: Several high-res stores, such as the Japanese OTOTOY, offer the 2017 remaster in 24-bit/96kHz FLAC. For many systems, the audible difference between 96kHz and 192kHz will be negligible, as the benefits of the higher sample rate are often argued to be inaudible to human ears. The 24/96 version is a perfectly acceptable alternative that offers a substantial upgrade over CD quality at a smaller file size.

The 2017 24/192 FLAC of Low is, technically, magnificent. The dynamic range is intact; the high-frequency extension (particularly on the ARP synthesizer sweeps) is breathtaking; the bass on “Breaking Glass” has an almost physical weight. But as a listening experience , it is a paradox. For the engineer or the obsessive, it’s a treasure trove. For the lover of the album as an emotional object , it may be too much information. You hear Bowie not as a performer, but as a collection of magnetic states—a man captured on oxide, then translated into 1s and 0s at a resolution that exceeds the limits of human hearing.

A frantic track filled with video game-like blips and bleeps provided by Brian Eno. The 192kHz resolution uncovers the sheer layering of these electronic noises. Iggy Pop’s prominent backing vocals, mixed slightly beneath Bowie's lead, are easily isolatable and distinct, revealing the grit in Pop's throat.