BHQS9 and BHQS10

bosshoss

bosshoss

G45 Legend
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2011
Location
Sydney, Australia
I'm currently working on perfecting 2 new versions of BossHoss Quality Sound. I'm using a new, almost unknown and very strange procedure to raise the standard of vinyl dubs to a very high level, close to mastertape quality I hope. I'll be posting some examples for download here over the next few days, and I'd welcome any comments from anyone who's interested.

BHQS9 is almost ready, perhaps as early as tonight. BHQS10 is awaiting the arrival of some new equipment.
 
BHQS9 is perfected. I'm pretty much stunned at how it turned out. All I must do now is wait until 12 midnight tonight, to make the first transfers for download here at the Secret Society.

I think I will transfer a couple of well known tunes, which will allow for comparison with the current available CD and/or vinyl issues. Something like a track from the 13th Floor Elevators 1st LP for example.

The transfers are being done in the bunker, and I will reveal the new methods used in due course, although perhaps not in public on the forum. The primary method is really quite insane and difficult to believe.
 
mr. splendid said:
Any chance of a picture of the new set-up ?
Click to expand...
The set-up is exactly the same as before. SME model 30 turntable, SME V tonearm, Lyra Titan cartridge, highly modified Krell transistor preamp, Apogee miniMe A/D converter. It's the analog treatment of vibration control which is different.
 
MopTopMike said:
I should persuade Mr. Taylor into creating the audio equivalent of the TeenBeat Mayhem! Top 100 for BHQS10
Click to expand...
I was thinking the same thing.
Uploading 5 tracks now.

Here they are. Please note zero eq and compression has been used, and zero noise removal. I wanted to present the straight vinyl transfer with no processing. The overall volume levels will be slightly less than my earlier transfers due to the complete lack of sound enhancement.

It will be interesting to see if the qualities of BHQS9 can be detected on a variety of different playback systems.

All the files are uploaded now

http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/Elevators_MissMe.flac
http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/Elevators_Roller.flac
http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/AlarmClocks_Reason.flac
http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/QuestionMark_GotTo.flac
http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/Sonics_Diddy.flac
 
I've downloaded and de-flaced to AIFF and burned to a CD that I will listen to in my car as I'm driving around this afternoon.
 
Not a particularly scientific test as I was listening on my average car system, but what I heard was great clarity and also separation of the various sounds. This was in comparison to the good quality CD I was listening to immediately before, where by contrast the music was more like one combined sound. I didn't compare it to any of the older BHQS transfers as I'm not much of a technical listener, but these do sound really good. I can also see why Mark was raving recently about the production on the ? and the Mysterians LP - that sounds amazing.
 
It´s difficult to tell since your set up is so high-end to start with, but to take a song like YGMM it definitely sounds sharper and more open, and I´ve listened to that song perhaps more times than any other 45 in my collection. It actually sounds sharper than playing the original, but again, my set-up is pretty far from yours, quality wise, so difficult for me to acertain what is making the biggest difference.
 
Thanks for the feedback Michael and Thomas. What you're describing is more or less what I expected.
The difference between BHQS9 and earlier versions, is entirely due to the suppression of vibration, in individual components of the entire analog audio path, and power supply. By individual components, I'm talking about each individual electronic component inside the equipment. I have found various ways to directly dampen the vibrations caused by electrical activity in the individual resistors, capacitors, transformers, valves, transistors, cables, wires, chassis etc. I have also performed micro-dampening surgery on the A/D converter.
The net effect is to effectively remove these components as a source of coloration during the transfer procedure, meaning that you're hearing more of the uncontaminated sound of the movement of the stylus.
More clarity, open-ness and especially separation of individual elements of the sound is exactly what I hear as well. But on my system the difference is not subtle - it's obvious, stunning.
 
