Foreign Tongues marks the return of The Rolling Stones with their 25th studio album, following the success of Hackney Diamonds released in 2023. The album continues the band s renewed creative momentum, blending their iconic blues-rock foundations with modern production and fresh energy. Recorded with producer Andrew Watt, Foreign Tongues preserves the essential elements of the Stones sound while bringing a contemporary approach to the arrangements and production.
Featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood, the album also includes contributions from legendary musicians and guests, while incorporating the final recorded performances of drummer Charlie Watts. Tracks such as Rough And Twisted , In The Stars , and Jealous Lover highlight the band s ability to combine their historic songwriting style with a renewed sense of vitality.
With its rich instrumentation, powerful rhythm section, and layered production, Foreign Tongues offers an ideal opportunity to explore the differences between stereo and immersive formats. This review compares the Blu-ray Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround, stereo, streaming, and vinyl editions to determine which version delivers the most faithful and engaging listening experience.

For this review, you will find 6 versions tested:

• Ed 1: Tidal MAX – 2026
• Ed 2: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2026
• Ed 3: Bluray Dolby ATMOS TrueHD – 2026
• Ed 4: Bluray DTS HDMA 5.1 – 2026
• Ed 5: Bluray PCM stereo – 2026
• Ed 6: Yellow vinyl record – 2026

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 are available here

The album is composed of 14 tracks:

1. Rough And Twisted
2. In The Stars
3. Jealous Lover
4. Mr Charm
5. Divine Intervention
6. Ringing Hollow
7. Never Wanna Lose You
8. Hit Me In The Head
9. You Know I’m No Good
10. Some Of Us
11. Covered In You
12. Side Effects
13. Back In Your Life
14. Beautiful Delilah

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Tidal MAX – 2026

Presentation

This is the Tidal MAX presented in lossless 24 bits 96 kHz format. This is also available on Amazon Music an Apple Music.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR6

The waveform of the Tidal MAX – 2026 version shows a very low dynamic range confirmed with DR6.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises up to 30 kHz due to the 96 kHz sampling frequency.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tidal MAX – 2026 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Yellow vinyl record – 2026 (blue curve).The spectral curves of the two versions overlap almost perfectly between 300 Hz and 7 kHz. Below 300 Hz (green area), the digital version exhibits a slightly higher level, reaching up to 2 dB more at 50 Hz. Above 7 kHz (yellow area), the vinyl shows a slight treble boost between 10 and 15 kHz, peaking at approximately 2 dB, followed by a roll-off beyond 15 kHz that reaches more than 5 dB at 18 kHz before rising again at 20 kHz and above. These differences in the spectre are expected to give the vinyl edition a more detailed and airy sonic presentation.

Synthesis and listening

Based on the same master, the TIDAL Max edition delivers a sound presentation very similar to the Blu-ray PCM stereo track.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●oooo (1)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2)

Ed 2: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2026

Presentation

This is the Tidal Dolby Atmos presented in Dolby Digital Plus at 768 kbits/s. This is also available on Amazon Music an Apple Music.

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

Waveform and Spectrum: DR13

The waveform of the Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2026 shows a high range confirmed with DR13.

The spectrogram of the Tidal Dolby Atmos track in a 9.1.6 configuration shows a cutoff at 20 kHz, with no signal present above this frequency. This limitation is due to Dolby Digital Plus encoding: as a lossy codec, it restricts bandwidth to optimize data size for a 768 kbits/s bit rate. Additionally, the LFE (bass) channel is filtered at 120 Hz.

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2026.
The spectrum of Dolby Atmos version decoded in 7.1 shows that all channels are used. The LFE channel is used with a cutoff frequency of 120 Hz (green arrow). The white arrow indicates the high-frequency limit at 20 kHz due to Dolby Digital Plus encoding. The yellow arrow indicates the high-frequency limit at 24 kHz due to encoding at the 48 kHz sampling frequency used.

Synthesis and listening

As always, the Dolby Atmos version encoded in Dolby Digital Plus (lossy format) retains the same characteristics as the lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos version available on the Blu-ray. However, the lossy compression results in reduced fine detail reproduction and less accurate spatial positioning compared with the lossless version (Dolby TrueHD).

