Ingrid Fliter - Chopin Preludes (Linn Records)

[brit]

David, thanks for pointing out that review; it describes exactly what I'm hearing, although it perhaps puts it more strongly than I would.  Also I hear the "buzzing" when listening at rather low volumes (cf comments to the review).

I had realised that the CD had been (almost!) universally well-reviewed for sound quality as well as performance, so I was really beginning to doubt my sanity.

The most troubling thing is that once you hear something like this it's easy for it to become an obsession, with analysis and critical listening taking over from pure enjoyment of the music.  I do hope I haven't inadvertently pushed you over that cliff!

Ian, I am hanging by my finger tips . Seriously though, I can not say that there is anything that I can hear that is spoiling my enjoyment of the music. I have the 192/24 download, but why that should be any different to your CD - did you say you also had tried a 96/24 download as well - I can not say. All I can say is that the recording is very clear and the upper registers of the piano are detailed, but I can not say that they resolve into a "buzzing" noise, at least not on my set up. 

An approach to Linn might be in order especially given that, it would appear, at least one other has noticed something in the recording  


David

[GuillaumeB]

Hi guys I have this recording in 24/192. Let me give it a whirl and let you know if I can hear anything.

Guillaume

[thumb5]

Thanks, that would be great. As I mentioned earlier, Prelude 15 is where I find this most noticeable.

[GuillaumeB]

I'm about half way though "Raindrop" and I have to say it sounds very good?

Guillaume

[thumb5]

Hmm. I think David (brit) was using the 24/192 version as well. Maybe that's immune?

My test is usually to listen at low volume (-40 dB or so), really close to the left speaker. In the early part of the prelude I can hear this faint buzz or fizz "riding" on some of the chords. It really does sound quite like a damaged or partly sticking speaker cone, but having heard the same thing on several different systems at home that's not the cause (I'm relieved to say).

Thanks for trying, anyway.

[thumb5]

Talking to Linn Records...will post again here if/when there's anything to add. Thanks again David and Guillaume.

[brit]

Talking to Linn Records...will post again here if/when there's anything to add.  Thanks again David and Guillaume.

Let’s hope that you receive a sensible answer from Linn . It seems very strange that both Guillaume and I do not appear to have an issue, and we are both using 192/24 versions . Why this version should differ is beyond me .

David

[Confused]

Talking to Linn Records...will post again here if/when there's anything to add.  Thanks again David and Guillaume.

Let’s hope that you receive a sensible answer from Linn . It seems very strange that both Guillaume and I do not appear to have an issue, and we are both using 192/24 versions . Why this version should differ is beyond me .

David

Here is a wild theory.  Let’s assume there is no fundamental difference between the music files, you are all running ADH 6 amps / DACs, so what is different?  Maybe Ian’s cat like hearing?  Or maybe a quirk of the Sonos?  The Sonos is my wildcard theory, but it is one fundamental difference in how the music file is delivered, there might just be a difference in digital clocking, filtering or something.  Ian, this might not be an easy thing to try in your set up, I have no idea, but could you try the track via AIR or something else?  Unlikely perhaps, but if it did make a difference to the issue it would be an interesting result.

[thumb5]

Here is a wild theory.  Let’s assume there is no fundamental difference between the music files, you are all running ADH 6 amps / DACs, so what is different?  Maybe Ian’s cat like hearing?  Or maybe a quirk of the Sonos?  The Sonos is my wildcard theory, but it is one fundamental difference in how the music file is delivered, there might just be a difference in digital clocking, filtering or something.  Ian, this might not be an easy thing to try in your set up, I have no idea, but could you try the track via AIR or something else?  Unlikely perhaps, but if it did make a difference to the issue it would be an interesting result.

It's a good theory, Confused, but the data say otherwise I'm afraid:

I have the CD, ripped to ALAC, which I normally play from Roon via AIR over Ethernet.  I can also play Roon via USB through an MC-3+ to AES/EBU, iTunes via AIR over Ethernet, or Sonos into an S/PDIF input.  In all those cases I can hear a very faint "buzzing" or "fizzing" sound on top of some of the piano notes.

and

The real nail in the coffin of that theory was that I still hear the problems when I play the same tracks on my Sonos Play:5, believe it or not.

Following up what I said in that post, I'm now pretty confident that the CD quality, 24/96 and 24/192 samples on Linn Records web site (http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-cho...ludes.aspx) have the same problem.  At least, the ALAC ones do - I haven't tried FLAC.

This is all consistent with what the gentleman on Amazon.com said in the review David linked to.  That's at least giving me some shred of comfort that I'm not making it all up...

PS: Although the Sonos ZP90 is in my signature, most of my real listening these days is done using Roon / AIR / Ethernet, which is working brilliantly.  Sonos usually comes into the picture either when I want to listen to the (Internet) radio, or someone else is using the system - it's so easy to just hand them the Sonos controller and say "you choose!".

[brit]

Here is a wild theory.  Let’s assume there is no fundamental difference between the music files, you are all running ADH 6 amps / DACs, so what is different?  Maybe Ian’s cat like hearing?  Or maybe a quirk of the Sonos?  The Sonos is my wildcard theory, but it is one fundamental difference in how the music file is delivered, there might just be a difference in digital clocking, filtering or something.  Ian, this might not be an easy thing to try in your set up, I have no idea, but could you try the track via AIR or something else?  Unlikely perhaps, but if it did make a difference to the issue it would be an interesting result.

It's a good theory, Confused, but the data say otherwise I'm afraid:

I have the CD, ripped to ALAC, which I normally play from Roon via AIR over Ethernet.  I can also play Roon via USB through an MC-3+ to AES/EBU, iTunes via AIR over Ethernet, or Sonos into an S/PDIF input.  In all those cases I can hear a very faint "buzzing" or "fizzing" sound on top of some of the piano notes.

and

The real nail in the coffin of that theory was that I still hear the problems when I play the same tracks on my Sonos Play:5, believe it or not.

Following up what I said in that post, I'm now pretty confident that the CD quality, 24/96 and 24/192 samples on Linn Records web site (http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-cho...ludes.aspx) have the same problem.  At least, the ALAC ones do - I haven't tried FLAC.

This is all consistent with what the gentleman on Amazon.com said in the review David linked to.  That's at least giving me some shred of comfort that I'm not making it all up...

PS: Although the Sonos ZP90 is in my signature, most of my real listening these days is done using Roon / AIR / Ethernet, which is working brilliantly.  Sonos usually comes into the picture either when I want to listen to the (Internet) radio, or someone else is using the system - it's so easy to just hand them the Sonos controller and say "you choose!".

Hi Ian, Yes I suppose that I should clarify that the 192/24 download I am using is FLAC rather than ALAC and I do not appear to have the problem. I can not answer for Guillaume as to whether he has a FLAC or ALAC version of his 192/24 download, but he also indicated that he had no problems?

David