Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions

Bon Iver, Bon Iver -- Perth

more_vert
Folks, is this song awfully mastered or incredibly difficult to find gear that will play its chorus parts that don't sound like a mess. No matter what DAC or amp or cans or file format (FLAC and MQA) I throw at it, the chorus parts:
Still alive who you, love
Still alive who you, love
Still alive who you, love
Sound like a complete mess. At first I thought it was maybe lossless format, then when they both sound the same to my ears I swtiched amps (AAA 789 and Feliks Echo) and then cans (NightOwl, Focal Elegia) neither has combination has been able to play those shorts parts to the point where I can differentiate instruments, voice or anything else for that matter. So I'm left wondering if it's just a bad master/mix or just an incredibly difficult for audio gear to present with clarity?
Vote
5
remove_red_eye
107
rdodev
632

search
close
dcha12
463
Dec 17, 2018
It's the mastering. Higher-end gear will not make separation magically appear; it's only capable of (potentially) highlighting differences/making certain details more noticeable. Simpler way to put it is that the more high-end you go, the s***tier the bad stuff sounds. Can't really polish a turd. *this is why mastering > file format (only applies in general and not the extremes; a 128 kbps MP3 is probably going to sound worse than a FLAC)
Tragique
712
Dec 16, 2018
Yeah it sounds like crap on Tidal thru my RHA CL2's and Schiit stack so I guess it's supposed to sound like crap.
DeliriumTrigger
32
Dec 15, 2018
Bon Iver uses a lot of distortion, crackle and degrading samples in his music. 22, a million, his next album is fantastic, but also has a lot of distortion, fry, and stereo pop ins/outs. The album's are like dreams
rdodev
632
Dec 15, 2018
DeliriumTriggerWill absolutely check it out. Listened to Bon Iver, Bon Iver as per a friend's suggestion. Became a bit of an instant fan.
A community member
Dec 14, 2018
It's actually the first time I have listened to the song and decided to test if for myself and I actually really like the song so thanks for that! At that chorus it does sound a little fuzzy sounding with that electric guitar but I am using speakers it seems pretty clean like you can separate vocals and instruments may it be a headphone thing? It does it again at the end of the vocals at the break down. That is the Spotify premium version. Lovely song many thanks reminds of some Sigur ros
(Edited)
Related Posts
Trending Posts in Audiophile