MetallicA Black Album released in 96 kHz 24 bit

ParadoximA · 2011-08-29T21:05:08+00:00

This post got a little longer than I intended, so I've bolded the important bits for those who don't feel like reading... The Metallica Black Album recently got released on HDTracks in 96 kHz 24 bit format - the CD version was one of the first albums I ever bought, and now this is the first album I've listened to in "Hi Def" (besides vinyl of course ? ). I payed for and downloaded it within minutes of hearing it had been released. The download you get has nothing but the flac files and a low quality image of the album cover in pdf and jpg format - no liner notes at all, never mind any details about the mastering or who did it. All I got from a little googling was that this was not the same as a disappointing DVD-A version that was released a while back. From the first note of Enter Sandman, it's clear that what you're listening to isn't just a better quality version of the original album - it's a remaster. The guitar and bass both sound slightly fuller, but not the way you'd expect from a higher bit rate, I'm quite sure they've changed the EQ, the panning and possibly added some compression. Then the drums confirm that it's a remaster, as they've raised the volume of the snare drum (and possibly EQ'd it too). As the song carries on it's difficult to decide if the new mix is any better than the original, but then the solos come in and any magic that this album could have had is instantly destroyed, by what sounds like a kid playing with the pan tool. The lead guitar floats from speaker to speaker, with the apparent volume changing as it goes. It sounds cheap and gimmicky. So the second track (Sad But True) starts and sounds great! Until 2 seconds into the song when it sounds like someone mumbles something on the right speaker. I listened back 2 or 3 times but still can't quite tell what it is, except that it shouldn't be there. From that point onward I lost interest in listening critically to the rest of the album, and switched to some more casual listening. Most of the solos (throughout the album) have been messed with, sometimes just panned to one side, and never seem to sit in the track as well as in the original album (but that could just be because I'm so used to the original mix). Sometimes it sounds like instruments have been emphasized just for the sake of making them sound more "HD". Other guitar parts that were prominent on the original are barely audible. The same with some backing vocals and vocal "fills" - they often sound like someone is shouting out in the distance. There's one instance (I can't remember where) where the vocals are supposed to come in with a "pre-echo", but instead you get this weird phasing sound which is completely detached from the rest of the track. [Edit - this phasing effect is on "The God that Failed" at 3m36, just after the solos.] Holier Than Though suffers from the wandering guitars right at the start, and doesn't need any further comment. The Unforgiven is completely ruined. They've boosted the volumes on all the clean guitars, which sounds awesome... until the distorted guitars (including solo) are supposed to crash in - but their volume has been reduced, leading to a dull anti-climax. The sitar on Wherever I May Roam sounds washed out in comparison with the original album, but the rest of the mix actually sounds better than the original IMHO, especially the way the guitars come in at the start of the track. Through the Never seems to have some guitars missing (or just turned down) and just sounds weak, but it's very subtle and could be my imagination. The solo guitar sounds like there is less reverb on it, but that could just be due to different volume levels. On Nothing Else Matters, the orchestra is more prominent and sounds amazing, it really adds a whole new dimension to the song. Of Wolf and Man also sounds a little better than the original, it "thumps" a little harder and sounds a little heavier over all. Then I got tired and didn't listen very carefully to the remaining tracks, until the intro to Struggle Within caught my ear. There are guitars missing. Not altered - completely absent. And completely inexcusable. Overall, I'd say it's not worth getting this version of the album - the slight improvements in (some of) the audio don't make up for the gimmicky treatments and flaws littered throughout.

ParadoximA

UncleGoatLips wrote So where can I hear this version?

I wouldn't recommend hearing this version ?

I got it from https://www.hdtracks.com/. If you really want to hear some tracks, drop me a PM and I'll send a sample track.

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