Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift releases her 10th studio album entitled Midnights. It was written and produced by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. It is available on various media including 4 vinyl records with different colors and 4 different album covers to collect.

We will review 5 versions including vinyls (Blue Marbred, Jade Green Marbled), Qobuz Hi-Res and Tidal Dolby Atmos (multichannel and binaural).

You can also find the review of the RED (Taylor’s Version) album here.

Below you will find the description of the different editions, as well as the measurements of each edition in the following chapters.
The synthesis of the review and the samples are available here

The album is composed of 13 tracks:

1. Lavender Haze
2. Maroon
3. Anti-Hero
4. Snow On The Beach
5. You’re On Your Own, Kid
6. Midnight Rain
7. Question…?
8. Vigilante Shit
9. Bejeweled
10. Labyrinth
11. Karma
12. Sweet Nothing
13. Mastermind

First we will analyze each edition in detail (technical and qualitative analysis), then we will compare the successive editions with their dynamics and assign a final score, and you will be able to listen some samples.

The streaming versions may evolve over time, those presented here correspond to the version tested at the date of publication, or update of the review.

Review of the editions:

Part 1: Presentation of the editions

Part 2 : Waveform and dynamique comparaison

Parts 3 : Spectrum comparisons

Part 4 : Spectrogram comparaisons>

Part 5 : Spatialization

Part 6 : Summary, scoring and Sample

Part 1: presentation of the editions

Ed 1: Vinyl Blue Marbred – 2022

Presentation

This is the Moonstone Blue Marbled vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with 8-page booklet.

Label	Republic Records
Reference	196587465810
Format (speed)	Vinyl LP
Type	LP 33 1/3 rpm
Master	Digital
Mastering/Pressing	Mixed by Serban Ghenea Mastered by Randy Merril
Original recording	Digital
State	CZECH REPUBLIC
Year original	2022
Year production	2022

Ed 2: Vinyl Jade Green Marbled – 2022

Presentation

This is the Jade Green Marbled vinyl in a gatefold sleeve with 8-page booklet.

Label	Republic Records
Reference	196587465827
Format (speed)	Vinyl LP
Type	LP 33 1/3 rpm
Master	Digital
Mastering/Pressing	Mixed by Serban Ghenea Mastered by Randy Merril
Original recording	Digital
State	MADE IN FRANCE
Year original	2022
Year production	2022

Ed 3: Qobuz Hi-Res – 2022

Presentation

This is the streaming Qobuz presented in Hi-Res 24 bits 48 kHz.

Label	Republic Records
Reference	Qobuz Hi-Res
Format (speed)	Streaming
Type	PCM 24 bit 48 kHz
Master	Digital
Mastering/Pressing	Mixed by Serban Ghenea Mastered by Randy Merril
Original recording	Digital
State	USA
Year original	2022
Year production	2022

Ed 4: Tidal Dolby Atmos Binaural – 2022

Presentation

This is the binaural version presented by Tidal from Dolby Atmos track

Label	Republic Records
Reference	Tidal Dolby Atmos
Format (speed)	Streaming Dolby AC-4
Type	Binaural
Master	Digital
Mastering/Pressing	Immersive Mixed by John Hane
Original recording	Digital
State	USA
Year original	2022
Year production	2022

Ed 5: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2022

Presentation

This is the multichannel version presented by Tidal from Dolby Atmos

Label	Republic Records
Reference	Tidal Dolby Atmos
Format (speed)	Streaming Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
Type	Multichannel decoded up to 7.1.4
Master	Digital
Mastering/Pressing	Immersive Mixed by John Hane
Original recording	USA
State	France
Year original	2022
Year production	2022

Part 2 : Waveform and dynamic comparaisons

Waveform

The waveform represents the album

The graph below represents the waveform of the vinyl versions (Ed1 : blue and Ed2 : green). These versions are dynamic without any trace of dynamic range limitation as for the Qobuz version.

The Qobuz Hi-Res below turns up the level to the maximum and with the use of a Brickwall limiter that caps the levels as shown in the yellow zone.

The Dolby Atmos binaural version is more dynamic than the Qobuz version, but also with the light use of a dynamic limiter as shown by the sound level limitation on some peaks.

