Yes: - Close To The Edge -2013- -flac 24-192- !exclusive!
A dedicated Digital Audio Player (DAP) or a computer running specialized software like Foobar2000, Roon, or Audirvana.
Wilson reduces the "murkiness" of the original 1972 production, making individual parts like Rick Wakeman’s shimmering synths and Steve Howe’s intricate 12-string guitar easier to distinguish.
Standard CDs resolve audio at 16-bit, offering 96 dB of dynamic range. Upgrading to 24-bit expands this range to 144 dB . For Close to the Edge , this is critical; it ensures that the quietest ambient birdsong intros and the most explosive Church Organ crescendos coexist without artificial digital noise truncation. Yes - Close To The Edge -2013- -FLAC 24-192-
To truly appreciate the scale and nuance of this masterpiece, we recommend listening to a of the album’s opening section. A short clip does not capture the full dynamic range or the precise stereo imaging of the 24/192 mix, but it provides a glimpse into the unparalleled clarity and immersive soundstage that define this release.
Chris Squire's overdriven bass line forms the backbone of the song; the Wilson mix gives it a punchy, tactile quality that anchors the stereofield. Direct Audio Comparison: Original vs. 2013 FLAC Audio Attribute Original 1972 Master / Standard CD 2013 Steven Wilson FLAC (24-bit/192kHz) Tape Hiss Noticeable in quiet acoustic passages. Virtually eliminated by sourcing original multi-tracks. Vocal Imaging Centered but occasionally muddy and crowded. A dedicated Digital Audio Player (DAP) or a
To the uninitiated, “FLAC 24-192” looks like technical gibberish. To an audiophile, it is a promise. Let’s break down why this applies perfectly to Close to the Edge :
To truly appreciate the depth of a , a basic smartphone headphone jack or standard Bluetooth speaker will not suffice. The signal path requires specialized gear: Upgrading to 24-bit expands this range to 144 dB
Put together, represents the pinnacle of PCM digital audio, a format that, in Wilson's words, allows you to hear the "beautifully pristine, highly digitized files" with "incredible high resolution". Working at this quality throughout the process meant "you're not losing any of those lovely sounds on those tapes".
[1972 Original Multi-Tracks] │ ├─► Direct Archive Transfer ──► [24-bit / 192 kHz FLAC] (Pure Original Master) │ └─► Steven Wilson Restoration ──► [24-bit / 96 kHz FLAC] (Uncluttered Stereo/5.1)
The album is dense. It features layers of Mellotrons, Moog synthesizers, acoustic and electric stringed instruments, complex percussion, and tightly stacked vocal arrangements. Standard audio formats often compress these layers into a muddy wall of sound. High-resolution audio changes everything. Breaking Down the Tech: Why FLAC 24-bit/192kHz Matters