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●o (4)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization SP: ●●●●●●●ooo (7.4)
• Spatialization SK: ●●●●oooooo (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Ed 3: Bluray Dolby ATMOS TrueHD – 2026

Presentation

This is the Dolby Digital TrueHD Atmos track of the bluray included in the The limited Collector’s Edition of Foreign Tongues presented as a premium box set. It includes the album on two heavyweight 180-gram yellow vinyl LPs housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, accompanied by a Blu-ray Audio disc featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, and Hi-Res Stereo mixes. The set also contains an exclusive turntable slipmat, a 12-inch art print, and a fold-out poster, making it one of the most comprehensive physical editions of the album.

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

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The waveform of the Bluray Dolby ATMOS TrueHD – 2026 version shows a very good dynamic range confirmed with DR12.

The spectrogram of the Atmos in 9.1.6 version of blu-ray shows that the signal goes down to 24 kHz and that there is no signal above this frequency , due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency used with Dolby Digital TrueHD encoding (lossless). Additionally, the LFE (bass) channel is filtered at 120 Hz.

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Bluray Dolby ATMOS TrueHD – 2026.
The Dolby Atmos remix downmixed to 7.1 is based on a sampling frequency of 48 kHz, limiting the bandwidth to 24 kHz (as indicated by the yellow arrow). The LFE channel is filtered down to 120 Hz (as indicated by the green arrow).

Synthesis and listening

The Dolby Atmos mix of this album is highly successful, delivering an immersive sound experience in which instruments and vocals are carefully distributed throughout the three-dimensional soundstage. The mix places a strong emphasis on the 180-degree sound field, making extensive use of the wide and side surround channels to create a broad and enveloping presentation.
This immersive approach perfectly suits the music, preserving the album s energy while benefiting from excellent dynamics and a powerful, well-defined low-end foundation. The result is an engaging and impactful listening experience that brings a new dimension to the album.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization SP: ●●●●●●●ooo (7.6)
• Spatialization SK: ●●●●oooooo (4)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4)

Ed 4: Bluray DTS HDMA 5.1 – 2026

Presentation

This is the DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 track of the bluray included in the The limited Collector’s Edition of Foreign Tongues presented as a premium box set. It includes the album on two heavyweight 180-gram yellow vinyl LPs housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, accompanied by a Blu-ray Audio disc featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, and Hi-Res Stereo mixes. The set also contains an exclusive turntable slipmat, a 12-inch art print, and a fold-out poster, making it one of the most comprehensive physical editions of the album.

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

Waveform and Spectrum: DR11

The waveform of the Bluray DTS HDMA 5.1 – 2026 version shows a good dynamic range confirmed with DR11.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises to 24 kHz with no signal above this frequency (due to the 48 kHz sampling frequency.Additionally, the LFE (bass) channel is filtered at 120 Hz.

The graph below represents the spectrum of the Bluray DTS HDMA 5.1 – 2026.
The 5.1 is based on a sampling frequency of 48 kHz, limiting the bandwidth to 24 kHz (yellow arrow). The LFE channel is filtered down to 120 Hz (as indicated by the green arrow).

Synthesis and listening

This 5.1 version allows listeners to enjoy the multichannel mix on a 5.1 system while benefiting from the high-quality DTS-HD Master Audio encoding. Sonically, it retains the spirit of the Dolby Atmos mix, but with a reduced sense of immersion due to the use of fewer playback channels and a more limited sound field.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●oo (3.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization SP: ●●oooooooo (2.6)
• Spatialization SK: ●●●●oooooo (4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Ed 5: Bluray PCM stereo – 2026

Presentation

This is the PCM stereo 24 bits 96 kHz track of the bluray included in the The limited Collector’s Edition of Foreign Tongues presented as a premium box set. It includes the album on two heavyweight 180-gram yellow vinyl LPs housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, accompanied by a Blu-ray Audio disc featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, and Hi-Res Stereo mixes. The set also contains an exclusive turntable slipmat, a 12-inch art print, and a fold-out poster, making it one of the most comprehensive physical editions of the album.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR6

The waveform of the Bluray PCM stereo – 2026 version shows a very low dynamic range confirmed with DR6.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises to 48 kHzwith no signal above this frequency due to the 96 kHz sampling frequency.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Bluray PCM stereo – 2026 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Tidal MAX – 2026 (blue curve). The spectral curves of the two versions overlap perfectly. Combined with the other measurements, this confirms that both releases use the same master.

