PONO shop now live RHCP 96/24 available

Posted by: Dan43 on 08 January 2015

I think this has been live for a few days, need a US credit card and address so appears to be US only.

Personally I was initially excited to see RHCP 96/24 for Blood Sugar, Stadium Arcadium, By The Way etc  available which are not anywhere else (HDT don't have those versions) so appear to be the first versions of records exclusively available on PONO from a record Company that aren't else where.

Reading some 'join the conversation' posts on the site they appear to be no better or the same as the CD versions, DR very bad, dynamic compression same as the originals (loudness wars) and not newly re-mastered as many hoped. (as mentioned below the Hoffman mastering of Stadium Arcadium would be a lot better)

 

Compressed dynamics compared to the original 1991 CD and vinyl. Compare it with the data from the original on the DR Database here:

 

Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Pono DR)

 

This example from the site :

I just got my RHCP Pono which came with Californication, and I can confirm that it the same brickwalled mastering by Meller. Unfortunately, this seems to be the only official mastering since it's used for everything from CD to vinyl to digital formats. The only upshot I see in the Pono digital copy is that it sounds ever so slightly less harsh; the treble peaks just sound a touch smoother to me.  

But is it worth re-purchasing the album? Not really, which stinks because all the other RHCP albums starting from BSSM to IWY suffer the same mastering techniques.

Now, if only Pono would sell the Hoffman mastering of Stadium Arcadium I'd buy that one in a heartbeat.

Here's to hoping someone will create a good re-mastering or create hi-res versions of the existing new masters of these albums one day.

Also costs for these are at $16, about £10 each, others seem very expensive others reasonable so difficult to gauge their cost/value at this early stage, but £10 for 96/24 of Blood Sugar re-mastered I would buy, anyways early musings on the new PONO site with some rumbles it is just more of the same and they haven't truly engaged in providing the best that could be made available, early doors for them mind, lets see.

 

Posted on: 08 January 2015 by dave4jazz

 

We've had the hype but what's the big deal over, say, HDTracks or Qobuz downloads?

 

Dave

Posted on: 08 January 2015 by Dan43

Don't think there is any, except the fact it is them that are doing it, that is celebrity types.

 

One of their selling points was getting Hi-Res/24bit music that no one else can get as groups/bands have endorsed the service, such as Pearl Jam and RHCP, but their offerings are exactly the same as HDT and Qobuz so not sure what they have except that marketing, implying they have re-invented the same Hi-Res well somewhat. I feel they are aiming for mass mainstream not those who already enjoy 24bit. 

I imagine once Apple/Beats get their thing going it will add another notch to the Hi-Res post, choice is good though look at the streaming markets.

Plenty of shops sell CDs, or did, what made them stand out from the crowd in the day? Probably price mainly :-)