● Stan Getz & João Gilberto: Getz/Gilberto

Stan Getz & João Gilberto got together in 1963 and recorded this album. It was a serendipity meeting, because together they created a new form of music, coined as Basso Nova!!

This is my all time favorite CD. Verve in 1997 took out their master copy and remastered them, and re-issued them under the Verve Master Edition series on CD, which unfortunately, I only have this CD (everyone has their limits).

Am listening to the said CD, track 01, The Girl From Ipanema, and it is BEAUTIFUL.

Separation between voices and the different instruments (piano, bass, saxophone, percussion) are clearly define! João Gilberto vocals coming out of the left speaker and Astrud Gilberto coming out from the right. As I said, a thing of beauty.

Track 04. Desafinado pure magic and now Track 02. Doralice...

There is something very PURE about this album. The two artist got together to make music was created for music sake, which basically makes this album a work of ART!

For this review, I'm sticking to this setup, CD/Bluray Audio Disc was place in my Bluray player, which is connected to my D/A C (via optical) which is in turn connected to my amp (RCA Audioquest, Turquoise).

In short everything is PCM.

Now for the hairy part, switching over to the Bluray Audio copy...

Just popped in the Bluray Audio disc, fingers crossed...

As they say, the devil's in the details...

So much more details, the minutes nuances...

The percussion more crisp, the sax, more weighted, piano is more tingly...

Sorry again I do not know the "official" terms for the about and can just express my feeling on the matter...

Definitely more detail in the High and mid and the bass is more weighted!!

I LUV this disc!!

This is a good comparison.

Because the Diana Krall was a local press, it was not really a good comparison, my CD for this is an imported one so, this is probably the bench mark I use for comparison...

On another note, I did bring my Diana Krall to my hifi reseller friend who is familiar with the LP sound, and after listening to the Bluray Audio disc, this is his verdict, he feel that the LP high is more natural... and added that the bluray audio disc has better mid and bass...

So, from the above the above, I can draw these conclusion

1) The format is sound, and is actually reliant on the quality of the master & transfer of the sound files.
2) Compared to LP, there are still differences (LP supposedly has better high freq) and have to add this format has supposedly better mind and bass.
3) If you have a bluray player, you can play this at your setup.

So, if the right album comes along, I'll probably purchase more disc.

I'm really not sure if there is much interest in this topic. This will probably be the last review I'll post, unless there are request for more.

My Two Sen



This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Jan 2 2014, 09:52 PM

Can we rip the HFPA Bluray Audio Disc to .flac using software without downgrade the audio quality?
I know Universal Music allow to download MP3 or FLAC versions of the tracks it is the same quality audio to the HFPA Bluray Audio Disc?

HFPA Bluray Audio Disc for storage it is need to be keep into dehumidify dry cabinet(those to store DSLR camera lens)? For long term 10 years above collection.

Because humidity cause mold like those day VCR and cassette tape era.
CDs Are Not Forever: The Truth About CD/DVD Longevity, “Mold” & “Rot”
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cds-truth-cdd...evity-mold-rot/


Last time I read somewhere the CD is the best to archives because one 'dot mold' cover not so much of data compare to blu ray due to more fine and dense.

This post has been edited by wkkm007: Nov 20 2013, 01:03 PM

Interesting. Anyway I can get them online? I am from Sarawak. Looking for


● Nirvana: Nevermind
● Nirvana: In Utero

mov_freak, can do me a favor to get them?

This post has been edited by fx20: Nov 20 2013, 11:59 PM

Yes, every HFPA disc you buy has a voucher for you to access the uncompressed MP3 and/or flac files.

All the one I've purchase so far are MP3 only

I've downloaded the files and have never gotten the chance to do a side by side comparison. Will try that out this weekend.

I'm sure you one can rip bluray, it should apply for HFPA disc but for the life of me, I don't have the... "skills"...

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Nov 21 2013, 02:32 PM

I can ask if they can be ordered. Will let you know. My advice to you would be to use @Mov_freak in the future should you require by feedback on this thread. Don't jump to Audiophile too often nowadays...

My supplier just text me back. These two titles were release in Malaysia a couple of weeks back. She don't know if they have anymore stock, and will try to order. If the order arrive, she will text me back. Please PM me your contact information. Thanks



This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Nov 21 2013, 02:37 PM

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This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Nov 21 2013, 02:38 PM

Tested Amy Whitehouse. Overall, I am quite happy with the sound quality. It has more good detail in the high range (clear piano note and crispy cymbals). Vocal are ok, not much different than the 16bit flac. It has good bass, especially the kick drum is discrete and solid with detail.

