One of the joys of the digital age is the portability of music. Admittedly, the earliest form of portable digital audio, the ubiquitous MP3 file, quickly became the subject of derision due to the instantly audible downgrade in audio quality. Coupled with early digital audio recording techniques that, despite press releases proclaiming “perfect sound forever,” even a cursory listen made it clear that digital audio was not perfect, and hopefully it wouldn’t be forever, either.

In the 20-plus years since the introduction of the Compact Disc medium, almost every aspect of digital audio has benefitted with significant improvements, but the use of lossy compression-based MP3 files is still universal. Apple’s iPod introduced a format (AAC) that promised better sound quality with smaller file sizes, but at the same time there was an explosion in audiophile grade headphones and earphones capable of revealing the quality of the material. What to do? The best way we know is to treat one’s self to some high-resolution downloads to find out how the music actually sounded in the studio the day it was created.

There are many sites promising such high-quality files, and as we work on a more comprehensive review of them, below are some our favorites for this holiday season, sure to put a smile on the face of the music lover in your life. Recent reissues from EMI and Real World Records remind us of the power of music we might have overlooked.

HD Tracks

HD Tracks is one of the best-known suppliers of high-resolution downloads with exclusive rights to catalogs ranging from the Rolling Stones to Blind Pig Records to Decca and Blue Note. Much of their catalog offers high-resolution remasters of classic albums from the realm of classical, jazz, folk, blues, and rock and roll. The only problem is their ever-increasing selection of titles. Every time I put together a wish list, a slew of fresh releases arrive!

David Chesky / “Urbanicity” & “String Theory” 

Not all of their titles are from the past; Chesky Records are the force behind HD Tracks, and Chesky titles are respected for their artists, and attention to recording details. Of particular note are classically based titles by David Chesky, whose compositions will challenge your view of contemporary classical music, with elements of jazz and other musical genres. I’m particularly fond of “Urbanicity / Concerto for Electric Guitar and Orchestra / The New York Variations” and “String Theory,” a new title that includes Concerto for Violin, Cello and Orchestra, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, and String Theory. Featuring contributions from Tom Chiu and Dave Eggar, the pieces have an energy and freeform precision that is as unexpected as it is illuminating. A few other recent releases of that are worth checking out are:

Paul Simon / “Live in New York City”

A live recording with somewhat understated sound at the start, but building to a wonderful energy and life as the concert progresses. The track listing is a well thought out mix from early Simon and Garfunkel to Simon’s recent solo work. As a modern recording, the high-bit release captures the energy and subtlety of this well-recorded event. One of my favorite tracks, “Slip Slidin’ Away” flows like the rivers that surround Manhattan.

Bob Marley / “Legend”

I’ve heard so many versions and releases of Bob Marley albums that I’ve lost count! This release of “Legend,” a classic greatest hits album, stands out from the bunch, and sounds just wonderful. Most compilations are a compromise, but "Legend" has an almost seamless flow, so that it feels more like an album than a collection. This is the first time it has been released in high-bit form, so relax, take a breath, dance, and turn it up.

Herbie Hancock / “Maiden Voyage”

One of the most revered recordings in Jazz, this release sounds better than any release I’ve yet heard. Classic jazz doesn’t get any better then this. With High Resolution Mastering by Alan Yoshida and Robin Lynn at Blanche DuBois in April 2012, this is the best sounding release of Rudy Van Gelder’s classic recording. I have heard this release on vinyl, CD, Gold CD, and this is the best, with a sense of the air in the room. A must have for the jazz lover in your life.

Glenn Gould / “Bach: The Goldberg Variations”

Despite or because of the controversy that seemed to follow every Glenn Gould recording, I’ve always felt that his interpretations of The Goldberg Variations revealed him at his best and most intensely personal. While one of the first CBS digital recordings was of Gould performing these works, it is with the older recordings that Gould inserted a bit more restraint and as a result, the performances seem a bit more balanced. This reissue sounds as if it was recorded yesterday and projects the energy of the work. It is simply lovely expressing Bach in profound and fundamental verse.

