Hi-Fi and High End audio shows are a great opportunity to discover new equipment, but also to listen to music in outstanding listening conditions. It was at one of these shows that I discovered Nameless, Dominique Fils-Aimé’s debut album, and more specifically the track Birds.
Released in 2018, Nameless already lays the foundations of the artist’s distinctive sound. The album showcases the meticulous work on vocals, soundstage, and overall sonic precision, qualities that are also found on her latest album, My World Is The Sun (review : High Res 24 96 vs Dolby Atmos vs pureaudiostreaming in 7.1.4 vs Vinyl record) .

This signature sound is the result of the work of recording and mixing engineer Jacques Roy. You can also read our interview with him to discover the artistic and technical choices that shaped the sound and mixing of Dominique Fils-Aimé’s albums.

For this review, you will find 2 versions tested:

• Ed 1: Apple Music – 2018
• Ed 2: Blue vinyl record 45rpm – 2020

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 8 tracks:

1. Strange Fruit
2. Birds
3. Home
4. Sleepy
5. Nameless
6. Rise
7. Unstated
8. Feeling Good

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Apple Music – 2018

Presentation

This is the Apple music version presented in lossless 24 bits 88.2 kHz format. This is also available on Amazon Music and Tidal.

Waveform and Spectrum: DR9

The waveform of the Apple Music – 2018 version shows a limited dynamic range confirmed with DR9. Despite an average DR9, most tracks are more dynamics, such as the song Birds which has a DR10.

The spectrogram shows that the signal rises to 44.1 kHz with no signal above this frequency due to the 88.2 kHz sampling frequency.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Blue vinyl record 45rpm – 2020 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Apple Music – 2018 (blue curve).

A comparison of the two spectrum curves reveals two points that will have a significant impact on the sound quality of the two versions. Above 10 kHz (yellow zone), the vinyl record s level is higher, with an additional 3 dB at 15 kHz and 6 dB at 20 kHz for the vinyl record. As for the bass (green zone), below 200 Hz, there is an attenuation of between 1 and 3 dB in the vinyl record s level.

These two differences will influence the vinyl record s sound, resulting in less pronounced bass and more precise treble; the listening test described below will confirm this point.

Synthesis and listening

The recording and mixing quality of this album is noteworthy. It features a very wide soundstage; you even get the sensation that sound is coming from the sides as well (as if you had side speakers in Dolby Atmos). The vocals and instruments are perfectly positioned, with exemplary precision and clarity.

Jacques Roy has created a benchmark album here, particularly the track Birds, which is ideal for testing your audio system. It allows you to evaluate your system’s tonal balance: the bass should be present without being overpowering, the vocals should remain clear and precise, and, finally, the soundstage should extend beyond the speakers.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●ooo (2.5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)

Sample : Birds. 24 bits 88.2 kHz:

Ed 2: Blue vinyl record 45rpm – 2020

Presentation

This vinyl edition is a blue-colored reissue released in 2020. The album is pressed on one 45 RPM LP.(ref: ESR-LP-01(45Blue))

Waveform and Spectrum: DR12

The waveform of the Blue vinyl record 45rpm – 2020 version shows a very good dynamic range confirmed with DR12.

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 Blue vinyl record 45rpm – 2020 (white curve) with the spectrum of the Apple Music – 2018 (blue curve). A comparison of the two spectrum curves reveals two points that will have a significant impact on the sound quality of the two versions. Above 10 kHz (yellow zone), the vinyl record s level is higher, with an additional 3 dB at 15 kHz and 6 dB at 20 kHz for the vinyl record. As for the bass (green zone), below 200 Hz, there is an attenuation of between 1 and 3 dB in the vinyl record s level.

These two differences will influence the vinyl record’s sound, resulting in less pronounced bass and more precise treble, the listening test described below will confirm this point.

Synthesis and listening

Given the quality of the digital version, I have to admit I didn’t expect to be blown away while listening. The bass is less pronounced, but it’s still very present and highly detailed, and the treble are more precise, adding extra nuances to the listening experience compared to the digital version.
The sound quality is therefore exceptional.
I admit I listened to it on different systems to confirm this impression. It’s a reference album that I highly recommend, you’ll feel like you re listening to a studio master.
This is especially evident on the track Birds. Give it a listen to fully appreciate all the nuances and the openness of Jacques Roy’s mix.
The disc needs to be cleaned to remove a few clicks.

Rating:

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

Sample : Birds. 24 bits 192 kHz:

Discovering this album at a trade show, specifically the track Birds , provided the perfect opportunity to find a benchmark album for evaluating a system that must be capable of reproducing all the qualities of the mix, whether in terms of sound balance, the precision of the vocals and instruments, or a very wide soundstage, all thanks to Jacques Roy’s superb mixing. An added bonus for the vinyl version is its precise, dynamic sound, reminiscent of listening to a master recording. This is an album worth having in your collection, whether on vinyl or in digital format.

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

	Apple Music – 2018	Blue vinyl record 45rpm – 2020
Global	DR9	DR12
Min	DR7	DR11
Max	DR10	DR15
Strange Fruit	DR09	DR12
Birds	DR10	DR15
Home	DR09	DR13
Sleepy	DR09	DR13
Nameless	DR07	DR11
Rise	DR09	DR13
Unstated	DR08	DR11
Feeling Good	DR09	DR12

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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