GRRR!

I am very impressed with the ease of use and high quality performance of this "Blu-ray Audio" of The Rolling Stones 50 track 50th anniversary 2 track stereo compilation "Grrr!". Over 3 hours of non stop musical history. The single screen menu could not be more simple and easy to navigate. Each track number is listed in a grid which can be navigated using the remote cursor (though it's very hard to see the highlight change from white to pale blue), the current track number is separately clearly displayed, and which of the 3 high definition audio choices is currently in use is highlighted by flashing between white and pale blue. Audio format choices are PCM, DTS HD Master or Dolby True HD - all are in 96kHz 24bit stereo - that is "2.0" (no subwoofer signal).I compared each of the three audio formats and with my Sony amp set to "2 channel" mode (using only the left and right front speakers) and I could not tell them apart - they all sound magnificent. I am using a toslink audio connection to my pre-HDMI amp - and if I put it into "AFD" mode, the Dolby True HD and PCM signals will allow the subwoofer to work as well (which is good because my 6.5inch 2-way Tannoy 605's need a little help on the bottom end), but the DTS signal allows only the left and right speakers. So my first listen to the whole disc today was using the PCM signal with the amp in AFD mode (and benefiting from the subwoofer's added bass).The disc works just as easily in my ASUS laptop's HP Blu-ray/DVD/CD drive - and when using PowerDVD you can see a readout of the amount of data being processed. The PCM track is a constant 4,608kps, the DTS HD Master varying around 3,500kps and the Dolby True HD varying around 3,000 (which is still more than twice the data rate of the CD format).It's a little surprising that there's no information on or in the packaging to explain the benefits of this wonderfully effective new high definition audio format. An online search using keywords "pure audio grrr stevehoffman" will offer you a forum thread in which contributors discuss the source of these particular edits, the reason why it's not on sale in the USA, and the fact that this disc is not the same Blu-ray Audio format developed by "pureaudio-bluray" even though the front packaging includes the words "High Fidelity Blu-ray Disc Pure Audio" and the onscreen menu lists the audio format choices under the heading "Pure Audio".Still, this Blu-ray Audio disc is certainly as easy to use as a CD (easier in fact since it has its own onscreen menu), it sounds vastly superior to CD, and it is playable all around the world and on every Blu-ray player (no upgrades are required). If this happens to be the format which will be the standard for Blu-ray Audio, then the future of high definition audio is looking rosy. I'll still need to keep my Yamaha DVD player which is capable of playing back my 40 or so DVD-Audio and SACD discs.BTW: in regard to musical content on "Grrr!" - I reckon it's well worth the price for even 30 of the tracks (especially their golden era of the late 60's / early 70's).

This is an excellent collection and better value than paying £400 pounds for a ticket to go and watch the best rock 'n' roll band in the world. Although I recognise that Mick and Keith need to keep the cash rolling in so they can buy another island or two, I can't help noticing that I already own all of these tracks but one on other albums so, in legalistic terms, I am already licensed to play them.If they were a piece of software, I would expect to buy an upgrade at a cheaper price and since most people listen to music digitally these days - even if they buy the CD - that would be a nice service to offer. I have owned Neil Young's After The Goldrush on vinyl, cassette (a mistake) and on CD twice (a divorce). The second CD has deteriorated into a strange bronze colour after starting off silver so so poor old Neil is probably being oxidised slowly and turned, he would like this, to rust! I will, of course, buy the remastered and lossless additions in due course as part of the Neil Young obituary set unless I die first!Since the music business is going down the pan anyway there might be some clever options in selling people upgrades rather than trying to bounce them grumpily into buying a new product. I'm also looking forward to seeing Neil Young on tour this year - it would be neat if my ticket allowed me to download a concert recording and good for him and Crazy Horse who will be viewed countless times on fuzzy shaky video taken by mobile phones.Anyway, I digress. The Stones CD is very good in a summative way. If I wanted to introduce the band to my grandchildren, I would give them the Shine a Light DVD.

What a bargain! Great compilation. Already have most of the tracks on Rolled Gold, Jump Back, 40 Licks etc, but so cheap it's worth it for the later tracks. Don't own or want any studio albums after Exile On Main Street, so these compilations give me a good post 1972 overview. Thanks 😎

As someone who only really only liked a handful of Stone's songs I found that this collection suited perfectly as it's got almost everything that I wanted (cough..see below) and there's enough from each decade to keep me and everyone else happy. I also have Hot Rocks 1964-1971, a 2 disc Stones' collection covering near enough the same songs as on Grrr!. This album however sounds completely different. The songs have clearly been remastered and instruments and voices are now positioned precisely within the stereo image and everything is exceptionally clear (and louder...for good or bad). It's quite disconcerting at first but then you do get used to it...mostly. There are a few songs I'd prefer with less separation of instruments and voices, and less 'loudness' but I've got the other compilation for that.A note on the length of some of the tracks on this compilation. Seems that quite a few of the songs have been 'tidied up'. That is, shortened to some degree or another. Probably won't bother most people. But the tidying up ranges from 20 seconds to a couple of seconds off the end or begging of songs...mostly a little shorter compared to the originals. Oh, and 'You Can't always get what you want' is the 4:51 version on Grrr!, not the longer 7:33 version...and the short versions sounds radically different to the original. Thankfully I've got the original longer version on the Hot Rocks 1964-1971. To be honest, as I'm not a massive fan I don't really care too much about the song reshaping. And besides, it's not exactly music for critical listening.