The waveform of the Dolby Atmos multichannel version is the most dynamic version of all the editions.

The comparison of the surface noise between the two vinyls during a silence highlights the more important noise (with a maximum between 5 and 10 dB according to the frequencies) of the Jade Green Marbled vinyl compared to Blue Marbred vinyl.

Dynamic

Dynamic represents the ability to reproduce a wide range of sounds from the softest to the loudest. The target is to compare the dynamics of the music and not of the media (CD, digital files or vinyl).

For our 5 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Vinyl Blue Marbred – 2022	Vinyl Jade Green Marbled – 2022	Qobuz Hi-Res – 2022	Tidal Dolby Atmos Binaural – 2022	Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2022
Global	DR10	DR10	DR6	DR9	DR13
Min	DR8	DR8	DR4	DR8	DR9
Max	DR11	DR11	DR8	DR10	DR13
Lavender Haze	DR10	DR10	DR6	DR9	DR9
Maroon	DR11	DR11	DR6	DR8	DR10
Anti-Hero	DR11	DR10	DR6	DR10	DR12
Snow On The Beach	DR10	DR9	DR6	DR9	DR11
You’re On Your Own, Kid	DR10	DR9	DR5	DR9	DR9
Midnight Rain	DR10	DR10	DR6	DR9	DR12
Question…?	DR10	DR10	DR5	DR9	DR13
Vigilante Shit	DR10	DR10	DR6	DR8	DR11
Bejeweled	DR10	DR10	DR6	DR9	DR12
Labyrinth	DR11	DR11	DR8	DR8	DR13
Karma	DR11	DR11	DR6	DR10	DR11
Sweet Nothing	DR11	DR11	DR8	DR8	DR10
Mastermind	DR8	DR8	DR4	DR8	DR12

The result of the DR measurements is consistent with the waveform analysis, i.e. a DR6 for the digital stereo versions (with dynamic range limitation), a DR9 for the Binaural lossless versions and a DR10 for the vinyl and DR13 for the multi-channel Atmos versions.

As a reminder, the scale goes from 0 to more 20, but the dynamics are considered good from 12, quite good between 10 and 11, and deteriorate below 10.

Part 3 : spectrum comparisons

Spectrum

The Spectrum allows to check the tonal balance of the music (balance between treble, medium and bass sounds) and to detect process that may have been carried out during the recording, the mixing, mastering or manufacturing phases. It is also possible to detect frequency interference issues.

The spectrum of the two vinyl (Blue and Green) versions is totally superimposed, there is just a little less background noise above 20 kHz (yellow arrow).

The spectrum of the blue vinyl and Qobuz overlap up to 13 kHz, then the level of the vinyl decreases compared to Qobuz (yellow zone) up to 5 dB of difference. The yellow arrow shows the 24 kHz frequency limit of the Qobuz version due to its 48 kHz sampling rate.

The two versions Qobuz Hi-res stereo and Tidal Atmos Binaural are different at the bottom (green zone) and top (yellow zone) of the spectrum due to the difference in mixing. The Tidal Atmos Binaural version is limited to 20 kHz due to the Dolby AC4 encoding used for the Binaural version.

The Atmos decoded in 5.1 version represents Dolby Digital Plus without decoding the Atmos channels. The central channel is almost not used (orange curve), we find the filtering at 120 Hz (purple arrow) of the channel dedicated to the bass frequencies (LFE). The limitation to 20 kHz (yellow arrow) is due to the Dolby Digital Plus encoding which limits the bandwidth to better compress the data, despite the use of a 48 kHz sampling frequency, as shown by the 24 kHz limit of the green arrow.

Part 4 : Spectrogram comparaisons

Spectrogram

Spectrogram is another representation of frequency versus time of a track. For each channel (right and left), horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents frequency. The amplitude is represented by the intensity (brightness) of the color of each point in the image.

The spectrogram of the vinyls (Ed1 and Ed2) show that the frequencies rise above 20 kHz (yellow arrow). Above this frequency (white arrow), we find a signal which is composed by the distortion generated by the vinyl playback principle.

The spectrograms of the Qobuz have a frequency limitation at 24 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the sampling frequency of 48 kHz. There is no signal above this frequency (white arrow).

