• 1,689 replies
    admin
    Joined:
    jq171(document).ready(function (jq171) { var covertArtDownloadMarkup = 'Looking for the digital cover art? You can download it here.'; setTimeout(function() { jq171('#digital_cart').append(covertArtDownloadMarkup); }, 500); });

    What's Inside:
    •144-page paperback book with essays by Nicholas G. Meriwether and Blair Jackson
    •A portfolio with three art prints by Jessica Dessner
    • Replica ticket stubs and backstage passes for all eight shows
    •8 complete shows on 23 discs
          •3/14/90 Capital Centre, Landover, MD
          •3/18/90 Civic Center, Hartford, CT
          •3/21/90 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
          •3/25/90 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
          •3/28/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
          •3/29/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY (featuring Branford Marsalis)
          •4/1/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA
          •4/3/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA
    Recorded by long-time Grateful Dead audio engineer John Cutler
    Mixed from the master 24-track analog tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir's TRI Studios
    Mastered to HDCD specs by David Glasser
    Original Art by Jessica Dessner
    Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 9,000

    Announcing Spring 1990 (The Other One)

    "If every concert tells a tale, then every tour writes an epic. Spring 1990 felt that way: an epic with more than its share of genius and drama, brilliance and tension. And that is why the rest of the music of that tour deserves this release, why the rest of those stories need to be heard." - Nicholas G. Meriwether

    Some consider Spring 1990 the last great Grateful Dead tour. That it may be. In spite of outside difficulties and downsides, nothing could deter the Grateful Dead from crafting lightness from darkness. They were overwhelmingly triumphant in doing what they came to do, what they did best — forging powerful explorations in music. Yes, it was the music that would propel their legacy further, young fans joining the ranks with veteran Dead Heads, Jerry wondering "where do they keep coming from?" — a sentiment that still rings true today, a sentiment that offers up another opportunity for an exceptional release from a tour that serves as transcendental chapter in the Grateful Dead masterpiece.

    With Spring 1990 (The Other One), you'll have the chance to explore another eight complete shows from this chapter, the band elevating their game to deliver inspired performances of concert staples (“Tennessee Jed” and “Sugar Magnolia”), exceptional covers (Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” and the band’s last performance of the Beatles’ “Revolution”) and rare gems (the first “Loose Lucy” in 16 years) as well as many songs from Built To Last, which had been released the previous fall and would become the Dead’s final studio album. Also among the eight is one of the most sought-after shows in the Dead canon: the March, 29, 1990 show at Nassau Coliseum, where Grammy®-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis sat in with the group. The entire second set is one continuous highlight, especially the breathtaking version of “Dark Star.”

    For those of you who are keeping track, this release also marks a significant milestone as now, across the two Spring 1990 boxed sets, Dozin At The Knick, and Terrapin Limited, the entire spring tour of 1990 has been officially released, making it only the second Grateful Dead tour, after Europe 1972, to have that honor.

    Now shipping, you'll want to order your copy soon as these beautiful boxes are going, going, gone...

