24bit Rush

$17.98

Standard price for 24 bit downloads.

There are many RUSH fans here, I'm sure someone will download it and share their impressions with us.

Ditto. And I will get them on disk too. I hope this is the beginning - assuming the product is of sufficient quality. I downloaded the files over night. When I've shifted some work this morning I will be sitting down for what I hope is a treat.

Insert subjectivity disclaimer here.

Well, I can honestly say I’ve never heard Moving Pictures like this before.  It’s an album I play frequently and because I’m so familiar with it, it gets used as a kind of “test album” for evaluating systems – among others.  Throughout March and into April we’ve been wearing it out more than usual auditioning new speaker candidates. Having moved the XL6 through the lounge we’re currently with the XLS, with A9 and Ovator S-400 still to come.

In our room the XLS gives at times a slightly jangly presentation, which although it may sound like it is not a criticism. But Moving Pictures is an album which, shall we say, we are well calibrated with and tuned into on the XLS.  The 24bit version is different.  So if you love the album and you’d like to hear a different presentation it’s worth exploring for this alone.

In what ways is it different?  I expect everyone will have a slightly different take on this due to variations in rooms, ears and equipment. The lower registers seem to have been paired back by a small amount. They are tuneful but a tad dryer and tighter. Mid and top have gone the other way. The vocals exist in a bigger space and I heard phrasing, plus reverb, squashing and fuzzing effects which to the best of my hearing were less emphasised or absent from the Rush Remaster CD. Pert’s kit has increased in drum count by about 25% because there is more texture to the surfaces which give more of an insight into how hard and at what angle he was hitting them.  I must stress these effects are subtle (but obvious).  

Moving Pictures, even on CD, had a presentation that I would categorise as “traditional analogue”. Lots of dark body and organic something. The 24bit is more open, contains more textures and is a presentation which is easier to mentally “walk into”. There is also the odd hint of distortion on the lead guitar which may well be deliberate, although it sounds more like a needle hitting the stop. We are back in the 70s after all.

The overall result – for me at least – is a slightly more raw presentation with space and texture. Added to slightly less full fat bass performance which still has weight, plays tunes and showcases Lee’s  talents – which for this Rush fanboy are well into the realms of genius. The drum kit is easier to make out and understand *how” it is being played.

If you thought Moving Pictures was maybe a bit dark and muddy, the 24bit version could be what your ears desire. If you liked it like it was, you might find this release a bit toppy.  While sitting back and listening, I was put in mind of my last exposure to the SL2. Hugely capable but with a balance which I found challenging. I ended up on the floor between two stalls in that while I was not entirely comfortable with the presentation there was a sense of musical reality which would be noticeable by its absence from other boxes. Although I will stress again that the difference I’ve heard today on Moving Pictures are much, much more subtle. In terms of challenging presentation, I wouldn’t even go that far with the 24bit album. I think it’s more a case of what you’re used to and what you’ve learned to expect after thirty years of listening to it.

I don’t in any way feel short changed by this purchase.  If you are of a mind to try it you will not be buying a dog. But it will almost certainly sound different to you.

For what that’s worth.

It's like getting a new Rush album.

Love it!

Lary

OK Harry,

You sold me - bought.

Like you I LOVE this album. The first album I ripped to 9624 - be interesting to hear the studios remaster.

M

Will you be ripping the tracks on the DVD to 24/96? If so I'd love to hear how you do it.

I never have liked remastered copies of any albums. My 30 year old original vinyl is the only copy I need.

the best version of all will be on the UK tour in May. Can't wait for 21st May and a weekend in Newcastle

Harry,

I do - and I'll let you know how I get on.

Iron,

I have MUCH preferred some later CDs to earlier ones.

Didn't much care for the SACD remix of Dark Side.

Mixed bag for me.

M

Harry,

Done - used DVD-Audio Extractor.

There are two sets of MLP files - one surround, one stereo; both 9624.

Files are stored as MLP, ie DVD-Audio. Using the gui you can select to save them as WAV files.

M

I ripped the CD using my NS01.

I added the 9624 files and kicked of a share rescan using the DTC, files just picked up.

...any difference?

For me, fundamentally they both sound great .....but, the 9624 files win. Why?

Well, as good as the 16bit rip is the vocals sounds ever so slightly sat upon. The 24bit files sound free and clear.

So how do they sound compared to me LP 9624 rip?

Well the DVD files win for lack of surface noise.

But, I THINK I actually prefer my rip. It has that familiar LP12 base shape!

Just have to listen to the tracks again....

M

Mr Underhill,

I'd just like to thank you for bringing DVD Audio Extractor to my attention. I have just ripped my Pearl Jam MTV Unplugged DVD to wav and am enjoying it as I type. It was a quick and painless process. I'm now looking through my DVD collection to see if there any other gems that I can listen to on my main system.

Thanks again.

Glad to be of assistance.

M