Rod Stewart / “Every Picture Tells A Story”

Before Rod Stewart was exciting disco divas everywhere, “Every Picture Tells A Story” was his breakthrough release. "Maggie Mae" is still a stalwart of radio, and with musicians such as future Stone, Ronnie Wood at the helm, you can feel the energy in the studio. With all five members of Stewart’s old band, Faces, playing on the album, it always seemed to me to be a Faces album. A classic album, great remastering.

The Doors / “The Complete Doors Studio Albums”

If you’d like to break on through to the other side, then just cue up the first track in this collection and follow The Doors on their journey from unknowns to superstardom. Remastering and releasing The Doors’ recordings has been a minor industry all its own (the never-ending releases from the Hendrix Estate providing the most competition), but the recordings have benefited from this constant stream of tinkering, utilizing the most current technology. Where else can you find and download 96KHz/24bit versions of “The Doors, Strange Days, Waiting for the Sun, The Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel, L.A. Woman, Other Voices, and Full Circle” with single click? For one-stop shopping, “The Complete Studio Albums” are a no-brainer for the Doors fan in your life. These are the best sounding versions of these iconic albums that I’ve yet heard. Highly recommended.

The Rolling Stones / “Grrrr”

For die-hard Stones fans, the high-bit release of “Grrrr” is a wonderful compilation and overview of this still-vital band. The two new releases sound great, and fit right into this collection. Listening to tracks from “Sticky Fingers” and “It’s Only Rock & Roll” is a revelation, and seem to have less compression than recent releases. The Stones had a reputation for not paying attention to their audio quality, but this release puts that to rest, as some of the tracks reveal careful and subtle recordings. I found myself hearing details in recordings that I’d never heard before. The Virgin remasters of the 80’s were probably the best versions of the contemporary albums on disc, that is until I heard these. For example, “Heartbreaker” has detail in the audio that I never heard or knew was there in the original pressings. There are many such moments in this superb overview of the bands musical history, and for the Stones fan in you or someone you know would appreciate hearing these songs with new energy, Grrr is all you need for a great time. Ok, if you want to make Keef happy, you should probably toss a bottle of bourbon into the stocking!

Mumford & Sons / “Babel”

I’m not sure how to describe this relatively new band from the UK, but they seem to be the inheritors of The Band’s legendary eclecticicism, with a sound that isn’t quite country, folk, rock and roll, or bluegrass, but a warm combination of all of those genres (plus … banjos!). This is a band that pulses with energy, and their cover of Paul Simon’s “The Boxer” with Paul Simon and Jerry Douglas is rich, warm, with a soundstage that both enlightens and draws you down in the chill of a New York City winter. This contemporary recording sounds great in high-bit form. Call me a fan, this is smart music by smart musicians proud of their heritage, yet absolutely of the moment. This is going to be the album to beat the Grammys! If this is the future of contemporary music, it bodes well for an audiience crying out for sophisticated back to the roots music, not about studio trickery, but about respecting, honoring, and folding the past into the present. The only problem is that you probably can't find them holding court in your local pub anymore!

For more information on HD Tracks visit: www.hdtracks.com

Society of Sound & Real World

One of the true statesmen of contemporary music is Peter Gabriel. From his over-the-top staging and costuming of his early days in Genesis to his groundbreaking song honoring murdered South African anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko, to the creation of Real World Records, a label dedicated to World Music, Gabriel continues to champion artists and music for the world to experience.