Comments

sort by
Recent
Reset
  • Pelke
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Very Pleased
    I'm a head from the 80's, but love all of Dave's picks, so far. Keep them coming Dave and thanks for your hard work!
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    The way I look at it is....
    ...the phases of my life come and go like the tides. I had my comic book phase, I had my video game phase, I had my fishing phase, I had my RC car phase, etc....but, nowadays if you presented all of those options, and threw the Dead in the mix and said, "What do you want to do?", playing a Dead show would never respond with a thumbs down. I may not be in the mood for a 1990 show or a 1968 or a 1977 show right now, but eventually, I would down the road. The comfort of having a physical disc or lp I can pop in at a moment's notice to sate the hunger is comforting to me. The road is long and winding (cue The Beatles), and returns full circle. 1986-1991 were formidable years in my life. Yes, I was careless. Blew a lot of money on tix, gas, plane fare, hotel rooms, grilled cheese sandwiches, drugs, beer, etc. But I regret none of it. I love this band, and all it's faces. Whether it be a Cosmic Charlie-> Born Cross-Eyed or a Corrina->Days Between, I know that, eventually I will want to experience that sequence again. It's only a matter of time.... Speaking of time, will someone invent that time machine already!
  • antonjo
    Joined:
    I remember....
    I remember those same days vividly. The ensuing embarrassment of riches of releases is all the more reason why there should be enough to go around for all eras. Enjoy the rest of your night also!
  • bolo24
    Joined:
    Well...
    I guess I just vividly remember the days when we would maybe get one release per year. I also recall a time (80s) when it was six years (!!) between official releases. And most those of were just studio albums, some of which were mediocre at best. If not for our second and third generation cassettes of taped shows, many of us probably would have abandoned the Dead altogether at some point. Compared to then, we're now flooded with high quality music several times a year, almost too much to keep up with. An embarrassment of riches, one might say. So I suppose my perspective might be a little different. Y'all have a great evening.
  • antonjo
    Joined:
    bolo
    Bolo, c'mon. You may or may not agree with the mid-80's or post-90 candle holders, but please don't insult our/their patience. How would you define "in good time" ? One From the Vault came out in 1991, and Dick's 1 in '93. Some of us have been buying these for over 20 years. Dick's 21, the only release from 84-86, came out in 2001. My time has run out. I've got enough Dead to fill a room. I'm not threatening not to subscribe anymore because of the mid-80's dearth. I've simply got enough Dead. But I will say that the lack of variety in recent years has certainly contributed to my feeling of "enough." I've got enough November '73. I've got enough Spring '72. I may even have enough '90. I'm with Star Dark in that I'd rather see a '92 release than another 70's. I'm quite grateful the vault was opened. I LOVE the December '69/Feb '70 releases Dave has graced us with--some of his most inspired choices. But where are the '75's, '84 & '87, & '91, that appeared on the original advert for the Dave's Picks series? Fall '68? Summer '73? I'm not sick of '72, I'm psyched to hear Dave's 11. But it's true that releases from these "perfect Dead" years of 72-73 meant more when any era was fair game for release, and you had to wait for your favorite year to come up. That's part of what Star Dark, and Spacebrother, have been trying to say. Every '72 show may be different, but Jerry's tone won't be different. Phil's tone won't be different. The setlist won't be different. And YES, I DID get tired of hash--my favorite--when it was in town too long! You need something to look forward to. With a 30-year career and so many claiming they'd never complain about a release because they love it all.....well, if you love it all, how can you NOT respect a complaint to release a greater variety of it all? Why is that seen as naysaying, rather than an appreciation of all GD music? I've trod these waters before, sorry for the novel. As I said, I'll enjoy DP11, and 12. But my time for waiting for what's "just around the corner, you'll see!" has come to an end. Partly, because those releases are NOT coming in good time, nor likely ever....and partly because I care less & less if they even do. To have enough is to be a rich man, and I've got more than enough. Thanks, Dave, for all you've given us. May the releases keep coming as long as there's an audience.
  • bolo24
    Joined:
    We've got YEARS of releases still to come
    All good things in all good time.
  • Vguy72
    Joined:
    Branching out....
    ....last time I checked, this is the first 72 DaP. I've already had a few hoppies, so don't mind me. ...
  • Star Dark
    Default Avatar
    Joined:
    Shakespeare
    Thanks for the smile! What the jack guy (and others) miss is the main point. It's not that *I* didn't get exactly what *I* want. It's that DL is stuck in an apparently interminable rut. It's the principle of the thing. There are only so many releases per year, and he is incapable of branching out. Argh. Heck, I'd have been happier with a post-Spring '90 release for variety's sake alone (and I generally despise those last 5 years). This shall be my last post on the topic. Jack can celebrate with a nice hoppy.
  • antonjo
    Joined:
    geez....
    Go easy, Star Dark, for ranting (not actually smashing anything, mind you, just ranting).... But don't go easy, ye "civil" posters who immediately called him a troll, and a whiny bitch who should shut his mouth....simply for speaking his mind. Sure, tell the guy you don't agree with to go easy, but everyone else is writing in a perfectly respectful manner. Um, yeah.
  • Shakespeare
    Joined:
    Star Dark,Easy, my friend.
    Star Dark, Easy, my friend. You sound like a stockbroker in October 1929. There is a fine line between disappointment and disrespect and you pole vaulted right over it. Leave the section 8 routine to the other infamous malcontents. You seem smarter than that crowd. You did crack me up, though. Steaming about the same old releases from 1972 in a string about 8 new releases from 1990 is so absurd you must be going for the WWF vibe. 1972 is such a stunning year. Would you really take a hammer to it? If this really throws your compass that badly what on earth did you do in 2008 when your 401(k) went down 50%?
user picture

Member for

17 years 8 months
jq171(document).ready(function (jq171) { var covertArtDownloadMarkup = 'Looking for the digital cover art? You can download it here.'; setTimeout(function() { jq171('#digital_cart').append(covertArtDownloadMarkup); }, 500); });

