Audiophile Hi-Res System Test is a must for every audiophile. This album is of particular interest for audiophiles and for anyone wishing to calibrate their precious sound system and speaker placement.

This is a great Setup and Test recording from 2xHD Mastering, packed with expertly chosen music cuts, test tones, instrument resonances, stage perspectives, noises and a system burn-in track, in DSD, to help properly set up and enhance your system.

It is a must have tool to help tweak your system for maximum performance. Also includes over 57 minutes of audiophile music.

Arne Domnerus, Bengt Hallberg, Egil Johansen, Georg Riedel & Lars Erstrand (Track 2)
Forestare Ensemble (Track 3)
Holly Cole (Track 5)
Yael Brandeis, Narrator

Note: Have you already purchased this album in the past, but want the newly re-mastered versions directly from the DXD edit master? Simply locate the album in your NativeDSD Downloader, download the tracks again, and enjoy!

The post Audiophile Hi-Res System Test (Remastered) appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The original Jazz At The Pawnshop album, recorded in 1976, has been regarded as “The Best Jazz Recording of the Century!” (also available at NativeDSD along with Jazz At The Pawnshop Volumes 2 and 3).

Anyone who owns Jazz At The Pawnshop will not be able to resist this album and experiencing the enduring spirit of an incredible musical evening. It’s called Jazz At The Pawnshop – Late Night because these tapes come from previously unreleased recording of the last two sets played late-hours at the closing of the famous Jazz At The Pawnshop recording.

The record company accidentally fell upon this treasure while looking for the masters of Volume II of the original album.  The 40 year-old tapes were in excellent condition, and over a week was spent editing and mastering them in high resolution.

The album keeps the musical tag which bands played to indicate the end of a set.  A slow fade-out and fade-in was made to identify the break before the last one.  You can hear the musicians walking back on stage, picking up their instruments, and getting into the final set of an electrifying evening.

Jazz At The Pawnshop – Late Night is a true gift. As a special bonus for our listeners, NativeDSD.Com brings you a Stereo DSD 512 edition of Jazz At The Pawnshop – Late Night. Exclusively available from NativeDSD Music.

Arne Domnerus – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Bengt Hallberg – Piano
Lars Erstrand – Vibes
Georg Riedel – Bass
Egil Johansen – Drums

The post Jazz At The Pawnshop – Late Night [Download & Vinyl Bundle] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The original Jazz At The Pawnshop album, recorded in 1976, has been regarded as “The Best Jazz Recording of the Century!” (also available at NativeDSD along with Jazz At The Pawnshop Volumes 2 and 3).

Anyone who owns Jazz At The Pawnshop will not be able to resist this album and experiencing the enduring spirit of an incredible musical evening. It’s called Late Night because these tapes come from previously unreleased recording of the last two sets played late-hours at the closing of the famous Jazz At The Pawnshop recording. The record company accidentally fell upon this treasure while looking for the masters of Volume II of the original album.  The 40 year-old tapes were in excellent condition, and over a week was spent editing and mastering them in high resolution.

The album keeps the musical tag which bands played to indicate the end of a set. A slow fade-out and fade-in was made to identify the break before the last one. You can hear the musicians walking back on stage, picking up their instruments, and getting into the final set of an electrifying evening. Jazz At The Pawnshop – Late Night is a true gift.

Arne Domnerus – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Bengt Hallberg – Piano
Lars Erstrand – Vibes
Georg Riedel – Bass
Egil Johansen – Drums

The post Jazz At The Pawnshop – Late Night [Deluxe Edition 200g Double Vinyl] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

It is Exclusively Available in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256 and DSD 64 at NativeDSD thanks to our signature Higher Rates Program.

The recordings here include works from Modest Mussorgsky, George Gershwin, Chopin, Frederic Alarie, and more, all of which are presented through 2xHD’s patented, state of the art analog remastering and high-fidelity digital transfer.

