A year ago, Jean Michel Jarre released his album Oxymore, an album designed for spatial sound rendering. In addition to stereo versions (vinyl, cd, streaming), it was also available in binaural and Dolby Atmos (Apple, Amazon, Tidal streaming). Today, Jean Michel Jarre is back with a reworked version of the album, featuring artists such as Nina Kraviz, Adiescar Chase, Brian Eno, Martin Gore, Deathpact and Irène Drésel, with whom he reworked the track “ZEITGEIST BOTANICA”. You can also discover the latest album from this French electronic music artist: “KINKY DOGMA“.

For this review, you will find 3 versions tested: Vinyl record, Streaming Tidal MAX Flac in 24 bits 48 kHz and Deezer Hifi in 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

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 9 tracks:

1. BRUTALISM TAKE 2
2. EPICA EXTENSION
3. BRUTALISM REPRISE
4. EPICA TAKE 2
5. SYNTHY SISTERS TAKE 2
6. EPICA MAXIMA
7. SEX IN THE MACHINE TAKE 2
8. ZEITGEIST TAKE 2
9. ZEITGEIST BOTANICA

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 : Summary, scoring and Sample

Part 1: presentation of the editions

Ed 1: Vinyl – 2023

Presentation

The vinyl version is composed of one disc of 180g in 33.33 rpm in a very nice Gatefold sleeve (ref: 196588441110).

Ed 2: Tidal MAX Flac – 2023

Presentation

This is the Tidal MAX version presented in Flac 24 bits 48 kHz.

Ed 3: Deezer Hifi – 2023

Presentation

This is the Deezer Hifi version presented in 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

Part 2 : Waveform and dynamic comparaisons

Waveform

The waveform represents tracks of the album.

The waveform of the vinyl record is the most dynamic.

For the waveform of Tidal and Deezer versions, dynamic range compression is very important, with a strong limitation of sound peaks (yellow zone).

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 – 2023	Tidal MAX Flac – 2023	Deezer Hifi – 2023
Global	DR10	DR5	DR5
Min	DR9	DR3	DR3
Max	DR11	DR6	DR6
BRUTALISM TAKE 2	DR9	DR3	DR3
EPICA EXTENSION	DR11	DR6	DR6
BRUTALISM REPRISE	DR9	DR3	DR4
EPICA TAKE 2	DR10	DR6	DR6
SYNTHY SISTERS TAKE 2	DR9	DR6	DR6
EPICA MAXIMA	DR9	DR5	DR5
SEX IN THE MACHINE TAKE 2	DR11	DR5	DR5
ZEITGEIST TAKE 2	DR10	DR4	DR4
ZEITGEIST BOTANICA	DR9	DR4	DR4

The DR measurements confirm the results observed on the waveforms of the various editions. Dynamic compression is significant on the digital stereo versions. For the vinyl record, the measured dynamic range is greater, but the dynamic range of the master used to cut the lacquer cannot be determined (for further explanation, see article Does analog media force a dynamic on music?).

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 spectrum of the vinyl record (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal version (blue curve). The 2 curves are identical up to 10 kHz. Beyond 10 kHz, the level is higher for the vinyl record (up to 7 dB higher at 20 kHz). The yellow arrow indicates the maximum frequency of the Tidal version at 22 kHz; above this frequency, the vinyl record shows noise and distortion.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Deezer version (white curve) with that of the Tidal version (blue curve). The 2 curves are identical, with a discrepancy above 18 kHz (yellow zone) where the Deezer version has a level a few dB higher. The 2 versions are limited to a frequency of 22 kHz (yellow arrow) indicating a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz for Deezer, whereas the Tidal version has a sampling frequency of 48 kHz. This indicates that the master has been made in 44.1 kHz.

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 record below shows a frequency rising above 20 kHz (yellow arrow) with a signal above these frequencies which is made up of music and also distortion due to the principle of vinyl record playback (white arrow).

The spectrograms of the Dezzer and Tidal show that the signal rises to a maximum of 22 kHz (yellow arrow) and that there is no signal above this frequency (white arrow), due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency used Deezer (48 kHz for Tidal).

Part 5 : Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Vinyl – 2023

Listening to the vinyl record is different from the digital stereo version, with a sound that’s a little less in-your-face and a little more variation in sound levels. High-quality cutting and pressing with low surface noise.

Rating:

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

Sample : ”ZEITGEIST BOTANICA” 16 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 2: Tidal MAX Flac – 2023

With the digital stereo version, the sound is ford-like and heavy. It’s fine at low levels, but as soon as you turn up the volume on a dynamic system, you feel the use of a limiter, which gives a rather flat sound.

Rating:

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

Sample : ”ZEITGEIST BOTANICA” 16 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 3: Deezer Hifi – 2023

Like the Tidal Version, the sound is strong, with a very present bass.

Rating:

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

Sample : ”ZEITGEIST BOTANICA” 16 bits 44.1 kHz:

Jean Michel Jarre reworked his album with various artists to offer us a new version revisited in the electro genre with typical dynamic compression. But it lacks the essence of the original album, which was music rendered in spatial sound. For Oxymoreworks, there is no Dolby Atmos spatial sound version, whereas with the diversity of the artists, we might have hoped for a reference Dolby Atmos mix like the latest album by Daft Punk, who also reworked the Random Access Memories album.

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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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