What's Inside:
•144-page paperback book with essays by Nicholas G. Meriwether and Blair Jackson
•A portfolio with three art prints by Jessica Dessner
• Replica ticket stubs and backstage passes for all eight shows
•8 complete shows on 23 discs
      •3/14/90 Capital Centre, Landover, MD
      •3/18/90 Civic Center, Hartford, CT
      •3/21/90 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
      •3/25/90 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
      •3/28/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
      •3/29/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY (featuring Branford Marsalis)
      •4/1/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA
      •4/3/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA
Recorded by long-time Grateful Dead audio engineer John Cutler
Mixed from the master 24-track analog tapes by Jeffrey Norman at Bob Weir's TRI Studios
Mastered to HDCD specs by David Glasser
Original Art by Jessica Dessner
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 9,000

Announcing Spring 1990 (The Other One)

"If every concert tells a tale, then every tour writes an epic. Spring 1990 felt that way: an epic with more than its share of genius and drama, brilliance and tension. And that is why the rest of the music of that tour deserves this release, why the rest of those stories need to be heard." - Nicholas G. Meriwether

Some consider Spring 1990 the last great Grateful Dead tour. That it may be. In spite of outside difficulties and downsides, nothing could deter the Grateful Dead from crafting lightness from darkness. They were overwhelmingly triumphant in doing what they came to do, what they did best — forging powerful explorations in music. Yes, it was the music that would propel their legacy further, young fans joining the ranks with veteran Dead Heads, Jerry wondering "where do they keep coming from?" — a sentiment that still rings true today, a sentiment that offers up another opportunity for an exceptional release from a tour that serves as transcendental chapter in the Grateful Dead masterpiece.

With Spring 1990 (The Other One), you'll have the chance to explore another eight complete shows from this chapter, the band elevating their game to deliver inspired performances of concert staples (“Tennessee Jed” and “Sugar Magnolia”), exceptional covers (Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” and the band’s last performance of the Beatles’ “Revolution”) and rare gems (the first “Loose Lucy” in 16 years) as well as many songs from Built To Last, which had been released the previous fall and would become the Dead’s final studio album. Also among the eight is one of the most sought-after shows in the Dead canon: the March, 29, 1990 show at Nassau Coliseum, where Grammy®-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis sat in with the group. The entire second set is one continuous highlight, especially the breathtaking version of “Dark Star.”

For those of you who are keeping track, this release also marks a significant milestone as now, across the two Spring 1990 boxed sets, Dozin At The Knick, and Terrapin Limited, the entire spring tour of 1990 has been officially released, making it only the second Grateful Dead tour, after Europe 1972, to have that honor.

Now shipping, you'll want to order your copy soon as these beautiful boxes are going, going, gone...

user picture

Member for

16 years 1 month
Permalink

I can't wait to hold this in my hand. Keep them coming, i am in! First box set is through the roof, sooooo well done, sound is amazing, keep the good times rollin. Jerry thank's you, i thank you. A great time to be alive.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years
Permalink

My copy arrived Downunder this afternoon (Tuesday) so glad I didn't pay extra for the express delivery. Another beautiful box, now for the music.
user picture

Member for

16 years 3 months
Permalink

My big box arrived yesterday in sunny South Australia and in every which way, the total package and contents are just absolutely perfect!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 4 months
Permalink

Thank you Dead.net A very beautiful box and I can not wait to start listening. While waiting for this I have been doing the rounds of 72-73 but this tour is my favourite. Only complaint is that the music is 'too perfect' hahaha. From Camden to Rydalmere I will be rocking these shows to and from work. Think I will start tonight though by putting 3/14 on my ipod. Thank you to all those who worked on this box set. Great job!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 6 months
Permalink

Love Ryan Adams, and looking forward to the new album. I will try to get to my local shop today to pick up the wax.
user picture

Member for

13 years 9 months
Permalink

Does anyone know where I could find digital/.jpg versions of the "album art" for each of the individual shows in the Spring 1990 TOO box? Thanks for any help!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

15 years 9 months
Permalink

My box just now arrived at my doorstep in Tennessee. A day earlier than I expected! Box number 5,837 of 9,000.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

Saw Ryan last night in DC for his record release show. He was in great spirits and the band sounded really tight. New stuff was pretty strong, if a bit poppy. Surprised, but I don't think he played anything pre Cold Roses/Jacksonville Nights. No covers, though people did holler out for Wharf Rat and Bird Song. Good time all around.
user picture

