After the albums Blue Banisters and Chemtrails Over the Country Club released in 2021, Lana Del ray is back with a new album Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd whose first single of the same title is available. To get an idea of the characteristics of the album, here is a review of this first single. The album will be released on March 24th.

This review of the first single focuses on the Qobuz (16 bits 44.1 kHz) and Apple Music Dolby Atmos versions.

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.

Waveform and dynamic

The waveform represents the single.

The waveform of the Qobuz version is characteristic of the use of a dynamics compressor with the sound level flats (yellow zone). There is no trace of clipping. The curve is in coherence with the measurement of the DR5 (-10.9 LUFS).

The waveform of the Apple Dolby Atmos Binaural version is dynamic with important variations of the sound level during the song. The curve is consistent with the measurement of the DR12 (-17.5 LUFS).

The waveforms below represent the stereo version and the Dolby Atmos binaural version adjusted to the same sound level to see the impact of the dynamic limiter on the music peaks that are absent on the stereo version.

Spectrum comparisons

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 spectra of the stereo and Dolby Atmos binaural versions are very similar, with small variations below one kHz. The frequency limit is due to the 44.1 kHz sample rate for the Qobuz version and the Dolby encoding for the Apple Dolby Atmos version. This result is also explained by the weak exploitation of the surround channels (see spatialization) which does not require much binaural conversion.

Spectrogram comparaisons

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 spectrograms of the stereo and Dolby Atmos binaural versions are very similar, with a limitation towards 22 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz for the Qobuz version and to the Dolby encoding for the Apple Dolby Atmos version. There is no signal above this frequency (white arrow).

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.

The spatialization is mainly concentrated on the front left and right channels, as well as on the left and right side surround channels, the other channels are more present to fill the space with a more reverberant atmosphere.

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Qobuz – 2023

The Qobuz stereo version is compressed in dynamics, the compression makes lose details and smoothness in the voice, in particular on the strongest passages. It’s a pity to apply this kind of treatment on this style of music!

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●oooo (1)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2.5)

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 2: Apple Music Dolby Atmos – 2023

We find, as often, a Dolby Atmos version more dynamic than the stereo version. This one allows to bring more fineness for the music and for the voice, and also more spatialization compared to the stereo version. This remains valid whether you are listening binaurally with headphones, in downmix stereo for a shortening on a stereo system or in 7.1.4. Listening in 7.1.4 brings more width compared to stereo listening, with a listening that remains mainly at 180° in front of it, as the spatialization graph shows.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●●●●ooo (6.8)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” in Dolby Atmos Binaural :

This first single from the new album of Lana Del Rey shows the mixing and mastering trend of the stereo and Dolby Atmos version. As it is often the case (cf the test of the last single of Katie Melua), we find a strongly compressed stereo version and a more dynamic and open Dolby Atmos version, which brings a better rendering in the various listening modes, even in stereo downmix.

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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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