Overall, for RM70, it is a good buy if you haven't owned the CD.

Thank Mov_frak for bringing those HDPAs to me.

Would like to get my hands on these too but Rock Corner and Speedy not carrying them...

Would like to get my hands on these too but Rock Corner and Speedy not carrying them...

Gosh, now you have to go and make me blush... And it is mov_freak!!

This is how I can sum up on the HFPA:

Its a mixed experience listening to these blu rays... Each disc offers only 2.0 channels but either in PCM, DTS MA or Dolby TrueHD and all at 24/96.

In summary:

1. Via a DAC using coaxial cable through a 2 channel set up, the Dolby TrueHD sounds best.

2. Via an AV receiver using HDMI, although its 2.0 channels source, listening to it in 5.1 is more pleasureable. And there is quite a significant difference between the 3 audio coding. The best is Dolby TrueHD to me.

3. Comparing to FLAC files at 192, it does looses out a little bit on details. The HFPA however delivers good low frequency respond.

4. LP however still sounds more involving and natural.

More details on 2 channel in my blog...

http://www.notanotherhifiblog.blogspot.com...s-part-one.html

Hi Elhefe

Great review on your blog, not sure how I can leave comments there though...

Erm... can you bluray player sound option be switched to PCM? This way your bluray player will be doing the decoding for the Dolby TrueHD and DTS MA and then pump that signal to you DAC, so you don't end up with the high screeh sound... The 48Hz thing is perplexing...

4 different version/formation of Getz/Gilberto!!!?!... Can you say, HARDCORE!! Though have to admit it is a fantastic album.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Dec 21 2013, 12:04 PM

Hi mov_freak,

After a lengthy discussion with aa fellow comrade in the US, and going through manuals, there is currently no way to output 24/96 native digital signal from a blu ray player tto a DAC via coaxial or optical. We can only listen to raw 24/96 via HDMI to an AV amp or a DAC with HDMI input. This is due to copyright protection.

So what I have been listening through my DAC is a downsampled signal from the player to 24/48. However, there is still a different sound from standard CD. I am trying to figure out whether the player can still output the 24/96 via its analogue RCA connection ie the player is doing all the decoding work. I know for SACD it can.

I have tested the discs using HDMI on my Yamaha amp....and yes.... there is a different compared to the downsampled version through my DAC.

Ah... Thanks for that

Hi elhefe77

How are you?

Please note that Beck's Sea Change (2002) album (Bluray Audio) is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio 24bit/192kHz or 5.1 PCM 24bit/192kHz

No Stereo option

Am listening to is in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio 24bit, the 5.1 mix is very impressive.

This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Dec 23 2013, 08:15 PM

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This post has been edited by Mov_freak: Dec 23 2013, 08:14 PM

waaaahhh thats great. A true 24/192...

Do u know what other albums with 5.1 channel?

Is there a eference website or something?

Nope...

The best I can find is Bluray Audio

Draw of the luck really, but from 37 title, Universal is expanding it to 200 titles (by 2014)! And with that Warner And Sony are also interested in issuing their own Bluray Audio disc, which is good!!

Hmm.. interesting. I might have to rethink my setup.
Keep us updated with the reviews Mov_freak.

Hello Kiddies... (Great, now I'm beginning to sound like the Crypt Keeper )

Good news, Universal Malaysia have received a new batch of Bluray Audio, namely:

1) Corigliano / Beethoven / Pärt "Credo"
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hélène Grimaud, Esa-Pekka Salonen

2) Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Jan Jansen, Maarten Jansen, Julian Rachlin, Stacey Watton, Janine Jansen

3) Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 - "Pathetique"
Valery Gergiev, Wiener Philharmoniker

4) Mahler: Symphony No.2 - "Resurrection"
Christa Ludwig, Zubin Mehta, Wiener Staatsopernchor, Ileana Cotrubas, Wiener Philharmoniker

5) Dvorák: Slavonic Dances
Iván Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra

6) Discoveries
Gustavo Dudamel

7) Imagine
John Lennon

8) Tommy
The Who

9) Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols

Out of the nine titles, I have ordered everything except for No 8 & 9...

My poor wallet

Will post more reviews when I had the time to listen to more of the titles

Cheers