Member for

11 years
Permalink

Yes I think wjonjd is right. Reading about the mixup "I know the packaging and shipping of these is probably outsourced..". I admit I buy a few CDs a month. Many come from ImportCDs. Same packaging, labeling, and return address in Shepherdsville KY as dead.net. Still waiting on a shipping notice for my TOO box.
user picture

Member for

16 years 7 months
Permalink

I PAID 160.00 FOR THE DOWNLOADS AND THERE IS NOTHING TO DOWNLOAD. JUST EMPTY LINKS. EVENTUALLY IT TELLS YOU THAT YOU'VE EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DOWNLOADS. CUSTOMER SERVICE DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE. THEY TOLD ME IT TAKES 7-10 DAYS FOR THE DOWNLOADS TO ARRIVE.
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

Rhino moved over 1,000 units this week. That means they will all be gone in about a week from now, so please, all of you true Heads, get them now while they are still available. I don't want to see anyone miss out and I certainly do not want this site filled for weeks with folks complaining that they didn't get it and that Rhino screwed them by limiting the amount sold. Anyone who wants this (and who wouldn't?) has had plenty time to get on board. You procrastinators out there, now is the time to pull the trigger or forever be quiet. I am counting the hours until mine hits CT. this Friday.Rock on
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

I'm shocked that this has arrived in Canada for the release date. I'm pretty rural and don't think i've ever received an official release within 3 weeks of launch. The box is beautiful looking - can't wait to get into it. Problem is, I'm still digesting DaP 11 which only just (finally) arrived a few days ago. $23.53 duty for you other canucks out there ...
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

My copy arrived today, very happy with it. Really nice box, solid sound quality. The coin is really a nice touch. If you are still on the fence, better get it now while you can. I'm sure the second they sale out they will be on Ebay for 40% more. Great release, now please tell us about DP12. Jam on! Peace
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

I got it! Rushed home at lunch to dig in to it (and a great ham and swiss sandwich). Anyone know how they decide who gets which box? I pre-ordered it on the first day, and I got 8447! Sound is incredible. Definitely thinking about framing the faux stubs and backstage passes - add a little Spring 90 to my music poster wall.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

I got it! Rushed home at lunch to dig in to it (and a great ham and swiss sandwich). Anyone know how they decide who gets which box? I pre-ordered it on the first day, and I got 8447! Sound is incredible. Definitely thinking about framing the faux stubs and backstage passes - add a little Spring 90 to my music poster wall.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years 5 months
Permalink

AAC is a lossy format, comparable to high quality mp3. ALAC (Apple Lossless) is…lossless. It says AAC above, but I have read these should be Apple Lossless files. Just wanted to clarify for any confusion that might be here. Carry on….CARRY ON...
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

The sound is amazing! Gonna be a long, long, crazy, crazy night Silky, silky, crazy, crazy night.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

So where's the number at as I can't find it on mine?
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

It's on the coin under the lid.
user picture

Member for

17 years
Permalink

Thanks fourwinds!
user picture

Member for

13 years
Permalink

I'd like to buy this spectacular box. I'd like to touch and smell all the things inside this box and of course listen these HDCDs, but I live in a country named Brazil. Some people in Europe don't like to pay U$50 -U$100 in import taxes and fees. It would be a dream to me pay this. Do you believe that in my country I would pay over U$240,00 only in import taxes + fees? I'm not kidding! 100%! It's our goverment....The highest taxes and no hospitals, no schools... ok some new and beatiful soccer stadiums. Does anyone know a place on earth where the import taxes and fees are so high? I have U$ 240,00 but I don't have U$ 520,00 ( 240 - box + 40 - shipping to Brazil + 240 or more from import taxes and fees). Hey you from USA, buy it! Think in my case. The price is not so high. I need to move to USA, Europe or maybe the sunny Australia. It's sad to be a Dead head in Brazil...
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 3 months
Permalink

I don't know how to get a suggestion to David, so I'm going to post it here and hope that someone relevant sees it. Regarding the downloads.... since most people probably don't burn their lossless downloads to CD, is it possible to have the second sets made seamless for the downloads? I understand the fade-ins and fade-outs at the end of the discs, but if the files aren't being burned to disc it would be nice to have Drums>Space seamless, instead of "Drums>Space fade-out" followed by "Drums fade-in>Space". Just a thought! Aside from that... keep doing that awesome thing that you do!
user picture

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

If I'm not mistaken I read they would not be ready until the end of the month...?
user picture

