HiRez Poll Kansas - THE ABSENCE OF PRESENCE [Blu-Ray Audio]

[GOS]

Life in Surround Review, explaining my vote, rounded up to "8".

Excellent! One of your better reviews, IMO. Considering all the hoopla here at QQ. I agree with nearly every piece of your analysis. Good job!!!

 

[beerking]

Excellent! One of your better reviews, IMO. Considering all the hoopla here at QQ. I agree with nearly every piece of your analysis. Good job!!!

A very fair appraisal Mike, I don't have the surround version but I have the music, which is good.
Just one question:
Have you got enhanced hearing devices in your left ear lobe?

Look cool, by the way.

 

[4-earredwonder]

Life in Surround Review, explaining my vote, rounded up to "8".

Great job, Mike. Should have my copy by tomorrow and based on your review, looking forward to it. As I paid under $12 for it, I consider it a REAL bargain in today's market.

Perhaps oneday they'll 'get it right' with MORE adventuresome surround remixes, but for less than the price of a stereo download of questionable quality, hoping other bands follow Kansas' lead with more NEW music in SURROUND.

 

[Marplot]

And, as much as this release lacks adventure in the mix, It is still more enjoyable to listen to than a/the brick-walled CD.

 

[MCDave]

And Kansas, if you're reading this, which I'm sure you are, PLEEZ put out your 70's catalog in adventuresome surround. We'll buy it. Even Mike, who isn't a diehard Wheathead.

 

[kap'n krunch]

And Kansas, if you're reading this, which I'm sure you are, PLEEZ put out your 70's catalog in adventuresome surround. We'll buy it. Even Mike, who isn't a diehard Wheathead.

...and , Kansas Mgmt, if you are receiving this...that was a THUMBS UP FROM ALL OF US IN QQ LAND!!!!

 

[perzon57]

No affordable CD/BD to buy here,so had to go for the box at $55.Got a text from the postman in the morning,it was to big for my mailbox so I will have to pick it up in the post office later.

 

[GOS]

Just in case I didn't post the DR for this title. Per Dave-Wave request....

foobar2000 1.5.4 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2020-08-03 20:12:46

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Kansas / The Absence of Presence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR13 -2.27 dB -17.41 dB 8:22 01-The Absence of Presence
DR12 -0.69 dB -16.21 dB 6:21 02-Throwing Mountains
DR11 -2.75 dB -15.69 dB 5:18 03-Jets Overhead
DR11 -0.77 dB -16.81 dB 2:17 04-Propulsion 1
DR12 -2.07 dB -17.03 dB 4:39 05-Memories Down The Line
DR12 -2.08 dB -15.89 dB 5:19 06-Circus Of Illusion
DR11 -2.96 dB -15.78 dB 5:13 07-Animals On The Roof
DR12 -3.07 dB -17.77 dB 4:52 08-Never
DR13 -0.85 dB -16.61 dB 5:07 09-The Song The River Sang
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 6
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 7499 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

 

[Audiowannabee]

Disappointed
That's all I'll say

 

[curtisjnewell]

The songs are good, and the fidelity is excellent, but what a misuse of the surrounds!!! And it's the original producer and engineer, since the second Kansas album!!

 

[~dave~~wave~]

Just in case I didn't post the DR for this title. Per Dave-Wave request....

foobar2000 1.5.4 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2020-08-03 20:12:46

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Kansas / The Absence of Presence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR13 -2.27 dB -17.41 dB 8:22 01-The Absence of Presence
DR12 -0.69 dB -16.21 dB 6:21 02-Throwing Mountains
DR11 -2.75 dB -15.69 dB 5:18 03-Jets Overhead
DR11 -0.77 dB -16.81 dB 2:17 04-Propulsion 1
DR12 -2.07 dB -17.03 dB 4:39 05-Memories Down The Line
DR12 -2.08 dB -15.89 dB 5:19 06-Circus Of Illusion
DR11 -2.96 dB -15.78 dB 5:13 07-Animals On The Roof
DR12 -3.07 dB -17.77 dB 4:52 08-Never
DR13 -0.85 dB -16.61 dB 5:07 09-The Song The River Sang
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR12

Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 6
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 7499 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

Thanks, Gene.
This is interesting and significant, since the CD has a DR of 5!

For the poor souls who don't have surround systems, the best thing might be a 2.0 downmix from the 5.1.

 

[MCDave]

So the CD was mastered for earbuds and iphones, like most commercial releases nowadays.

 

[Audiowannabee]

So the CD was mastered for earbuds and iphones, like most commercial releases nowadays.

Its sad cuz the content/music holds promise despite basicly being a "new" band, but i just cant handle the terrible sound quality/fidelity let alone the very poor surround mix and ive not even played the CD...im refering to the bluray

 

[Marplot]

Thanks, Gene.
This is interesting and significant, since the CD has a DR of 5!

For the poor souls who don't have surround systems, the best thing might be a 2.0 downmix from the 5.1.

View attachment 54850

there is a stereo version on the BR, there shouldn't be a need to downmix the 5.1.
I'll get the foobar DR later to see if it is worth recommending or if the downmix is the better choice.

 

[Marplot]

So better DR than the CD, less than the 5.1.
foobar2000 1.4.3 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
log date: 2020-08-04 19:26:06

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analyzed: Kansas / The Absence Of Presence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DR Peak RMS Duration Track
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DR7 -0.23 dB -9.53 dB 8:22 01-The Absence Of Presence
DR7 -0.26 dB -8.46 dB 6:21 02-Throwing Mountains
DR7 -0.28 dB -8.84 dB 5:18 03-Jets Overhead
DR8 -0.29 dB -10.09 dB 2:17 04-Propulsion 1
DR7 -0.26 dB -9.68 dB 4:39 05-Memories Down The Line
DR7 -0.26 dB -8.51 dB 5:19 06-Circus Of Illusion
DR7 -0.28 dB -8.13 dB 5:13 07-Animals On The Roof
DR8 -0.25 dB -10.49 dB 4:52 08-Never
DR7 -0.27 dB -9.46 dB 5:07 09-The Song The River Sang
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of tracks: 9
Official DR value: DR7

Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 2677 kbps
Codec: FLAC
================================================================================

 

[~dave~~wave~]

there is a stereo version on the BR, there shouldn't be a need to downmix the 5.1.
I'll get the foobar DR later to see if it is worth recommending or if the downmix is the better choice.

DR 7 ~ Red
DR 12 ~ Green
I rest my case. ⚖

Waveforms would be interesting to compare if someone could post.

 

[Marplot]

I will use Track 8 Never for the waves. Hope this helps.
Stereo 96k BR Crap

 

[Marplot]

CD, it even hurts my eyes.

 

[Marplot]

5.1 DTS

 

[Marplot]

5.1 PCM