Mark -

An improvement in detail, dynamics & and reduction of coloration. I always tell people the closer recorded music compares to live music - the less you have to strain to compensate for how you think things should sound. In other words, accurate reproduction of sound becomes something that is more "relaxing" and less taxing to listen to than when the reproduction is innacurate. I easily recognize the sound of the SME setup, the Titan & the Krell (perhaps one not quite as modified as your rig) so I'm thinking your obsessive tweeking of the other steps in the pathway is where the improvements are. I'll be very honest about the improvements - there is a new spatial element & a less transistor sound than your earlier projects. I know it is "geek" stuff to talk about the sensation of air or space around the instruments, but that also has improved. Vibration of any sort is the enemy of great reproduction from records. To say this is an improvement over your old hifi is sort of like telling an attractive woman she has lost weight since the last time you've seen her. To my ears, the less transistor sound & the other mentioned improvements are more relaxing & therefore more "accurate" in my opinion.

I'm listening through a modified Conrad Johnson tube (valve) preamp that has been modified to remove excessive tube & chassie vibrations (vintage Mullard Blackburn matched tubes), a Musical Fidelity power amp, modified B&W monitors (biwired), a REL subwoofer & I am using Transparent cables throughout along with a Furman power conditioner. Not up to the sound reproduction you're using, but revealing enough to hear the changes.

Is there still another improvement in the near future ? That will be interesting to hear as well -

Ned
 
Hi Ned
Thanks for your learned analysis. I think you're hearing exactly what I had hoped and intended. Great!
It's interesting to know the details of the system you're using, that helps my understanding of the value of your comments. Very nice set-up, Ned!
I also think you will be interested to know what is coming with BHQS10. I already have some new equipment which is sitting in a crate in the bunker. One of the items is a completely hard-wired, hand-built valve phono preamp (Coincident Statement). I've tested it and it's awesome out of the box. However, the Krell is now so highly modified that it beats out any known (by me) phono preamp straight out of the box, in certain aspects such as detail. Therefore, I have to apply the same modifications to the brand new Coincident Statement, before I can introduce it with the advent of BHQS10. That involves completely re-wiring it, and controlling vibration for each individual electronic and mechanical component.
 
Over the past few nights I have been continually experimenting with additional vibration control, and updating BHQS9. After further micro-surgery on the A/D converter, and significant internal and external surgery to the tonearm using the primary process, I can now present BHQS9.1, which I feel is a massive upgrade.
I made FLAC files, but the FLAC compression only reduced the file size of "Roller Coaster" from 39.8 to 39.2 megabytes. I assume it's because there's now so much detail and resolution in the files due to highly resolved super-fast transients and surface noise, that lossless compression is literally impossible on most BHQS9.1 files. Inspecting the waveform with a digital editor confirms this...so I didn't bother with the FLAC compression, there's no point.

http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/MissMe_9.1.wav
http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/Roller_9.1.wav
http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/Splash_9.1.wav
 
I have another new version ready, already. It's BHQS9.2 of course. Using the same primary process but in a more radical application, I have been able to neutralize almost all of the tonearm coloration. Instead of uploading the 4 test tracks I made tonight, I will wait and make enough BHQS9.2 tracks for a whole CD.
If anyone has suggestions for killer tracks to include, please let me know. They don't have to be uncomp'ed. The idea is to create a jawdropping loud CD for blasting in the car, or at home on the hifi.
Here's a taste of BHQS9.2 (aiff format)

http://www.finerecordingstudio.com/BHQS9/AlsUntouchables_ComeOn.aif
 
Hows about 9.2ing these...
Seven Days of Crying by the Cavaliers.
Lorna by Adrian Lloyd.
 
Blasting in the car is what I do; here are some I'd like to hear

Enfields - I'm for Things You Do
Hangmen - I'm Gonna Love You
Light Brigade - Won't You Tell me
Squires - Going All the Way
Beau Havens - Elizabeth
Centurys - Endless Search
First Crow to the Moon - Spend Your Life
Soothsayers - Please Don't Be Mad
4 Of Us - You're Gonna Be Mine
Quadrangle - She's Too Familiar Now
Shaynes - From My Window
Wonders - I'm Not Willin
? and the Mysterians - Girl, You Captivate Me
Bees - Voices Green and Purple
Caretakers of Deception - X+Y=13
 
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