Design w Sound 2011

Dear Kent,

I’ve download the sampler (24bit 96kHz WAV) to my iMac but the iTune cannot recognize it. Did I need to convert it to other format first?

Best regards

Dear avreality,
No you don’t need to convert it to anything. I just made a test on with my powerbook, downloaded the file, double click on it, it will copy to your itunes folder.

If you have selected to show the bit rate, it is 6144kpbs.

If my DVD authoring software can’t support 24-bit floating point, can you place the normal 24-bit file /96 kHz version as well?

Yes indeed. The original 96kHz file was actually 32bit floating point rather than 24bit, because I was still making very small adjustments. The newly uploaded files are all based on 24bit now.

Kent,

I must congratulate you on this new album – well, I have only heard one song from the free download. I’ve just purchased a Korg MR-1000 http://ww.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=MR1000&category_id=3 and downloaded the DSD version of Lush Life from your free download.

It is one of the best sounding and most beautiful recording I’ve ever heard! I can imagine being there at your studio listening to the live recording session! Wow! I can’t imagine what the DXD version would be like but then getting equipment for DXD playback would be very expensive.

Looking forward to purchasing this new album. It will be available as DSD/DXD download as well right?

Great Stuff!

Brian

Brian, thanks so much for your comments and support! I wish more people can know about it. The high resolution format, even just the 24/96 is very high fidelity and supreme in quality. We cannot find other media to provide this quality for our customer. With computer technology, you can just download it. More importantly, you have the clone file of our master source. Simple and straight forward.

We are treating this special Limited Edition customer as a licensee. Each customer can register their copies online, email or fax. After registration, we will provide after sales support and service, FREE of CHARGE.

That’s mean even our LE version will contain a Premium Made CD-R with CD disc measurement report and a data DVD with 24/96 & 29/192 audio Wave files, once you becomes our registered member, we will provide DXD and DSD version for you if you wish, again this service will be free of charge. You just need to be sure you are capable to playback the files.

Because of this special concept, and the very rare Premium Made CD-R, we can only provide 1250pc.
We are still producing the Premium Made CD-R at the moment as it is Extremely time consuming.
We target to release on street in December.

Edited Dec 19: The official release will be during CES 2009.

Kent,

What equipment is being used to record in DXD? What is the easiest way to playback DXD files?

Are we talking about Merging Sphynx2 http://www.merging.com/2002/html/sphynx2.htm or DAD’s AX24 http://www.digitalaudio.dk/ax24.htm here?

Brian

We have used the dCS for some of the DXD recording. We have also transfer some of our DSD master back to 24bit/384kHz for DXD. What we want is to provide all formats that our customer wants, but from our standpoint even the 24/96 can fully represent the resolution that audiophile dreams about. Above 24/96, it is about own taste and no actually winner when you compare 24/96, 192, 384 and DXD. They are represents the recording in slightly different way. It also relates to how each customer playback setup/equipment match for different results.

Cannot download, it seems that I have deleted the .wav file.

kk, the WAV files are now replaced by AIFF files, because we have embedded the album art and info on each file. Let me know what can I assist you.

I just downloaded and listened to the track “Freddie”, sound stage is wide and deep, imaging is excellent, musical and very smooth. When all these add together…: Analogue sound!!! Even my wife thinks the track sounds good (she seldom comments on any song that I play)!

Is it possible to get the WAV files? I am using MediaMonkey on XP and it does not support AIFF.

Can’t download anything. Is this for MAC only? I enter your password and user name and can not get futher. It has options to “upload” but not “download”…..

Hello joeljoel1947. The download is for both PC and Mac. As you can see the options to “upload” that means you have reached the panel. You can click on the folder, will show you all files in different resolution. On the far right column, you will then see the download button.
Hope this help.

Thanks, I’ll try that out. I am going to CES and see you guys might be there? Will you have things available for sale like the Jazz Prologe master wav file DVD data disc? Where will you be at CES? THE Show?

