Which
Queen?
February
15, 2019
Marc,
I
have a question about a new type of CD that you may know about. My daughter wants my Queen
CDs, so I wasn't sure what to replace my favorites with. CD Japan is selling MQA/UHQCD
discs. Apparently, they are high-res CDs that must be played on MQA-enabled players. What
the heck is this? I'm guessing that they will only play 16 bits/44.1kHz on my players,
even my Ayre DX-5 DSD.
What
do you think? I think there are also Direct Metal Mastered vinyl available. Or perhaps old
vinyl sounds good?
Jeff
Levine
We recently reviewed our first MQA CD. In order to take
full advantage of this type of disc, you need a DAC that's MQA-enabled -- many of the
newer ones are. Without that, I believe the discs will still play in a standard CD player.
Hollywood
Records reissued the entire Queen catalogue a few years ago, on LP and CD. They are worth
investigating, along with the newer Queen boxed set, which includes every album.
Finally,
EMI released an anniversary edition of A Night at the Opera that includes a
DVD-Audio disc. Maybe there are other titles available too. -Marc Mickelson
Marvin Gaye
February
11, 2019
Marc,
I
was just thinking of Marvin Gaye this morning, for some reason. Black History Month?
Anyway, a pleasant surprise to find your review here. I've always loved the guy.
Here's
what you wrote: "This music has sunk in and stayed with us, and it seems eerily
relevant today." Right on!
Again,
one of your signature mixes: very-high-tech talk and a great music review.
Charlotte
Meyer
Esoteric
upgrade?
February
7, 2019
Marc,
I
am considering picking up a used Esoteric P-03 transport to replace my PS Audio
PerfectWave transport. It feeds an Aesthetix Pandora Signature DAC, which I just love. I
know the PS Audio transport sounds very smooth, and I was wondering if you thought the
Esoteric might be a good upgrade (as in a last upgrade). Still enjoying anything you
write!
Bill
Barotti
I
have reviewed many Esoteric products, and I would say that their transports, because of
the VRDS mechanisms used, are the gems of the brand. Given your characterization of your
PS Audio transport, I think you'll find find the Esoteric P-03 to represent a major sonic
change and perhaps a major sonic upgrade as well. I'm not familiar with your Aesthetix
DAC, but the Esoteric transports often support dual-AES output. If your DAC will support
it, dual-AES will offer the best performance and may allow the transport to pass
high-resolution data to the DAC. -Marc Mickelson
Put
me on the list
February
1, 2019
Marc,
Please
add me to the e-mail list. Thank you very much.
Volker
Müller-Mattheis
You're
on it. To join TAB's reader list and find out about new articles first, send
e-mail to rl@theaudiobeat.com. -Marc
Mickelson
