Kudos to Trent Reznor!

"Hesitation Marks was mastered in two different ways - the standard, “loud” mastering (which is what you’ll find on the CD, on iTunes, and everywhere else), and also an alternate “audiophile” mastering, which we’re offering as a free download option for anyone who purchases the album through nin.com. For the majority of people, the standard version will be preferable and differences will be difficult to detect. Audiophiles with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process might prefer the alternate version."

"Hesitation Marks was mastered in two different ways - the standard, “loud” mastering (which is what you’ll find on the CD, on iTunes, and everywhere else), and also an alternate “audiophile” mastering, which we’re offering as a free download option for anyone who purchases the album through nin.com. For the majority of people, the standard version will be preferable and differences will be difficult to detect. Audiophiles with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process might prefer the alternate version."

"Hesitation Marks was mastered in two different ways - the “loud” mastering (which is what you won't find on the CD, on iTunes, or anywhere else because it's clearly and obviously inferior), and also an alternate “audiophile” mastering where the audio wasn't intentionally ruined just too make it sound a little louder. For the majority of people who aren't severely brain damaged or just too stupid to understand how a volume control works, the standard version will sound like complete garbage. Audiophiles with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process and anyone else who isn't too dim to know how to turn up the volume control to make things louder will almost certainly prefer the alternate version regardless of what kind of equipment they are playing it back on."

drewfx1
 
 
Let me rewrite what they should have said:
 

"Hesitation Marks was mastered in two different ways - the “loud” mastering (which is what you won't find on the CD, on iTunes, or anywhere else because it's clearly and obviously inferior), and also an alternate “audiophile” mastering where the audio wasn't intentionally ruined just too make it sound a little louder. For the majority of people who aren't severely brain damaged or just too stupid to understand how a volume control works, the standard version will sound like complete garbage. Audiophiles with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process and anyone else who isn't too dim to know how to turn up the volume control to make things louder will almost certainly prefer the alternate version regardless of what kind of equipment they are playing it back on."

Rain

drewfx1
 
 
Let me rewrite what they should have said:
 

"Hesitation Marks was mastered in two different ways - the “loud” mastering (which is what you won't find on the CD, on iTunes, or anywhere else because it's clearly and obviously inferior), and also an alternate “audiophile” mastering where the audio wasn't intentionally ruined just too make it sound a little louder. For the majority of people who aren't severely brain damaged or just too stupid to understand how a volume control works, the standard version will sound like complete garbage. Audiophiles with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process and anyone else who isn't too dim to know how to turn up the volume control to make things louder will almost certainly prefer the alternate version regardless of what kind of equipment they are playing it back on."

I think any one hoping to sell more than 5000 copies will have to take brain damaged people into consideration - they are the majority.
 
Also, from their Facebook page:
 
"NOTE: The standard mastered version is in no way inferior to the Audiophile Version - we wouldn’t release something inferior as the default. And vinyl purists rest assured, the vinyl edition was mastered to sound the very best for that format. The Audiophile Version is merely an alternate take on the mastering, which some people will appreciate. It’s meant to give a slightly different experience, not denigrate the standard version. Listen to each and come to your own conclusions."
 
 

The Audiophile Version is merely an alternate take on the mastering, which some people will appreciate. It’s meant to give a slightly different experience, not denigrate the standard version.

For the majority of people, the standard version will be preferable and differences will be difficult to detect. Audiophiles with high-end equipment and an understanding of the mastering process might prefer the alternate version."

Linear Phase
Yes, because I need something with dynamics whenever I **** you like an animal.