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Congratulations to Bob Witrak on 18 Years of HDTT releases!

68.34.142.3
Posted on July 23, 2024 at 10:15:43
Rushton
Reviewer

Posts: 744
Location: Huntsville, AL
Joined: January 5, 2001
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2004



High Definition Tape Transfers is celebrating their 18th anniversary with a sale. Bob Witrak has brought us a lot of nice music over those years. And this year, he's been going gang busters on great releases.

 

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+1 - and Witrak has not been content with the status quo over that time, posted on July 23, 2024 at 10:55:47
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
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  Since: February 6, 2012
 As you suggest, he seems committed to continuous improvement in his company's offerings, and it's amazing to me that his efforts sometimes exceed those of even the companies which own the actual masters!

 

RE: +1 - and Witrak has not been content with the status quo over that time, posted on July 23, 2024 at 15:54:19
pbarach
Audiophile

Posts: 3405
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I was just listening to the 24/192 remaster of Leinsdorf's Die Walkuere last night; fantastic performance, and the sound is so much better than either the Decca CD or the RCA Soria Series LPs (which I bought in the early 1970s).

 

I got a copy of that HDTT offering based on YOUR recommendation, posted on July 23, 2024 at 16:18:41
Chris from Lafayette
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Posts: 27471
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: February 17, 2004
Contributor
  Since: February 6, 2012
 Or was it Rushton's? Anyway, I'm glad I did! ;-)

I still need to hear the Solti Walkure in Dolby Atmos - the only Ring opera I've heard (in Dolby Atmos) from the Solti cycle so far is the truly fantastic Gotterdammerung. Too much listening to get to in too short an amount of time!

 

RE: Congratulations to Bob Witrak on 18 Years of HDTT releases!, posted on July 23, 2024 at 17:01:45
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 2276
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 They lost me when they stopped issuing CDs.

 

Me, too., posted on August 1, 2024 at 11:05:03
Sigmund
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Posts: 1379
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined: February 15, 2002
Contributor
  Since: November 21, 2007
 Sad to say.

 

RE: Congratulations to Bob Witrak on 18 Years of HDTT releases!, posted on August 1, 2024 at 16:33:10
pbarach
Audiophile

Posts: 3405
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 What's wrong with buying their digital files and burning your own CDs?

 

Some of their Jazz offerings have audible wow and flutter. The CD and SACD, posted on August 11, 2024 at 09:03:58
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10687
Joined: April 12, 2002
 versions I have of the same titles have none.
On the HDTT Files there's a audio-queasiness I feel
when the pitch droops a bit,
I find it annoying.
Oscar Peterson West Side Story, Bill Evans Trio 64 and the Village Vanguard Files all exhibit that.
But Not the CD/Sacd's.
Or any other Files I have purchased, from any other source or label.
Seems like it must be from their R to R machines.

 

Sorry, I've listened to all of these and don't hear any issues, posted on August 12, 2024 at 20:08:23
Rushton
Reviewer

Posts: 744
Location: Huntsville, AL
Joined: January 5, 2001
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2004
 Sometimes we can each be very sensitive to some issues that others just don't hear. That's the only explanation I can come up with for why you are hearing something that is completely inaudible to me. I have all the albums you mention and play them in DXD and DSD256. They sound rock solid and completely stable to me on my system.

Perhaps you can help me educate my ear to what you are hearing by giving me a few sample tracks and time stamps to hone in on. I pulled out all three albums you mentioned and sampled them across multiple tracks. I just can't hear any issues in any of the tracks I played. Sustained piano notes and slow cello strokes in Oscar Peterson's "West Side Story" (rel.2016, DXD) were solid -- no pitch instability here. Both the Bill Evans "Trio '64" (rel.2016, DXD) and "Live at the Village Vanguard" (rel.2022, Pure DSD256) albums were similarly solid without any pitch instability I can hear (paying particular attention to piano).

Bob is dealing with some very old tapes, and no doubt he may have something escape him from time to time. I'm sure he'd allow as much. But, I hear a sonic result in his releases that frequently (consistently?) exceeds that accomplished by the majors. And his DSD256 and DXD files are consistently more alive, transparent, detailed, and natural sounding than any CD.

So, here's my contrary experience. And I encourage folks to explore his catalog with an open mind. There are many superb releases to be found there, particularly if you listen in DXD and DSD256.

 

OK, good idea! I'll listen again on Saturday. nt, posted on August 13, 2024 at 18:23:58
oldmkvi
Audiophile

Posts: 10687
Joined: April 12, 2002
 .

 

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