Peter Breiner, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Track 1)
Holly Cole Trio (Track 2)
Brian Torff (Track 3)
De Longa (Track 4)
Arne Domnerus, Bengt Hallberg, Georg Riedel, Egil Johnsen & Lars Erstrand (Track 5)
Robert Len & Carole Meneghel (Track 6)
Jean-Pascal Hamelin (Track 7)
Oscar’s Motet Choir (Track 8)
Melanie Barney & Buzz Brass (Track 9)
Frederic Alarie & Mega Bass (Track 10)

The post High Res Headphone Blast, Volume 1 appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Jazz at the Pawnshop is a multi-session recording made by Swedish sound engineer Gert Palmcrantz on December 6-7, 1976, at Jazzpuben Stampen (Pawnshop) in Stockholm, Sweden. A pawnshop had operated on the site prior to the jazz club. Proprius Records founder Jacob Boethius produced the album, and it has been issued several times under multiple labels and formats. The album is regarded by many audiophiles as one of the best jazz recordings of the 20th Century.

The recording features Arne Domnérus (alto sax, clarinet), Bengt Hallberg (piano), Lars Erstrand (vibes), Georg Riedel (bass), and Egil Johansen (drums).

In the high end audio world, audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme has carved out a reputation for definition of excellence. Manufacturers of audiophile equipment such as Nagra Audio, renowned D to A converter manufacturer dCS Ltd and high-end turntable manufacturers, Kronos Audio seek his expertise in representation and assistance in design. Audiophile quality microphone designer and 8 times winner of ‘Best sound in show’ at high-end audio equipment conventions, Laflamme uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The exclusive 2xHD system is the fruit of Laflamme’s total experience and imagination.

In the liner notes, album producer Jacob Boethius says:

When recording engineer Gert Palmcrantz was loading his car with equipment outside Europa Film Studios in Stockholm, Sweden on December 6th, 1976, it was only to make one of many recordings. No one really knew then that this was to become a cult recording among audiophiles and one of the most famous and respected jazz recordings ever made. The mere fact that a single jazz recording has been released in so many formats over a very long period of time (30 years) tells us that this recording must really be unique.

• AAA Audiophile 200g 33rpm Double LP!
• Mastered by René Laflamme at 2xHD on Nagra Equipment!
• Cut All Analog at Bernie Grundman Mastering!
• Plated by Master Craft & Pressed at Le Vinylist in Quebec!

Arne Domnerus – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Bengt Hallberg – Piano
Lars Erstrand – Vibes
Georg Riedel – Bass
Egil Johansen – Drums

The post Jazz At The Pawnshop (Download & Vinyl Bundle) appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Jazz at the Pawnshop is a multi-session recording made by Swedish sound engineer Gert Palmcrantz on December 6-7, 1976, at Jazzpuben Stampen (Pawnshop) in Stockholm, Sweden. A pawnshop had operated on the site prior to the jazz club. Proprius Records founder Jacob Boethius produced the album, and it has been issued several times under multiple labels and formats. The album is regarded by many audiophiles as one of the best jazz recordings of the 20th Century.

The recording features Arne Domnérus (alto sax, clarinet), Bengt Hallberg (piano), Lars Erstrand (vibes), Georg Riedel (bass), and Egil Johansen (drums).

In the high end audio world, audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme has carved out a reputation for definition of excellence. Manufacturers of audiophile equipment such as Nagra Audio, renowned D to A converter manufacturer dCS Ltd and high-end turntable manufacturers, Kronos Audio seek his expertise in representation and assistance in design. Audiophile quality microphone designer and 8 times winner of ‘Best sound in show’ at high-end audio equipment conventions, Laflamme uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The exclusive 2xHD system is the fruit of Laflamme’s total experience and imagination.

In the liner notes, album producer Jacob Boethius says:

When recording engineer Gert Palmcrantz was loading his car with equipment outside Europa Film Studios in Stockholm, Sweden on December 6th, 1976, it was only to make one of many recordings. No one really knew then that this was to become a cult recording among audiophiles and one of the most famous and respected jazz recordings ever made. The mere fact that a single jazz recording has been released in so many formats over a very long period of time (30 years) tells us that this recording must really be unique.

Arne Domnerus – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Bengt Hallberg – Piano
Lars Erstrand – Vibes
Georg Riedel – Bass
Egil Johansen – Drums

The post Jazz At The Pawnshop [Deluxe Edition 200g Double Vinyl] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The DAC Makers is a DSD Bundle that features 4 DSD Samplers with selections from the NativeDSD Presents label by AudioLab, Cary Audio, iFi Audio and Quad. When you purchase all 4, listeners receive a 40% discount on this great selection of DSD music.

