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. This is the 9th studio album of the singer Lana Del Rey which contains 16 tracks plus a little over 77 minutes of music.

For this review, you will find 4 versions tested: vinyl, white vinyl, Qobuz Hi-Res and Apple Music Dolby Atmos.

You can find the review of other Lana Del Rey’s albums:

• Blue Banisters
• Chemtrails Over the Country Club

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 16 tracks:

1. The Grants
2. Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
3. Sweet
4. A&W
5. Judah Smith Interlude
6. Candy Necklace
7. Jon Batiste Interlude
8. Kintsugi
9. Fingertips
10. Paris, Texas
11. Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulders Of My Father While He’s Deep-Sea Fishing
12. Let The Light In
13. Margaret
14. Fishtail
15. Peppers
16. Taco Truck x VB

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: Qobuz Hi-Res – 2023

Presentation

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

Ed 2: Apple Music Dolby Atmos – 2023

Presentation

This is the streaming Apple Music Dolby Atmos.

Ed 3: Vinyl – 2023

Presentation

This is the vinyl double LP 33 rpm ref : 4859191.

Ed 4: White vinyl – 2023

Presentation

This is the white vinyl double LP 33 rpm ref : 4859192.

Part 2 : Waveform and dynamic comparaisons

Waveform

The waveform represents all the tracks of this album

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 DR7.

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 DR.

The waveforms of both vinyl records are dynamic, but fall between the Qobuz version and the dynamic Dolby Atmos Binaural version with DR10 sound.

The waveform comparison below represents the Qobuz Hi-Res, Vinyl records and Apple Music Dolby Atmos Binaural samples. All samples are adjusted to the same level of -17,4 LUFS to allow a better visual comparison. The difference in dynamics between the 3 samples is very important, it is easily visible and also audible as shown by the listening of the samples.

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 4 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Qobuz Hi-Res – 2023	Apple Music Dolby Atmos – 2023	Vinyl – 2023	White vinyl – 2023
Global	DR7	DR13	DR10	DR10
Min	DR4	DR10	DR09	DR09
Max	DR10	DR15	DR11	DR11
The Grants	DR8	DR13	DR11	DR10
Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd	DR6	DR14	DR10	DR10
Sweet	DR7	DR10	DR9	DR9
A&W	DR4	DR16	DR10	DR10
Judah Smith Interlude	DR9	DR13	DR10	DR11
Candy Necklace	DR10	DR11	DR11	DR11
Jon Batiste Interlude	DR8	DR15	DR9	DR9
Kintsugi	DR9	DR14	DR10	DR10
Fingertips	DR8	DR12	DR10	DR10
Paris, Texas	DR10	DR11	DR11	DR11
Grandfather Please Stand On The Shoulders Of My Father While He’s Deep-Sea Fishing	DR5	DR12	DR9	DR9
Let The Light In	DR7	DR12	DR11	DR11
Margaret	DR9	DR15	DR12	DR12
Fishtail	DR7	DR12	DR11	DR11
Peppers	DR5	DR11	DR9	DR9
Taco Truck x VB	DR5	DR13	DR9	DR9

There are 3 categories in the DR ranking, the Qobuz version with the lowest value of DR7 followed by the vinyl records with a DR10 and the Dolby Atmos Binaural version which is the most dynamic with its DR13.

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 spectra of the Qobuz stereo and Dolby Atmos binaural versions are broadly similar, with small variations (yellow zone) of up to 5 dB. This is also due to the Dolby Atmos mix and the binaural conversion. The 24 kHz frequency limit is due to the 48 kHz sampling rate for the Qobuz version and the Dolby encoding with a lower frequency than 24 kHz for the Apple Dolby Atmos version.

The spectra of the Qobuz (blue curve) and vinyl (white curve) stereo versions are similar up to 16 kHz, with the white curve dipping below the blue curve above 16 kHz (yellow area), indicating an attenuation of the high end up to 5 dB ) 20 kHz.

The spectra of the vinyl (blue curve) and white vinyl (white curve) versions are similar up to 4kHz, with the white curve dipping below the blue curve beyond (yellow area), indicating a slight attenuation for the white vinyl (about 1 dB).

The spectra below represent the surface noise of the black vinyl (blue curve) and white vinyl (white curve) versions. It can be seen that the black vinyl is quieter than the white vinyl, with differences of up to 5 dB!

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 spectrograms of the Qobuz stereo and Dolby Atmos binaural versions are very similar, with a maximum limitation of 24 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the 48 kHz sampling rate for the Qobuz Hi-Res version and the Dolby encoding for the Apple Dolby Atmos version. There is no signal above this frequency (white arrow).

The spectrogram of the 2 vinyl records are similar with frequencies exceeding 24 kHz (yellow arrow). The white arrow shows peaks rising very high in frequency (> 30 kHz) which represent the distortion generated by the playback of the vinyl records.

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.

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.

Below the spatialization for the 16 tracks of Apple Music Dolby Atmos version. Click on the images to zoom in.

Part 6 : Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Qobuz Hi-Res – 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: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2.5)

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” 24 bits 48 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. Spatialization uses more of an extension of space with the use of reverb, or by using and moving the music around in space like on the “A&W” track. 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: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●●●●ooo (7.4)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” Dolby Atmos Binaural for listening with headphones:

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” Dolby Atmos decoded in 5.1:

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.

Ed 3: Vinyl – 2023

The vinyl brings a more dynamic and open listening than the Qobuz Hi-Res version, which makes it the best stereo support, but it cannot match a stereo downmix of the Dolby Atmos version in terms of dynamism and openness, even if the mix is a bit different.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Surface noise: ●●●●o (4.5)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 4: White vinyl – 2023

Except for the collector, the white vinyl record does not bring anything more, except a higher surface noise. For listening, prefer the standard black vinyl record.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Surface noise: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd” 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

After listening to the first single, the album brings us a beautiful variation of music, but confirms the differences of mastering between the Qobuz Hi-Res version limited in dynamics (DR7) and the Dolby Atmos version which expresses itself fully as well in binaural, but especially in 7.1.4 with its DR13. Between the two, we find the vinyl with its DR10 which proposes a more open rendering than the Qobuz version but for which we cannot specify the quality of the master (see the measurements of the impact of the limiter before the cutting of the vinyl).

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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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