Jean.Francois
Active Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2022
- Messages
- 273
- Likes
- 1,012
Hello,
Foreign Tongues marks the return of The Rolling Stones with their 25th studio album, following the success of Hackney Diamonds released in 2023.
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:
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.
The PCM stereo shows a very low dynamic range with DR6.
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.
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.
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.
Find all the analyses and measurements of each versions here (link).
Enjoy listening,
Jean-François
Foreign Tongues marks the return of The Rolling Stones with their 25th studio album, following the success of Hackney Diamonds released in 2023.
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
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.
The PCM stereo shows a very low dynamic range with DR6.
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.
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.
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.
Find all the analyses and measurements of each versions here (link).
Enjoy listening,
Jean-François
