UnitiServe SSD vs hi-res FLAC Peter Gabriel So 25th Anniversary

Posted by: Audiofool on 24 October 2012

My copy of the new Peter Gabriel So 25th Anniversary Immersion Box set arrived yesterday. Yes this 2012 remaster sounds better than any other So remaster that I’ve heard. This box set comes with a download from the B&W Society of Sound of the remastered So album in 24-bit FLAC. I downloaded this FLAC version from B&W and ripped the 2012 remastered So CD from the above box set to compare. The CD was ripped onto my NAS with my UnitiServe SSD. The FLAC from B&W was put on the same NAS. Both were played back on my NAC-N 172 XS and NAP 250-2. The remastered CD ripped to WAV on the Serve SSD sounds much better than the 24-bit FLAC. This is not the first time that I’ve noted that hi-res files don’t sound as good as CDs ripped by the Serve-SSD. Every time I see something good in hi-res on HDtracks.com and I'm about ready to buy it on-line, I have to remind myself that odds are it will sound just and good (or better) and be cheaper to buy the CD and then rip it with the UnitiServe SSD. Yes the UnitiServe is that good.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Interesting findings. Could you try one further test : convert the FLAC to WAV, put it on a USB stick, plug it into the back of the UnitiServe and play it directly from the Serve. Report back !

 

Thanks,

 

Jan

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Audiofool

Hi Jan, I've never converted FLAC to WAV. What's the best way to do this on a Mac?

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Hi,

 

dBpoweramp will do it, now available for MAC OSX.

 

Jan

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Audiofool

I don't find a Mac version on http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

My apologies, I got confused with Asset uPnp for Mac OSX that has recently been released by the same developers.

 

Do you have a windows emulator on your Mac ? You could run dBpoweramp that way.

 

A search on the forum should turn up alternatives. Others Mac users have surely done this ?

 

Jan

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

Got it :

 

XLD

 

http://www.macupdate.com/app/m...0/x-lossless-decoder

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Bart
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:

Or Max.  http://sbooth.org/Max/

 

Both useful.  I keep both on my Mac.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Audiofool

Thanks Jan and Bart. I'll give em a try.

Posted on: 24 October 2012 by Lilyliu
I had asked my dealer about this very thing a year ago, and was told the bit perfect ripping would always outperform FLAC.  Then I checked that with another dealer and was told the same.  Hmm .. Same koolaid glass?
I'll be curious to hear about your further comparison..
Posted on: 24 October 2012 by AMA
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:

 I got confused with Asset uPnp for Mac OSX that has recently been released by 

Can I have a reference, pls?

Posted on: 25 October 2012 by What's My Name

Does the FLAC have any level of compression ? It is usual that they do and I understand uncompressing can impact sound quality. I rip all using uncompressed FLAC and did notice better sound quality compared to compressed FLAC. If buying a FLAC I always convert it using dbPoweramp to uncompressed. Not sure about the MAC converts but dbPoweramp can do this easily.

Posted on: 25 October 2012 by PinkHamster

Sorry to disappoint you chaps but I am going to destroy your house now ...

 

The remastered CD is remastered in exactly the way that evreybody is ranting about in the context of the loudness war. The CD has been robbed of its dynamics and even cut off in the upper frequency ranges. auCDtect even classifies it as a fake lossless file (reconcerted from a lossy format). But in turn it is nice and loud. This is what you obviously prefer and consider 'higher quality', which it is not.

Posted on: 25 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by AMA:
Originally Posted by Jan-Erik Nordoen:

 I got confused with Asset uPnp for Mac OSX that has recently been released by 

Can I have a reference, pls?

Hi AMA

 

It's in beta form, here :

 

http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/sh...et-UPnP-For-OSX-(MAC)

Posted on: 25 October 2012 by Jan-Erik Nordoen

bump, for AMA