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

I just read my mistake.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

16 years 3 months
Permalink

No, you're right. I'm just asking if, when they appear, they can be in that format (if they aren't already).
user picture

Member for

10 years 6 months
Permalink

I am sure you will get it , even if there is a hiccup right now. I'm one of those (have to have it just in case people) I bought the box but it will be transferred to my pc and burnt for the car or whatever. I just don't have the pc power to trust myself not losing it. I hope you get it the way you want. I know customer service must be inundated with problems right now. But they are good people.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

1. We believe the technical issues with the downloads are now fixed. Please speak up if you experience an alternative reality. 2. Apple Lossless, CD quality audio are available now. The HD FLAC files will be along soon. 3. Cover art is now available on the download page. Sorry for the issues, but hope all is good now. Thanks and happy downloading!
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

does anyone know if spring vol one downloads are going to be the 24 track or 2 track
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

14 years
Permalink

Oh no!I told myself (and my wife) that I didn't need this box especially after I saw the price... then I heard some of the music and saw the spoiler video... Can I let it go? It's going to be a tough decision. Don't have much 1990 in the collection... But it sounds so good!
user picture

Member for

11 years 3 months
Permalink

Jump on it man! Less than 1500 as of yesterday. Better to grab it while ya can than regret it down the road...
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 9 months
Permalink

Just a note about the lossless downloads. Since the ALAC files are lossless, this means they can be easily converted to wav and flac (and back again) with zero change in sound quality. So you can create your own flacs from alac. Now, since the flacs are listed as "HD FLAC" I,m going to assume that they will probably be 24bit 96khz files as opposed to 16bit 44.1khz (cd quality) or at least something over what they are encoding for the alac files. However, (and what I'm about to discuss frequently upsets audiophiles), I urge you to google studies concerning people's ability to distinguish 24bit 96khz from 16bit 44.1khz recordings. There have been several from top universities, and their results and methodology have been extensively scrutinized. These are all scientifically designed studies, some using surprisingly large sample sizes. Most of these studies are fairly similar to each other. Double blind - no one participating in each listening session knows at the time which recordings are hd (24) or sd (16). They used multiple audio systems ranging from top end systems and speakers designed by audiophiles, down to basic systems. They used professional headphones down to basic equipment. They chose many different types of music. They checked to make sure that hd recordings were from the same source/mix as the sd recordings. That is frequently not the case, by the way, and is one reason many people are sure they can tell the difference. They usually chose large numbers of participants who self identify as audiophiles or not, musicians or not, a large range of ages, backgrounds, etc. The results of all studies recognized as scientific (that I am aware of) have been basically the same. The rate at which each user can correctly pick which recordings are sd or hd is about 50%. A coin toss. Audiophiles fared no better than others, with highest percentages being around 52%, and some studies then when back to people like that and found that the more music samples they tried the closer the success rate approaches 50%. Some of the write ups go into great detail into methodology of the studies, and if you read them you will begin to see how hard it is to try to duplicate doing tests like this at home (although it can be done). Some of the things that can bias results are NOT obvious. Many will always disagree, but so far as I know NO study has found ANYONE, who can, under their controlled environment, distinguish 16 bit recordings from 24 bit recordings from the same source at anything significantly over 50% (same as guessing). Btw, this doesn't mean things like SACD don't sound better than their cd counterparts. But they use more playback tracks than stereo (like 5.1), are almost always special mixes, etc. it's not apples to apples, and these studies indicate the great improvement is not due to just the difference between 24 bit and 16 bit or 96khz and 44.1khz. Just something to think about before you spend extra for hd when the source is identical.
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

If they would have had them listen to 24/96 flies on a good system for a period of say a week or so and then switched back to 16/44 files then I think they would have heard a difference.
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

Now what we need is Fillmore West '69 and Europe '72 available in HD FLAC.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

THIS is the box set. I have everything the band has ever put out...This outdoes the original 1990 box set for sound and it out does it for quality of the box set. I LOVE THE TIGER COIN IN THE COVER! OMG! It nearly brought tears to my eyes.... Jerry would have loved this. He really would have. Listening to disc 1, song 1 as I type... *sigh* can't wait til I get to the shows I was at. This is so nice. THANK YOU DAVE LEMIEUX.
user picture

Member for

17 years 5 months
Permalink

#711 has arrived in Denmark. Really cool number, just like #710 would have been. Anybody here got that?This box is a work of art, and I've not even started listening yet. Thank you, David & Rhino!
user picture