NativeDSD Bundles are a mini collection of DSD albums created by the NativeDSD team that brings the works of a special artist, music label or musical genre to your personal library. Better yet, when you buy all of the albums in this bundle (in this case 4 sampler albums), NativeDSD gives you a special 40% OFF discounted price on the full bundle. Expanding your musical horizons and collection while saving money at the same time. Each DSD Bundle is a music opportunity and adventure we urge you to explore!

iFi Stereo DSD 256 Sampler Album

Native DSD music and iFi audio are proud to collaborate with the latest Stereo DSD 256fs sampler album to celebrate the launch of the flagship iFi Audio Professional series. The first product, the Pro iCan is a professional studio grade headphone amplifier and an audiophile line-stage. The Native DSD music album contains 4 cherry-picked DSD 256 songs for you to enjoy. Why iFi and Native DSD? It’s because we both bring out the best in each other.

iFi enjoys PCM and DSD, which is why the specially selected Burr-Brown chip was chosen as it keeps each format in its native state as it travels through the dac chipset. Both iFi and NativeDSD Music care passionately about the ultimate in sound quality and when it comes to DSD recordings, Native DSD Music continues to push the boundaries – with DSD256 recorded music. This is why we made this album for you, the listener.

Joachim Eijlander – “Prelude”
Josep Colom – “Waltz-in-A-Minor-Op-34-No-2”
Smoke & Mirrors Percussion Ensemble – “Udacrep Akubrad”
Thomas Baggerman and Eva Scholten – “Early Autumn”

The Cary Audio DSD Sampler

Especially for existing and new Cary Audio users we have teamed up with NativeDSD to offer a DSD (Direct Stream Digital) Sampler album. This album contains the following 5 extraordinary DSD tracks:

Bill Evans – “It Could Happen To You”
Florilegium: Telemann Concertos & cantata Ihr Völker hört – “Overture in F major – La Tempete”
Breno Viricimo – “Carinhoso”
Jazz at the Pawnshop 2 – “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)”
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 & No. 7 – “Allegro”

Quad 80th Anniversary DSD Sampler

Of all the British high-end hi-fi brands, Quad boasts the longest and most distinguished history. The company has been at the cutting edge of audio since 1936, continually pushing back the boundaries of performance with technologies both new and established. In 1953, the Quad II valve amplifier was launched, setting new standards for audio amplification, and three years later Quad invented the first full-range electrostatic speaker – later known as the legendary ESL 57.

Throughout the ensuing years, Quad products have continued to win worldwide acclaim, building a reputation for excellence that bears comparison with the most distinguished brands in any field. 80 years after its formation, Quad continues to be driven by the philosophy of its founder, Peter Walker, to produce “the closest approach to the original sound”. Its latest product line, Artera Series, incorporates a range of CD players and USB DACs that use state-of-the-art circuitry extending performance to ultra-high-resolution playback including the DSD audio format. Native DSD has partnered with Quad to curate a selection of Audiophile music taking you on a unique journey through Jazz, Vocal, Guitar and Classical genres, in high-resolution DSD format.

Brienn Perry – “That Old Black Magic”
Arne Domnerus, Bengt Hallberg, Egil Johansen, Georg Riedel & Lars Erstrand – “Mood Indigo”
Michala Petri & Mahan Esfahan: Violin in D Mino r, Op. 5, No. 7 – II. Corrente – Allegro
José M. Álvarez, Joaquín Riquelme, Pedro Mateo González – Sonata in E minor for Violin and Guitar – III. Menuetto
Utah Symphony conducted by Thierry Fischer – Control (Five Landscapes for Orchestra) – 3. Beehive

Audiolab: The DSD Sampler

Formed in the early 1980s by Philip Swift and Derek Scotland, Audiolab earned worldwide acclaim with its range of hi-fi electronics including DACs, amplifiers, and CD players. Combining the company’s original ethos of simple, well-constructed ergonomics and crisp, transparent sound with innovative, performance-led design concepts, Audiolab products have won a plethora of awards, bringing enjoyment to music lovers all over the world. The latest evolutionary phase in Audiolab’s story focuses on the reproduction of high resolution audio. Their latest generation of CD players and DACs incorporate advanced circuitry, enabling the playback of DSD music files, including DSD 64, DSD 128 and DSD 256 file resolutions.

