Title: NOT a reflection of the music, just the files
Product review: I'm a high-fi bitsnob--I want my music so crisp and detailed that only a spectral analyzer could appreciate it. I ripped this album at 192k back before I could tell the difference and wanted to rectify the situation. I downloaded these files and while they are technically a higher bitrate (and larger to prove it) they do not sound as good as the ones I had before. The hiss on these files is audible and maddening. This is an old record, but the masters must be in very good shape because I have heard versions with no hiss, and total clarity on CD. My old 192k mp3s had the expected digital artifacts, but NO hiss. Do not download from here if you're expecting a crisp mastering.Long story short (too late) the drums are muddy.Sidenote: This version has the now seemingly standard truncated track "Pale Gallery" reduced by nearly three minutes. Also, the files are not 256k CBR, they are VBR, in the 230k-range.
Would you say this review depicts the product in a flattering or unflattering light?