The spectrograms of the Tidal Atmos Binaural and multichannel versions below are identical with a frequency limitation at 20 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the Dolby Encoding. There is no signal above this frequency (white arrow). The red area shows the suppression of high frequencies to optimize the data compression in order to reduce the throughput. The bass channel is limited to 120 Hz (green arrow).

Part 5 : Spatialization

Spatialization allows you to define the sound distribution of the music on all the channels. The spatialization indicator and the description of the graph are described here.

We find an Atmos mix which will privilege a widening of the front sound scene until the side surround speakers. This brings a more important opening than the stereo version and widens the sound scene. It is a tendency to the Atmos mixing that we find more and more often (it is also the case for the album Brother in Arms of Dire Straits). This suits this style of music very well, but still retains some presence on the rear channels.

Part 6 : Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Vinyl Blue Marbred – 2022

The vinyl brings a dynamic with more fineness and precision compared to the digital stereo versions. The rendering of the sound space is also a little wider. The difference of the sound rendering is more or less important according to the tracks between vinyl and Qobuz, and remains more marked on the passages with a stronger level.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Surface noise: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Snow On The Beach” 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 2: Vinyl Jade Green Marbled – 2022

When listening, the two vinyl versions are similar with a very close sound. The quality of pressing and the type of green materials give a more surface noise.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Surface noise: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Snow On The Beach” 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 3: Qobuz Hi-Res – 2022

No surprise, we find the loudness war with a DR6 average for the album, some tracks are less impacted and shows that the sound rendering could have been very good in digital stereo.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●oooo (1)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3)

Sample : ”Snow On The Beach” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 4: Tidal Dolby Atmos Binaural – 2022

The binaural version has a much richer and more open mix, with a larger sound space. It is the recommended version for headphone listening.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Snow On The Beach” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 5: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2022

The Dolby Digital Atmos version is the best version with a more open rendering, favoring the width of the sound scene and a beautiful dynamic that brings more details, even on the loudest passages. The stereo downmix of this version is more pleasant and precise to the listening than the Qobuz version.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Snow On The Beach” 5.1 – 24 bits 48 kHz:

The sample is in 5.1 wav format, if you can not play the sample in your navigator, you can save it, right button menu and “Save Audio As…” and play it with an external player.

Dolby Atmos multichannel listening is distinguished by a mix that expands the front sound stage to the side surround speakers. This type of Atmos mixing works very well with this style of music. Even the stereo downmix of the Atmos version sounds better than the stereo versions in terms of dynamics and detail. If you are not a fan of the Atmos version, the vinyl record brings the best rendering of the stereo mix, with a preference for the marbled blue version. The Qobuz version brings the quality of digital only on the passages having a low level because little or not limited in dynamics.

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Detail of the ratings :

• Dynamic :
  1. Significant dynamic compression, DR less than 7
  2. Compression of the present dynamics, DR between 7 and 9.
  3. Correct piece DR >=10
  4. No dynamic compression (DR >12), dynamic rendering
  5. No dynamic compression, high DR and very dynamic sound rendering
• Spectrum :
  1. Spectrum cut and less than 15 khz
  2. Spectrum cut at 15 khz
  3. Spectrum not conforming to the original and cut (not HD) or original but limited bandwidth (but less than 20 kHz)
  4. Spectrum conforming to the original (but not HD)
  5. Spectrum conforming to the original with HD resolution (higher than 24kHz)
• Surface noise (only for vinyl):
  1. Continuous audible noise
  2. Audible surface noise except on passages with a high level of noise
  3. Reduced surface noise, barely audible on low level crossings
  4. Low surface noise, very good quality
  5. Very low surface noise, no defects, almost inaudible on the quiet passages (exceptional disc)
• Spatialization :
  • Between 0 and 5 for 5.1 or 7.1 channels configuration
  • Between 0 and 10 for Atmos configuration (7.1.4)
  • For more information on spatialization, you can read the article describing this parameter here.
• Restitution :
  1. Low quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  2. Average quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  3. Quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Good record.
  4. High quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Very high level disc.
  5. Maximum quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Exceptional disc.

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