While NativeDSD.com provides an industry-leading platform for DSD music downloads – collaboration between the two companies is clearly a perfect fit. The result is a compilation exploring the latest in DSD high-resolution audio, and together we proudly present ‘Audiolab: The Sampler (DSD)’, available exclusively at nativedsd.com. The sampler explores an exciting selection of Pop, Jazz, Classical and Audiophile music, available in up to DSD 256 quality. Each track has been hand-picked to showcase the performance of Audiolab’s latest generation of DSD compatible players, while equally, it serves as the perfect introduction to the world of hi-res audio on any device.

Sonic Rade – “Firefly”
Dee Alexander “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
Noé Inui & Vassilis Varvaresos – Sonata in E-Flat Major Op. 18 – Improvisation, Andante cantabile
Sophisticated Lady – “Gone” 
Breno Viricimo & Friends – “Loro” 

The post The DAC Makers [DSD Bundle] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

For some time now, NativeDSD.com has been offering Analog Reel-to-Reel Tapes from 2xHD Mastering. Native DSD Music also sells a number of Original Recordings and Analog Tape to DSD transfers from 2xHD.

2xHD is proud to offer this deluxe double reel tape version of one of the most famous audiophile cult recordings. Jazz at the Pawnshop is widely regarded as a reference recording, one of the most natural-sounding live jazz reproductions of all time.

The package includes two audiophile SM900 tapes recorded at 15 ips in CCIR (also available in NAB), on two balanced metal reels manufactured in Germany by Feinwerktechnik allgäu GmbH and an elegant booklet.

This is a historically significant album.

2xHD Technical Information

The magnetic tape used for this product is the finest state-of-the-art on the market today. Buying an audio tape from 2xHD guarantees that ultimate quality is preserved from the original master in contrast to vinyl albums, CDs or other formats which are all generated from multiple generations of the original eg: tapes have been duplicated (made into ‘safety Copies’) from the master to be sent to mastering labs around the world from which more generations or conversions of the original are used for manufacturing and reproducing. At 2xHD we always use the original master tape for the transfer to your tape.

All transfer pollution which may be caused by cabling, audio consoles, electrical interference, and amplifiers, are eliminated in the 2xHD chain as we dig into the original recording, using more sophisticated power supplies, cables, etc. These procedures help lower tape noise at the lowest spectrum and bring out the second harmonics warmth associated with analog recordings, creating a fresh, new, yet authentic version of the original recording. We call the procedure ‘back to the future technology’. So, it’s fair to say that you own a recording that is superior to the original released product.

The transfer is made to the best magnetic tape on the market today, the SM900 Studio Master tape which has all the features of a master tape but is also designed for long storage. The formula was created by AGFA around 1973. This tape has the best Print-through protection and longest storage life. Tapes of this formula have been stored for more than 40 years — and display no deterioration of the coating or sound quality. It is often chosen by professionals who specialize in classical, instrumental or voice recordings due to the “transparent” sound of its formula.

Fusion Pure Analog Tape by 2xHD

Audio tapes from 2xHD guarantees that ultimate quality is preserved from the original master in contrast to vinyl albums, or CDs.

For the recording on this tape, the original 1/4″ 15 ips NAB or CCIR master tapes were played on a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired with OCC silver cables from the playback head direct to a Nick Doshi tube head preamplifier. The Nagra-T, with its four direct drive motors, two pinch rollers and a tape tension head, is one of the best transports ever made. A customer-built carbon fiber head block and a head damping electronic system permit 2HD Fusion to obtain more transparency and better 3D imaging. Your copy was recorded on a Nagra iV-S 1/4″ at 15 ips.

A World of Music on Reel Tape at Your Fingertips

Nothing sounds better than music on audio reel to reel tape. The return of the most delicate, but most considered, kind of audio format for a true audiophiles. The most dubious audiophiles know the truth about reel-to-reel tape. The truth is that it just sounds better than vinyl. The ultimate reel to reel tape is the latest retro-trend for audiophiles, it has a greater dynamic range than vinyl, capable of producing extraordinary sound for the treble and bass and there is less signal processing which is the enemy of a hi-fi extraordinaire.

The 2xHD team proud to announce the receipt of two prestigious 2020 Awards: THE POSITIVE FEEDBACK 2020 PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD was given for Audiophile Analog Collection Vol 2 for Release on Reel Master Tape and HIGH FIDELITY’s BEST RECORDING 2020 Award was bestowed on 2xHD for two pure analog recordings: Audiophile Analog Collection Vol 1. and Audiophile Analog Collection Vol 2. Feel The Warmth!