Member for

15 years 7 months
Permalink

Since Spring 1990 (The Other One) is now available digitally, why not do what you did for the Europe '72 box set and offer the shows individually as well? Not every Head has that sort of spare change lying around, and it would be nice to have the opportunity to hear more of this truly great era. Anyway, I went out and picked up Wake Up To Find Out as a consolation prize (but what a prize!), and am not interested in paying for a show I already own. Anyone else out there think this is a good idea?
user picture

Member for

17 years 4 months
Permalink

As stated in the digital download FAQs, FLAC files cannot be played in Windows Media Player. However, there is a plug-in which makes this possible, namely "Directshow Filters for Ogg Vorbis, Speex, Theora, FLAC, and WebM" from Xiph.org. The file (opencodecs_0.85.17777.exe) can be found here: http://www.xiph.org/dshow/
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 9 months
Permalink

@fourwindsblow - That may be. And it may not. Before sticking to your opinion on this go ahead and look up the studies that have been done on this, read them thoroughly, and see if you change your mind. Because in order for what you say to be true all of the studies would have to be flawed in just such a way to create the 50% success rate they all get. See what you think after you read them. Or don't. It's not my money. And, even if someone can't hear a difference, if they think they can and they're happier, that's fine too. You say things like "on a good system." Have you looked at what they used. Most of them didn't just use a "good system". The very purposely used severly "excellent systems" AND several "very good" systems AND several "basic" systems, etc. That's the whole point behind a truly scientific study. Address all known variables that might bias results. Not just the "sound system", but the people (audiophile, musician, other), ages (teenagers with young years, twenties, thirties, etc.), listening environment, kinds of music, and even factors that wouldn't necessarily seem relevent like educational background. They make as sure as possible that something as simple as "as is the system good enough" doesn't affect the ability of the study to be able to answer the question they are studying - can people hear the difference between A and B. Anyway, as long as people are happy it doesn't really matter.
user picture

Member for

11 years
Permalink

wow its so nice. time 2 lock myself in my house and ignore the world 4 a few days
user picture

Member for

10 years 11 months
Permalink

wow its so nice. time 2 lock myself in my house and ignore the world 4 a few days
user picture

Member for

12 years 2 months
Permalink

For what it's worth, whether you believe in the superior quality of high-definition recordings or not, HD-Tracks is advertising digital downloads of Wake Up to Find Out: Nassau Colisuem: Uniondale, NY 3-29-1990 at both 96/24 ($40.98) and 192/24 ($53.98) sampling rates. Presumably, it's available now for download. http://www.hdtracks.com/wake-up-to-find-out-nassau-coliseum-uniondale-n… It will be interesting to see if the rest of the set is listed at these higher rates.
user picture

Member for

15 years 9 months
Permalink

I'm curious if this experiment were performed with a recording of a piece of music the listener was very familiar with. Could they pick up any nuances between the 16 bit and 24 bit versions? I have not read the study, so I don't know that info. But if one listens to a piece of music that person may not intimately know, I think the brain will be absorbing the composition as a whole, so it might not pick up the nuances between 16 bit and 24 bit.
user picture

Member for

16 years
Permalink

What I was saying was have them listen to 24/96 files for a little while before doing the A/B tests.
user picture

Member for

15 years 9 months
Permalink

I'm in agreement. I was just curious if I could tell the difference with some of my "reference CDs": Darkside of the Moon, Aja, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Revolver, DP3, DaP5, Orig LedZep Box, Babylon by Bus on really good audio gear. With that said, as I wait patiently for S90TOO (Friday delivery), I've autoripped the amazon mp3 of Wake Up set that I bought for my buddy's birthday in a couple of weeks and it sounds awesome on the office stereo - can't wait to crank it up from the boxset in HDCD on the big boy stereo! Since I only have a better than average stereo (far from an audiophile rig found on audiogon), I don't think I could tell a difference.
user picture
Default Avatar

Member for

13 years 9 months
Permalink

I'm pretty sure that Dark Side of the Moon is one of the ones that had a complete remix/remaster than the CD. Here is a link that shows and describes the differences in the mastering of the CD and the SACD of DSM. When you are done reading it you will see than anybody would probably be able to tell the differenced between them, even if they had both been put out in 16/44.1 http://www.stereophile.com/news/11649/ You really need to read the studies to begin to realize how much went into trying to find out whether the human ear can detect those differences. The people looking had no agenda other than trying to answer the question. It can't be too much of a coincidence that all the academic studies come up with the same results.
product sku
081227958688