Hello, DWS. I have bought your Jazz CDR/DVD of serial no. 0800. Unfortunately, I realised my cheapy Cambridge DAC Magic can’t retreive the HiRez files in 96 or 192khz format (incoming signal lamp at 48khz only). Really hope that the DAC2 can be kept at the very first introductory price until we attend your course. BTW, it is a process of changing our habit – put the money on computer and DAC playing HiRez rather than SACD/CD gears playing 16bit/44.1khz.

Hello !
Thank you for the samples. But all I was able to find in the directory is only AIFF’s.
I do not see the DSD samples… date stamped 01 23 2009…
What has changed?
Thank you!!!

Beautiful recordings as always. A minor correction on Paul McGowan’s retorhic?

I own The Memory Player since 2005. It plays these files stunningly well. I see no “first” as PS Audio claims as I have been playing DAD and HD-DAD from The Music.com for years on this machine. That’s 24-96 and 24-192 respectively.

A little truth in advertising might serve this hype laden industry. PS is of course, all promo but I’d expect better from KJ.

Regardless thank you for these files and they are stupendous as advertized.

The Old Geek,
Las Vegas

loved the recordings, but when comparing with other similar hi end recordings from say RR or Opus, I do not find the huge difference. Yes it is flatter and somehow a bit more alive, but not overwhelmingly so, as I had anticipated.

Is this because I am using Itunes? The output of itunes (Mac book) to my DAC is 44.1, though it plays the (originaly) 96Khz files fine?

Any way to get 96 output from Macbook/itunes? Would it be better if I downloaded the 44.1 file? Of vourse I will do that anyway now….

best regards

Aubrey

How?

I use the optical out on the mac book. My Dac does not have firewire input.

I have a way of fooling the mac (using a program called Traction) into being reset for 96khz, but I believe that itunes only will output 44.1. Therefore I always felt it was ‘upsampling’ and as you have mentioned somewhere, which I agree with it, I don’t really like the upsampled sound.

Is there anyway to get itunes to work with natural 96/24?

best regards

Aubrey

Hello Aubrey

iTunes is capable to playback 24bit/192kHz file. I think the optical out on macbook support up to 24/96.
Have you click on Audio MIDI and set the optical output to 96kHz?
If you DAC can accept optical toslink at 96kHz, it should work.

Bests,
Kent

Hi Kent, have you tried MacBook Pro + Fireface 400 + Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC? How does it compare with MacBook Pro + Weiss Minera?

RobinHood: Submitted on: Jan 7, 2009 @ 20:25 Edit
Thanks for posting on the Computer Audiophile website, offering your sample track downloads and advancing the state of the art in computer audio. I look forward to listening to your sample tracks.

bearheath
January 12th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Kent,
Great site, thanks for the downloads. Wonderful music and sound quality. Looking forward to more releases.

sleepysurf
January 24th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Fantastic site Kent! Your sample tracks are superb, and exactly what I was looking for in order to comparitively listen to Redbook CD vs. 24/96 and 24/192. I’d *REALLY* like to hear *YOUR* opinion on the audible differences between Recbook CD, vs. high-res recordings, vs. vinyl!! A few of us have been debating this over at the Martin Logan club (thread http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8162), and there have been similar discussions at the Slimdevices Forum and Audiocircle. I think computer-based streaming is clearly the way to go, but am fearful the mass market mp3 mentality might kill it. Sure hope not!

I am using Sony PCM-D50 and cannot play Aiff-files; can any 96/24bits Wav be relaeased? I really would like to have a chance for high quality music. Thanks & best regards! Johnny

Kent,

Because of the great quality of the samples you allow us to download, I have just placed an order for my copy. I have two questions: First, do you have an estimated delivery time in weeks or days for delivery to Florida, USA? Second, what are your personal recommendations for other audiophile quality discs that are similar to AJP3?

