Since its formation in 1999, The Pineapple Thief has undergone a remarkable evolution, from a solo project by Bruce Soord to a complete band recognized in the world of progressive rock.
After albums such as “Abducting the Unicorn” and “Magnolia”, The Pineapple Thief are back with their 15th album, “It Leads to This”, featuring 8 songs.
And, it’s a very nice surprise with the blu-ray edition (in stereo and Atmos), I’ll let you discover it…

And, it’s a very nice surprise with the blu-ray edition, I’ll let you discover it…

For this review, you will find 7 versions tested: Blu-ray with Stereo remix, 5.1 remix, Dolby Atmos remix, CD master and vinyl master, Tidal MAX, Qobuz Hi-Res, Amazon UltraHD and CD

A boxed set is also available, including the Deluxe CD, blu-ray audio and DVD audio versions, featuring the versions available individually plus the DVD audio and bonus CD (not reviewed).

Below you will find the description of the different editions, as well as the measurements of each edition in the following chapters.

The album is composed of 8 tracks:

1. Put It Right
2. Rubicon
3. It Leads to This
4. The Frost
5. All That’s Left
6. Now It’s Yours
7. Every Trace of Us
8. To Forget

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Blu-ray Stereo – 2024

Presentation

This is the Blu-ray Stereo presented in 24 bits 48 kHz (ref: KSCOPE3002). As a bonus, 7 alternative versions are also available on the blu-ray.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR14

The waveform of the blu-ray stereo remix version shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR14.

The spectrogram of the blu-ray stereo is limited to 24kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

This is one of the great surprises of the blu-ray, with a very dynamic version that is more precise than the other stereo versions.
It’s a very fine piece of work, and we can congratulate you on your willingness to present a version unaffected by the loudness war on the blu-ray, thank you!

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)

Sample : Rubicon” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 2: Blu-ray 5.1 – 2024

Presentation

This is the Blu-ray 5.1 mix presented in 24 bits 48 kHz encoded in DTS HD Master Audio (lossless) (ref: KSCOPE3002). As a bonus, 7 alternative versions are also available on the blu-ray.

Below the spatialization for all tracks. Click on the images to zoom in.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR13

The waveform of the blu-ray 5.1 version shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR13.

The spectrogram of the 5.1 track is limited to 24kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

For those equipped with 5.1, the DTS HD Master Audio version (lossless format) brings a very nice spatialization, less impressive than the exceptional Dolby Atmos version, but very successful.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●oo (3.6)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)

Sample : Rubicon” 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.

Ed 3: Blu-ray Dolby Atmos – 2024

Presentation

This is the Blu-ray Dolby Atmos Remix presented in Dolby Digital TrueHD (lossless format) (ref: KSCOPE3002). As a bonus, 7 alternative versions are also available on the blu-ray.

Below the spatialization for all tracks. Click on the images to zoom in.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR14

The waveform of the blu-ray Atmos version downmixed in 2.0 shows good dynamics, as the graphs below confirm, with a dynamic range of at DR14.

The spectrogram of the Dolby Atmos track downmixed in stereo is limited to 24kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

After a very dynamic stereo blu-ray version, we find a Dolby Atmos version designed to immerse us in the album’s sound space. In 9.1.4 listening, we can even hear the vocals on the widescreen speakers, rather than the front ones. The music and the backing vocals surround us with perfect homogeneity. A new reference in Dolby Atmos, which with Dolby TrueHD encoding (lossless format) retains all the precision of music and spatialization.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●●●●●●o (9.5)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)

Sample : Rubicon” 7.1 Dolby Atmos (Downmixed in 7.1) :

The sample is in 7.1 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.

Sample : Rubicon” Dolby Atmos (Downmixed 2.0) :

Ed 4: Tidal Max – 2024

Presentation

This is the Tidal Max version presented in FLAC 24 bits 48 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR8

The waveform of the Tidal version has a moderate dynamic range, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range of DR8.

The spectrogram of the Tidal Max is limited to 24kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

This is the most dynamically compressed version, compared to the stereo version on the blu-ray, with a loss of sonic openness, and as soon as you turn up the volume, this version gives the impression of becoming stale and lacking dynamics.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2.5)

Sample : Rubicon” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 5: CD – 2024

Presentation

This is the CD version presented in 16 bits 44.1 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR10

The waveform of the Tidal version has a less dynamic range than the blu-ra version, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range of DR10.