Society of Sound is a subscription based service founded in conjunction with speaker manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins, better known as B&W, and features high-resolution FLAC and Apple Lossless downloads from artists that are probably known and unknown to you. Although they might cringe at the comparison, I feel that they are a bit like Costco – high quality and affordable, with items that are only available for a short time, so you need to grab them while you can. For example, as I write this there are 33 albums available for download, most of which might not be available in a month or two. I’ve yet to hear a title that wasn’t recorded beautifully. And the joy is in meeting artists that I’d never heard of before. Of course a quick Google search reveals that it seems like the rest of the world knows who they are, which made me feel pretty much out of the loop, but glad for the introduction. For lovers of classical music, there are recordings by the London Symphony Orchestra among others, while contemporary music is well supported by artists like Jessica Hoop and Joseph Arthur. Occasionally Peter Gabriel appears with titles from his solo work and live recordings. Part of the fun of the project is the unexpected, and I look forward to the musical and cultural surprises ahead.

Available at an additional cost are newly remastered titles. The album that launched both Mike Oldfield and Richard Branson’s Virgin empire, “Tubular Bells,” is now available in three formats - stereo Apple Lossless, 24-bit FLAC, and 5.1, 24-bit Surround Sound, with the best bet the bundle of all three. And it sounds great; better than my old original vinyl pressings which suffered from low levels coupled with high surface noise. While “Tubular Bells” has been released in a variety of formats including stereo vinyl, quadraphonic vinyl, CD, and DVD-A, this seems the best release yet. The album’s recording was legendary not only for its content but for the complexity of the track layering. A worthy download, and you don’t even need Linda Blair’s permission. As previously noted in our review of the FiiO E-17 Alpen, one of Peter Gabriel’s most popular titles, "So", is also available in 24-bit remastered form from the Society of Sound website.

For more information on the Society of Sound visit: http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/Society_of_Sound/Overview.html

Real World Records’ Gold Series

Real World Records helped to create the “World Music” genre with an astonishing variety of music from every corner of the globe. It’s all too easy to forget some of those artists and titles, and their recent campaign to release some of their classic back catalog helps to bring these worthy recordings and artists to the forefront and back into our consciousness. The new releases are titled “Real World Gold,” and after 23 years and almost 200 albums, they have selected a set of titles sure to enthrall even the most jaded music lover. From The Blind Boys of Alabama to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, from Joseph Arthur to The Drummers of Burundi to Afro Celt Sound System, as I listened to the titles I was humbled and excited by the richness of their offerings. Affordably priced, in eco-friendly heavy paper sleeves, we think you will be enriched by The Real World Gold series. Favorite recordings so far are The Blind Boys Of Alabama, "Spirit of the Century", The Drummers of Burundi, "Extract", and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, "Must Mustt". This is only the start of the reissue campaign, so keep your eyes on their site to view the most recent releases. Spending time with their titles is a reminder that there are musical universes to explore and embrace, the same spirit that propels selections from the Society of Sound.

For more information on Real World Records Gold visit: www.realworldrecords.com/gold

Linn Records

The name Linn conjures up for many of us the legendary Linn Sondek LP12 turntable, a model that has graced the homes of music lovers on both sides of the pond for over 30 years. Since then, the Linn brand has grown to a full-range of high-end components, from speakers to amplifiers, and everything in between. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that along the way they began recording and releasing their own set of recordings, primarily classical, jazz, and Scottish music, and now with some content licensed from other labels. I’ve only recently been introduced to their catalog, so I’m still exploring the titles but the one thing that all the tracks I’ve listened to have in common is an extraordinary audio and musical presence. Linn’s attention to the recording process coupled with superb musical performances results in music that approaches the sublime.

Like other high-resolution download sites, they offer their tracks in a variety of formats including 24-bit, 192KHz FLAC, to MP3. One issue that has resulted in a wave of controversy is the authenticity of high-resolution downloads, especially from older source material. You can relax on that issue with Linn, as they take great pains to state that if you see a release offered as, for example, a 24-bit 192KHz recording, then it indicates it was recorded at 24-bit, 192KHz. Linn refers to these releases as Studio Master, and if you see a title available only at FLAC 24-bit, 88.2KHz, then that is what it was recorded at. I was fortunate to have some technical questions answered by Philip Hobbs of Linn Records about the importance of sampling rate vs. bit depth. To paraphrase Hobbs' comments, in a perfect world you would have a recording created with a high sampling rate, as well as 24-bit depth. But in their listening tests the most important difference is increasing the quality of audio is changing the depth from 16-bit to 24-bit. Of course, to take advantage of this extra information, you need to have a DAC and software capable of playing those files in their native format. Personally, I felt reassured to know that if a title is listed at 24-bit, then it is indeed a 24-bit recording. However, this obviously can’t apply to remastered recordings from the past, but can apply to the digital transfer used for the remastering project.