Synthesis and listening

The digital stereo version is still affected by the loudness war. Unfortunately, even this Blu-ray edition does not escape this ongoing trend, resulting in a stereo presentation similar to the streaming version. With an album DR value of 6, the limited dynamic range is clearly audible, producing a sound that lacks openness, breathing room, and natural dynamics. It remains well below the vinyl edition, which brings more life, energy, and expression to the performances.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●oooo (1)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●ooo (2)

Ed 6: Yellow vinyl record – 2026

Presentation

This is the vinyl record included in the The limited Collector’s Edition of Foreign Tongues presented as a premium box set. It includes the album on two heavyweight 180-gram yellow vinyl LPs housed in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, accompanied by a Blu-ray Audio disc featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround, and Hi-Res Stereo mixes. The set also contains an exclusive turntable slipmat, a 12-inch art print, and a fold-out poster, making it one of the most comprehensive physical editions of the album.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR11

The waveform of the Yellow vinyl record – 2026 version shows a good dynamic range confirmed with DR11.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises above 20 kHz with signal above this frequency containing musical information and distortion due to the vinyl record s operating principle.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Tidal MAX – 2026 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Yellow vinyl record – 2026 (blue curve).The spectral curves of the two versions overlap almost perfectly between 300 Hz and 7 kHz. Below 300 Hz (green area), the digital version exhibits a slightly higher level, reaching up to 2 dB more at 50 Hz. Above 7 kHz (yellow area), the vinyl shows a slight treble boost between 10 and 15 kHz, peaking at approximately 2 dB, followed by a roll-off beyond 15 kHz that reaches more than 5 dB at 18 kHz before rising again at 20 kHz and above. These differences in the spectre are expected to give the vinyl edition a more detailed and airy sonic presentation.

Synthesis and listening

Listening to the vinyl edition immediately after the digital stereo versions, my first reaction was: “Wow, this simply sounds better.” The presentation has noticeably more impact, clarity, and precision, whereas the digital stereo version feels restrained by the heavy use of dynamic range limiting. The vinyl sounds more natural and engaging, allowing the music to breathe in a way that the digital release does not.
If you want to experience this album at its best in stereo, the vinyl edition is clearly the one to choose. As for the pressing itself, the overall quality is good. A thorough cleaning before playback is recommended, however, as it helps eliminate a few residual clicks and allows the record to perform at its full potential.

Rating:

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

For this new Rolling Stones album, if you want to experience both the best stereo presentation and an immersive Dolby Atmos mix, this collector s edition combining the double LP and Blu-ray is the definitive choice. The vinyl edition delivers the most engaging stereo experience, offering a more dynamic and lively presentation. Meanwhile, the Blu-ray provides a lossless Dolby Atmos version that reveals the full finesse, detail, and precision of the album s spatial mix.
The standard digital stereo version, whether on Blu-ray or streaming platforms, remains far behind these editions, mainly due to its reduced dynamics and less engaging sonic presentation.

Dynamic Range measurements 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).

For our 6 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Tidal MAX – 2026	Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2026	Bluray Dolby ATMOS TrueHD – 2026	Bluray DTS HDMA 5.1 – 2026	Bluray PCM stereo – 2026	Yellow vinyl record – 2026
Global	DR6	DR13	DR12	DR11	DR6	DR11
Min	DR5	DR11	DR9	DR10	DR5	DR10
Max	DR7	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR7	DR12
Rough And Twisted	DR05	DR12	DR12	DR10	DR05	DR11
In The Stars	DR05	DR12	DR11	DR10	DR05	DR12
Jealous Lover	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
Mr Charm	DR05	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR05	DR11
Divine Intervention	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
Ringing Hollow	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
Never Wanna Lose You	DR06	DR12	DR12	DR11	DR06	DR10
Hit Me In The Head	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
You Know I’m No Good	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
Some Of Us	DR05	DR12	DR13	DR10	DR05	DR11
Covered In You	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR12
Side Effects	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
Back In Your Life	DR06	DR13	DR13	DR11	DR06	DR11
Beautiful Delilah	DR07	DR11	DR09	DR11	DR07	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.

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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