Yes - Close To The Edge -2013- -flac 24-192- May 2026
Unlocking the Apex of Prog: Why “Yes - Close To The Edge -2013- -FLAC 24-192-” is the Definitive Listening Experience
In the pantheon of progressive rock, few albums stand as tall, as complex, and as spiritually immense as Yes’s 1972 masterpiece, Close to the Edge. For decades, fans have debated which pressing, which remaster, and which format best captures the thunderous lows of Chris Squire’s bass, the ethereal chime of Steve Howe’s guitar, and the cathedral-like vocals of Jon Anderson.
4. Comparison to Other Versions
- Vs. Spotify/Apple Music (Lossy): There is no comparison. The lossy streams flatten the soundstage. The 24/192 FLAC has a 3D quality where instruments are placed specifically in the left, right, and center field.
- Vs. Original Vinyl: Vinyl purists will always argue for the original Atlantic pressings. However, the 2013 24/192 master gets closer to that vinyl sound than any previous CD. It retains the "warmth" but adds a stability in the pitch and a lack of surface noise that vinyl collectors have to tolerate.
The "FLAC 24-192" designation refers to two distinct components of the 2013 high-resolution package: Original Stereo Mix (Flat Transfer): The 24-bit / 192kHz files are typically flat transfers Yes - Close To The Edge -2013- -FLAC 24-192-
- DAC capable of 192 kHz / 24-bit playback (e.g., Schiit Modi, Topping D50, or built-in high-res DACs on recent computers/phones with proper software).
- High-quality headphones or speakers (revealing enough to show the extended treble and micro-details).
- Software that can bit-perfectly play FLAC (e.g., foobar2000, VLC, Audirvana, or JRiver).
For the first time, the master tapes of the 1972 prog-rock magnum opus were transferred directly to high-resolution audio. The result was a digital release that silenced the critics of the loudness war and gave audiophiles a reason to recalibrate their systems. Today, we are looking at the Yes – Close to the Edge (2013) – FLAC 24-bit/192kHz version. Unlocking the Apex of Prog: Why “Yes -