield, jst recently I have been purchasing this type of music, (broadly speaking) future Sound of London, Tangerine dream etc.

I was really looking forward to digging out that famous Oldfield part which seems to be the beginning of the CD, except I think its not that actual bt, if you see what I mean.

anyhoo, if you know of a tastier recording that would be nice, I would have liked to feel a lot more bass, but mabye this is how it was recorded so i will stop my whinging.

Posted on: 10 September 2001 by Steve Toy

Jonathan,
This will be one of those little added bonuses you'll get with the CDS2 (or a CDX for that matter.)
For some reason the CD5 didn't get it.
BTW, I'm enjoying music on my system for the last time before I dismantle and box it all after work tonight.
See you tomorrow.

It's always a nice day for it, have a good one
Steve