The spectrogram of the CD is limited to 22kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 44.1 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

An effort has been made on the CD version compared to the streaming version, without equaling the blu-ray version, we find more dynamics and openness than the streaming version.

Rating:

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

Sample : Rubicon” 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 6: Qobuz Hi-Rez – 2024

Presentation

This is the Qobuz Hi-Rez version presented in 24 bits 48 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR8

The waveform of the Qobuz Hi-Rez version has a moderate dynamic range, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range of DR8.

The spectrogram of the Qobuz version is limited to 24kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

Sound rendering is identical to the Tidal Max version.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2.5)

Sample : Rubicon” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Ed 7: Amazon UltraHD – 2024

Presentation

This is the Amazon UltraHD version presented in 24 bits 48 kHz.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR8

The waveform of the Amazon UltraHD version has a moderate dynamic range, as confirmed by the graphs below, with a dynamic range of DR8.

The spectrogram of Amazon version is limited to 24kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.

Synthesis and listening

Sound rendering is identical to the Tidal Max version.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2.5)

Sample : Rubicon” 24 bits 48 kHz:

Physical media haven’t said their last word: if you want to enjoy your music at maximum quality, you should choose CD or, even better, blu-ray, which is the “audiophile” medium, with no dynamic range limitations, and which contains the best stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos versions.
This Blu-ray Audio is an example to follow for other album productions, and let’s hope the majors follow suit!

Dynamic Range measurements and spectra are shown below.

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Measurements

Dynamic Range comparaisons

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).

The 4 waveforms below show the difference in dynamic range between the CD (DR10), Tidal(DR8) and blu-ray (DR14) versions. Blu-ray offers the best dynamic range for the stereo version, which is similar to the Dolby Atmos version. A blu-ray has several sound tracks (stereo, 5.1, Dolby Atmos), so to avoid too great a sound level difference when changing sound tracks, the tracks are adjusted to almost the same sound level. We note here that, for the stereo track, not only has the level been adjusted, but above all the sound engineer has taken advantage of this adjustment to provide a more dynamic stereo track than the Tidal and CD versions. A very good initiative, which we hope will become widespread on Blu-ray!

For our 7 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Blu-ray Stereo – 2024	Blu-ray 5.1 – 2024	Blu-ray Dolby Atmos – 2024	Tidal Max – 2024	CD Deluxe – 2024	Qobuz Hi-Rez – 2024	Amazon UltraHD – 2024
Global	DR14	DR13	DR14	DR8	DR10	DR8	DR8
Min	DR12	DR12	DR13	DR7	DR9	DR7	DR7
Max	DR15	DR13	DR14	DR9	DR11	DR9	DR9
Put It Right	DR13	DR12	DR13	DR8	DR11	DR8	DR8
Rubicon	DR12	DR12	DR13	DR7	DR9	DR7	DR7
It Leads to This	DR13	DR13	DR14	DR8	DR10	DR8	DR8
The Frost	DR14	DR13	DR14	DR9	DR11	DR9	DR9
All That’s Left	DR14	DR13	DR14	DR9	DR10	DR9	DR9
Now It’s Yours	DR13	DR13	DR13	DR8	DR10	DR8	DR8
Every Trace of Us	DR15	DR12	DR13	DR9	DR10	DR9	DR9
To Forget	DR15	DR13	DR14	DR9	DR11	DR9	DR9

Very good dynamics for all the versions tested, except for the Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon and CD versions, which are more compressed dynamically with a DR8 and DR10.

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.

Spectrum comparisons

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Blu-ray Stereo – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal Max – 2024 (blue curve).The 2 curves are superimposed, with a limitation to 24 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used.

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Blu-ray 5.1 – 2024.
All channels are used with a maximum frequency of 24 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used for DTS HDMA 5.1. The bass channel (LFE) is filtered at 120 Hz (green arrow).

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Blu-ray Dolby Atmos – 2024.
All channels are used with a maximum frequency of 24 kHz (yellow arrow) due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used for Dolby Atmos. The bass channel (LFE) is filtered at 120 Hz (green arrow).

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tidal Max – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the CD – 2024 (blue curve).The 2 curves are superimposed, with a limitation to 22 kHz for the CD (yellow arrow) due to the 44.1kHz sampling frequency used.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Qobuz Hi-Rez – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal Max – 2024 (blue curve).The 2 curves are perfectly superimposed.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Amazon UltraHD – 2024 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal Max – 2024 (blue curve).The 2 curves are perfectly superimposed.

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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