Get them here: http://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=artistdetail&id=10796
Review here: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/515-van-halen-studio-albums-1978-1984-high-resolution-24-bit-192-khz-download/

So has anyone bit on these yet?

I checked them out, they’re pretty good. It’s not a night-day difference, but they’re definitely an upgrade from the 2000 HDCD remasters for most albums. These new 24-bit versions are less dynamically compressed, which make them sound more punchy. I like these new versions of VHII, WACF, Diver Down and 1984 better than the remaster CDs. Fair Warning 24-bit sounds really flat, with hardly any bass, so I’m sticking to the remaster CD for that one. Also, I still like the sound of the DCC Compact Classics 24k gold remaster of VH1 better than the 24-bit version, so I’m sticking with it.

So, in summary, these are my ultimate go-to versions:
VH1 – DCC Compact Classics CD (http://www.discogs.com/Van-Halen-Van-Halen/release/1129139)
VHII – HDTracks 24-bit
WACF – HDTracks 24-bit
Fair Warning – 2000 remaster HDCD
Diver Down – HDTracks 24-bit
1984 – HDTracks 24-bit

It’s too bad they didn’t include ADKOT to make it a complete set. There is one editorial difference in the 24-bit version of Women And Children First: the short intstrumental at the end of the album, after In A Simple Rhyme, (“Growth”) fades out, like the original CD used to, but unlike the remastered CD, which stops cold at the end.

For me personally, I’ve already owned pretty much all of these on LP, cassette, CD, then remaster CD, so I wouldn’t drop another $80-$100 for the 24-bit versions. But if you have the chance to try them out for free, go for it. Of course, YMMV.

Good to know. Thanks for the review!

JasonA:
I checked them out, they’re pretty good.

The 96khz or 192khz versions?

ron: The 96khz or 192khz versions?

Neither, the ones I got were 96khz downsampled to 24-bit/48 khz.

THANK YOU! I found that very informative. I appreciate getting the feedback.

JasonA: I checked them out, they’re pretty good. It’s not a night-day difference, but they’re definitely an upgrade from the 2000 HDCD remasters for most albums. These new 24-bit versions are less dynamically compressed, which make them sound more punchy. I like these new versions of VHII, WACF, Diver Down and 1984 better than the remaster CDs. Fair Warning 24-bit sounds really flat, with hardly any bass, so I’m sticking to the remaster CD for that one. Also, I still like the sound of the DCC Compact Classics 24k gold remaster of VH1 better than the 24-bit version, so I’m sticking with it. So, in summary, these are my ultimate go-to versions:VH1 – DCC Compact Classics CD (http://www.discogs.com/Van-Halen-Van-Halen/release/1129139)VHII – HDTracks 24-bitWACF – HDTracks 24-bitFair Warning – 2000 remaster HDCDDiver Down – HDTracks 24-bit1984 – HDTracks 24-bit It’s too bad they didn’t include ADKOT to make it a complete set. There is one editorial difference in the 24-bit version of Women And Children First: the short intstrumental at the end of the album, after In A Simple Rhyme, (“Growth”) fades out, like the original CD used to, but unlike the remastered CD, which stops cold at the end.For me personally, I’ve already owned pretty much all of these on LP, cassette, CD, then remaster CD, so I wouldn’t drop another $80-$100 for the 24-bit versions. But if you have the chance to try them out for free, go for it. Of course, YMMV.

If anyone’s looking to sell a VH1 DDC version please lmk. I have seen a few so far but thought I’d try in the house first.

I believe the vinyl release of VH1 that came out a few years back used the same stamper as the DCC vinyl and is a whole lot cheaper than a DCC original.

It’s unbelievable how much the DCC VH1 CDs go for now. $20 retail seemed like a lot of money back in the mid-late 90′s when I bought mine, but it was a good investment. I’ve seen people asking $600 for a sealed copy on eBay recently, nuts!

I’ll have a go again it led me to DL Frostwiresetup.

Decatone:
I’ll have a go again it led me to DL Frostwiresetup.

PM me if you have any luck.

Guys ~ please keep discussions about getting officially released material from places like PBay in PMs.

JasonA:
It’s unbelievable how much the DCC VH1 CDs go for now. $20 retail seemed like a lot of money back in the mid-late 90′s when I bought mine, but it was a good investment. I’ve seen people asking $600 for a sealed copy on eBay recently, nuts!

Asking for and getting it are two separate things of course. It looks like the going price for the DCC copies is around $60-$70. Still a very nice return if any of us had been smart enough to buy some for resale purposes.

Can you pm any details on those dcc’s Ron.