Thank you so much for creating such spectacular sound engineering!

Cheers,
Jim

Hello Jim, Thank you very much for your support. I hope you will like our sound and music. Your disc was sent today by registered mail. It will take about 7 days to reach your location.

I always think Chesky, Opus 3, Proprius, Reference Recordings, FIM are my mentors.

Hi,

Just downloaded three sample last night and I am very impressed with them right now by hearing through my LINN MAJIK DS.

These sample get me now,and drive me to buy one for me but I can not find link to purchase it.Please advice me where I can place an order for AJP3 High-res version(192hz).

Hi,
just played files 24/192 using my Tascam DV-RA1000HD. Do you think to sell the DSD version (.dff files) ?

Tnx a lot,
roby

PS: music and recordings are GREAT. I’ll buy the aiff 24/192 if not available the dsd… waiting for you….

By the way ….. have you free dsd files to download ? Tnx a lot,

roby

Hello rrkradio,

Thanks for your support.
We are adding those DSD free samples back online at the moment. Contact me offline if you would like to get the DSD version. Thank you.

I have tried all the 3 AIFF versions via itune. Please advise how to play the .dff file? Seems that both itune and Foobar do not work for this format.

Hello kk, the .diff files are DSD files. You will need DSD capable player such as Tascam, Kong, Pyramix, Sadie DSD to open such audio files.

Dear Kent,
Do you recall the album “After 6″ back in 2000 when you were the sound engineer. It was this CD I own back then gave me the confidence to buy your Audiophile Jazz Prologue I. Great recordings! I am very impressed by your dedication to digital audio. And thank you for your free download on your part III. Really a masterpiece!
I have been into the ds family recently (finally), adding Linn Majik ds to my Hi-Fi system.
After all these years, what’s your view on the future digital stream

Danny

I entered the username and password for the loading but there is nothing happened. Safari is showing “Loading…”. Please help.

04 and 06 already download with thanks, Download 03, 24/192 with error at the last momment. I have try 3 times 24/192 and ine time 24/96, a;so cannot

Is it possible to play the DSD files via an SACD player?
I doubt it as there is no way to write an SACD disc, no even buy the blancs!
I have a DVD-A/SACD player and I can write to DVD-A on my PC, so which download format would you recommend for the best sound quality?
I can use AIF, FLAC, MP3, OGG, WAV PCM and WMA including lossless (with no DRM) to import into DVD-A writing programme. This programme can export to WAV, WMA, FLAC, AAC, A52 and MKV, but my DVDplayer is limited to playback WAV only of the lossless file types. It will play variuos compressed auio file types but I’m not wanting any of them unless lossless like good old FLAC.

Hello
Tried more times and it seem to be all ok but when push to download, it appears logon page, stays one second and dissapear, and it appears once, and then nothing.
Please help.
Best regards.

SUCCES with firefox.
Iexplore and opera dont work.
Thank You, for this great works and recordings.
Cheers.

Hi, thanks for the samples, downloaded the 24/196 versions and a couple of the DSD.dff files to compare, initially played back the AIFF files..wow very smooth and enjoyable, this is thru a P4 based PC using the onboard sound output through some decent cables to an NAD304 and some custom in-walls, the differences are clearly discernable, …these recordings must sound amazing through a high spec CPU and 24/196 capable dac, the DSD sounds very different to the 24/196 not sure which I prefer at this stage…all good fun. BTW am using latest foobar2000 player for playback, I guess there is a purer way of playing the DSD file??..anyhow thanks again.
ps I also have cplay installed which is a great audio player (from sourceforge.net), it supports WAV, FLAC and .CUE files so would’ve loved to have tryed your downloads in WAV format.