One title that will warm you up for the holidays is Claire Martin’s “Too Much in Love to Care,” available as a Studio Master 24-bit, 192KHz file. This is Martin’s first collection of Great American Songbook titles, and it was a revelation. If you haven’t heard of Martin, it’s understandable, as her reputation was initially established in the U.K. This however is a wonderful introduction to her oeuvre, with superb audio to boot. Listening to the 24bit FLAC version using the HRT Head Streamer portable DAC and the Audio Technica ATH-1000WX headphones revealed an airiness to the room, as Martin's voice seeped in and out of the corners. Lovely, just lovely!

We look forward to reviewing more titles from Linn Records in the future.

For more information on Linn Records visit: www.linnrecords.com

Jethro Tull / “Thick As a Brick 40th Anniversary Edition”

Last year, we saw the release of one of the best remastered titles in recent years, the extraordinary remixing and mastering of Jethro Tull’s “Aqualung” for its 40th anniversary. Even for folks who tired long ago of Tull, this release revealed just how much can be restored to a classic recording, given the cooperation of the artists, label, and the right engineer. Fortunately for us, that engineer was Steven Wilson, who applies his talents to the “Thick As a Brick 40th Anniversary Edition.” While the release is similar to the labels first-rate release of “Aqualung,” the improvement in audio, while welcome and audible isn’t as revelatory as “Aqualung” for the simple reason that “Thick As a Brick” didn’t suffer the audio trials and problems that the recording of Aqualung did.

The new “Thick As a Brick” release contains the musicality that has been missing from the various digital releases of the title over the past 20 years starting with poorly mastered CDs at the onset of the CD revolution to more sensitively mastered versions of past reissue campaigns from its 25th anniversary. This mix is more open, the bass more precisely defined, and the guitars shine with clarity. The packaging contains almost the entire faux newspaper from the vinyl edition, and the surround mix is solid yet restrained. If you have a Tull fan on your shopping list, you can’t go wrong stuffing a stocking with “Jethro Tull – Thick As a Brick 40th Anniversary Edition.”

For more information on “Thick As a Brick,” visit: www.thickasabrickdeluxe.com

The Beatles / Magical Mystery Tour”

“Magical Mystery Tour” was a film that stunned in an underwhelming way the first audience to experience it when the BBC broadcast it in December 1967. Recently released in DVD and Blu-ray, the new version has significantly improved color and contrast, and the audio quality is superb. OK, so much for the platitudes, because the film itself stands as a fun, irreverent, silly testimony to the Beatles penchant for experimentation. Paraphrasing Mick Jagger when he said that in his book that improvisation is another world for being non-professional, “Magical Mystery Tour” is about as un-professional as possible. However in today’s world of auto-tuning, perfectly polished and coiffed public appearances and performances, you have to admire Paul McCartney’s non-scripted bit of fun. It is a quaint and amusing reminder of a simpler time in the music and fame business, a time hard to recapture now, although if YouTube had existed in 1967, one could guess that “Magical Mystery Tour” would have been right at home there. For the hardcore Beatles fan in your life, this would be a fun gift. For the audiophile Beatles fan, they can probably watch the movie once, then skip the movie and enjoy the superlative 5.1 DTS Surround Sound mixes of some great songs.

For more information on “Magical Mystery Tour,” visit: www.thebeatles.com

Harris Fogel, with additional reporting by Nancy Burlan, and Thomas Fogel, Posted 12/23/2012