X (“Multiply”) is the second studio album by Ed Sheeran released in June 2014. It succeeds the album + released in 2011. X (“Multiply”) is a real success with over 10 million albums sold worldwide. The standard edition features 12 tracks including the famous songs also released as singles Sing, Don’t, Thinking Out Loud, Bloodstream and Photograph.

For this review, you will find 3 versions tested: vinyl, streaming Qobuz Hi-Res and Tidal Dolby Atmos.

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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 15 tracks:

1. One
2. I’m a Mess
3. Sing
4. Don’t
5. Nina
6. Photograph
7. Bloodstream
8. Tenerife Sea
9. Runaway
10. The Man
11. Thinking out Loud
12. Afire Love
13. Take It Back*
14. Shirtsleeves*
15. Even My Dad Does Sometimes*

* only for Qobuz Deluxe and Tidal Dolby Atmos

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 – 2014

Presentation

Here is the vinyl record presented on 2 LPs in 45 rpm (ref : 825646285877)

Ed 2: Qobuz – 2014

Presentation

This is the streaming Qobuz presented in 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

Ed 3: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2014

Presentation

This is the streaming Tidal presented in Dolby Atmos.

Part 2 : Waveform and dynamic comparaisons

Waveform

The waveform represents tracks of this album.

The waveform is more dynamic than the digital version, with values between DR10 and DR12 according to the tracks which does not allow to deduce the dynamics of the master used (see the example of Depeche mode).

The curve of the waveform is characteristic of the use of a Brickwall limiter, all the songs have the same maximum level on all the songs. This is confirmed by the DR value, which is DR6 for the average value, with songs between DR5 and DR9.

The waveform of the Dolby Atmos Binaural version is the most dynamic of the tested versions, with a very large level variation visible on the waveform.

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

	Vinyl – 2014	Qobuz – 2014	Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2014
Global	DR11	DR6	DR13
Min	DR10	DR5	DR10
Max	DR12	DR9	DR14
One	DR10	DR6	DR10
I’m a Mess	DR11	DR6	DR12
Sing	DR11	DR6	DR15
Don’t	DR11	DR5	DR13
Nina	DR11	DR7	DR14
Photograph	DR10	DR6	DR12
Bloodstream	DR11	DR6	DR13
Tenerife Sea	DR10	DR6	DR13
Runaway	DR11	DR6	DR13
The Man	DR11	DR6	DR14
Thinking out Loud	DR12	DR7	DR14
Afire Love	DR11	DR6	DR14
Take It Back*		DR9	DR12
Shirtsleeves*		DR5	DR14
Even My Dad Does Sometimes*		DR6	DR12

Unfortunately, we find the Stereo version which is the most impacted by the dynamic limiter with its DR6, compared to the Dolby Atmos version which is the most dynamic with its DR13. The vinyl is between the two, with a DR11, but, one wonders what is the origin of the master (see explanation of the waveform).

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 graph below compares the vinyl spectrum (white curve) to the Qobuz spectrum (blue curve). The curves overlap completely up to 8 kHz. Beyond that, in the yellow area, between 8 kHz and 15 kHz, there are small variations that can be 1 to 2 dB higher for vinyl. Beyond 15 kHz, the vinyl record attenuates faster than the Qobuz version with a difference of nearly 15 dB at 20 kHz. The vinyl record will bring a less detailed sound in the high end.

The graph below shows the spectrum of the Dolby Atmos version decoded in 5.1. The yellow arrow shows that the front left and right channels have a higher level than the rear channels. The center channel is less present (blue arrow) with a maximum frequency limited to 5 kHz due to the use for voice. The bass channel is not used (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 vinyl version rises above 20kHz (yellow arrow), with frequency peaks above 30kHz (white arrow) which are due to the music, but mostly to the distortion generated by the vinyl playback technique.

The spectrogram of the Qobuz version goes up to 22kHz (yellow arrow), without any signal above this frequency which is due to the used sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz (white arrow).

The spectrogram of the Dolby version does not go beyond 20kHz (yellow arrow), with no signal above this frequency (white arrow) which is due to the encoding used for Dolby Atmos which can be Dolby Digital Plus or Dolby AC-4.

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 very different from one track to another, indeed, we find tracks with a spatialization of 5.2 (Runaway) with a frontal scene present in particular on the voice and a widening of the music on the surround. And pieces like “AFire Love” with a spatialization of 9.1 which exploits completely all the channels. The surround channels are used to diffuse the chorus, or musical instruments. The sound stage is also very wide with the exploitation of the side speakers. We also find punctually sound objects in displacement.

Below the spatialization for the 15 tracks of Tidal Dolby Atmos version. Click on the images to zoom in.

Part 6 : Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Vinyl – 2014

Compared to the Qobuz stereo version, the vinyl version brings greater dynamics and a wider sound image to the listening experience. The bass is more natural and less pronounced than digital release.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Surface noise: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Runaway” 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 2: Qobuz – 2014

Listening to the Qobuz Stereo version, the bass is more prominent due to the use of the dynamic limiter. The sound rendering in the passages with a low level is very good, but as soon as the level increases, this one is affected by the limiter and we lose in detail and opening. It’s a pity that this album doesn’t keep the dynamics of its first album +.

Rating:

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

Sample : ”Runaway” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Ed 3: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2014

The Dolby Atmos mix brings a dynamic version, and exploits all the channels in a more or less important way depending on the song. The surround channels are used to diffuse the chorus, or musical instruments. The sound stage is also very wide with the exploitation of the side speakers.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●●●oooo (6.6)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Sample : ”Runaway” in 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.

For this album X, it is the mix in Dolby Atmos which brings the best experience, in particular in 7.1.4 which immerses us in the music, if one wishes to remain in stereo, the stereo downmix of the Dolby Atmos version brings a more dynamic listening than the stereo version available (Qobuz). The vinyl version brings an intermediate listening compared to the previous versions with a softer and open sound.

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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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