Thanks for the samples, 24/196 versions

Dear Kent,
I’ve download the sampler (24bit 96kHz) to my Macmini. I like the music and the production very much. Thank you!
I’m using: Mac mini/ Itunes/Amarra mini/ USB/ M audio transit/ Wadia 581iSE/ Pass Labs xa100.5/ Wilson Watt Puppy.
How would be sound with the new Weiss 202 vs my current Wadia 581iSE, any opinion?

brg from Europe

Hello brg,

Sorry for the late reply and thank you for writing.

First of all I think you will be noticed that I am the person who takes care the Weiss in whole Asia region, so my comment “should” be biased. However I wish my perspective can still be fair and professional in engineering. Your current setup is top quality except the USB M Audio transit interface. I can only say that Weiss DAC202 is the latest Weiss 2010 design and extremely high performances. We have few Weiss flagship DAC Medea users “upgrading” their Medea to DAC202……

On the other hand, INT202 will improve quite much from your M-Audio and work with your Wadia 581iSE. I will suggest you either upgrade the INT202 from M-Audio, and listen to DAC202 and compare with your Wadia 581iSE.

Bests,
Kent

admin :
I can only say that Weiss DAC202 is the latest Weiss 2010 design and extremely high performances. We have few Weiss flagship DAC Medea users “upgrading” their Medea to DAC202……
Bests,
Kent

Kent.

do you think the DAC202 is superior to the Medea ?

Kind regards

matthias

Dear Kent,
I tried to find the DXD files but could only find all the other music files.
Have the DXD files been removed? or can they be found somewhere else?

Best regards,
Sigurd

Hello Kent,
please dig them out again. Thanks!

I am using a Japanese memory card player that can play DXD files. This player is then connected via I2S to a DAC that uses the ESS Sabre32 DA chip.

Best regards,
Sigurd
@admin

Could you please try to find those DXD files. Huge thanks

Hi Kent,

any news about the DXD files? It would be nice to let us to download them again.

I downloaded three 192 kHz-24 bit files. My impression is that those sounds are very smooth.
We appreciate your effort for distributing such high quality files.

Chiaki and I are developing a SDHC memory card-based player kit that is capable of playing DXD files (limited to 352.8 kHz/24 bit . 384 kHz/24 bit is not supported). This project is not commercial one but a DIY audiophile project.
We ship sample hi-res WAV files in a 4GB SDHC memory card with the kit. We got a special permission from 2L and store those 2L sample files (including DXD files) on the media.
However, the sources are limited in a category of classical music. Therefore, we’d be very happy if you could give us a permission of including your files on our sampler.
We realize we are asking a big favor, but would you consider our request?

@Bunpei
You player sound interesting. If you are able to go all the way to 352.8 kHz why not 384? Even if Kent Poon gives the permission, you’ll have to use the 192 version?

@Bunpei
Hello Bunpei,

Of course you are welcome to use these as free samples. They are meant to be free usage and hope people who want to own the whole album will buy one.

I would like to say that the memeory card player I use, is the one made by Bunpei and Chiaki
as described by Bunpei above.

regards
Sigurd

@Sigurd Ruschkowski

iandrew :
@Bunpei If you are able to go all the way to 352.8 kHz why not 384? Even if Kent Poon gives the permission, you’ll have to use the 192 version?

SDTrans192 uses 8bit MCU of 100 MIPS. Because of its processing performance limit, however, the player can’t handle 384 kHz/ 24 bit WAV files.

admin :
@Bunpei
Hello Bunpei,
Of course you are welcome to use these as free samples. They are meant to be free usage and hope people who want to own the whole album will buy one.

I’m sorry that I did not reply soon. I’d like to express my gratitude to your generous permission. We will include one of your 192 kHz/ 24 bit files into our sampler memory card with your credit.

can’t get the audio example, as I can’t even login to this mobile me (GRRRR: Apple) account.

Hi,
I just downloaded Lush Life (.dff). How can i play it with my PS3? Please suggest…
Regards,

Hi Kent,

The samples are simply Brilliant, thanks. Now to find a store to buy it..in Germany.. any ideas?

looking forward to trying, thanks.