The 2xHD proprietary mastering provides a unique listening experience as the process digs deep in original recordings to bring out all hidden information, without altering the music in any way, uncovering, and bringing out nuances, warmth, depth of field and even the air around the musicians.

Pure analog transfer from the original master tape. Audiotapes from 2xHD guarantees that ultimate quality is preserved from the original master in contrast to LP vinyl, CDs, or other formats. Exceptional Audiophile Analog Sound – Master Quality Reel To Reel Recording On RTM SM900 Tape.

Based in Montreal and created by audiophile sound engineer René Laflamme and producer André Perry. All 2xHD audiotapes are from the original analog master and transfer in analog domain using a Nagra-T tape recorder, modified with high-end tube playback electronics, wired from the playback head. In the high-end audio world, René has carved out a reputation for the definition of excellence and uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The company plans to release a new title every 2 months.

Audiophile quality microphone designer and 40 times winner of “Best sound in the show” at high-end audio equipment conventions, Laflamme uses his knowledge and unfailing instinct to match various audio components to create the best all-encompassing sound experience. The exclusive 2xHD system is the fruit of Laflamme’s total experience and imagination. Music on reel-to-reel tape from the original analogue master.

Caring for Your Tape

• We use an MRL tape for alignment of our tape decks
• Tapes should always be stored ‘tail-out’ to prevent print-through
• Store in a dry place. The ideal environment is between 154C-26″C (59’F-78’F) and Relative Humidity of 45%-70%.
• Keep away from any magnetic field such as speakers
• Clean & demagnetize the heads regularly
• These simple procedures will help you enjoy the music for many years. Happy Listening! Tape tail out! Before playback, please rewind the tape
• NativeDSD nor 2xHD cannot be responsible for any damage resulting from customer tape handling or defective machine

Compatible Tape Recorders

Below is a partial list of compatible tape recorders. Other tape recorders may be used as long as they have 15ips, 2 track playback capability, CCIR or NAB curve and 10” diameter reel capacity.

3M, Akai, Ampex 350, 351, 354, 440, MR70, ATR 100, 102, Ballfinger M063H1, M063H3, M063H5, M063H1IX, Crown, Denon, Fostex, Lyrec, Magnecord, Marantz, MCI, Mitsubishi, Nagra T, Nagra IV-S/QGB, Otari, Philips PRO35, PRO36, Pioneer RT707, Scully280, Shure, Sony, Stellavox, Studer B67, C37, A80, 810, A820, ReVox A77, C260, G36, PR99, Tandberg, Teac X2000, Tascam, Technics RS1500, Telefunken M5, M10, M12, M15, Thorens TM1600, United home audio and more.

The post Jazz at the Pawnshop (Deluxe 2 Tape Edition) appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Jazz at the Pawnshop is considered one of the most famous audiophile albums in music. Recorded over two nights at the intimate Pawnshop jazz club in Stockholm, both the musicianship and the engineering came together in a magical symbiosis captured on this enduring classic.

Recording engineer Gert Palmcrantz used one pair of microphones spaced eight inches apart for the main pick-up, with a couple of microphones placed to register the “live” atmosphere and a few discrete support mikes, all recorded on a pair of two-track Nagra tape recorders in the restaurant kitchen!

Arne Domnerus – Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Bengt Hallberg – Piano
Lars Erstrand – Vibes
Georg Riedel – Bass
Egil Johansen – Drums

The post Jazz At The Pawnshop 3 – Good Vibes appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Billy Wright, President of Cary Audio tells us “Cary Audio was founded in 1989 with a firm commitment to producing the highest quality two-channel vacuum tube components, cutting-edge digital playback solutions, and home theater products. Our dedication to accurate and lifelike reproduction of music has led to many awards and rave reviews all over the world. Our efforts are guided by the knowledge that we sell not just audio hardware, but rather a means to enjoy music with all the emotion which it was intended to be heard, all at a price to performance ratio far beyond expectation.”

Note: Tracks 1 and 4 are not available in 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD as they were recorded in Stereo only.

Arne Domnerus
Bengt Hallberg
Bill Evans
Breno Viricimo
Egil Johansen
Florilegium
Georg Riedel
Lars Erstrand
Manfred Honeck
Pittsburg Symphony Orchestra

The post The Cary Audio DSD Sampler appeared first on NativeDSD Music.