I wish Stereophile and Absolute Sound would start a running data base of what's worth owning in Hi Rez and what is not. For example, I defy HD tracks to demonstrate that the 24/96 version of Raising Sand that they continue to sell is superior to the Redbook CD. The hi-rez version may be different, but it is not superior. HD Tracks frequently leaves out information about who has mastered a given dowload, whether the source has merely been up sampled,, etc. There is also a real question as to whether most of us can actually hear the difference between 96, 172 and 196. Perhaps if really great music by the best performers were recorded by the best engineers and mastered by the top masterers, we could determine this. So far, most of the hi Rez music out there is mediocre or has been produced by self appointed audiophile experts. Ever noticed how most "audiophile" label music sucks? "Exotic Dances" isn't my idea of a great way to sell a new medium. I'm still waiting to be impressed by Hi Rez. It ain't as good as high definition video.....yet.
