ozthegweat wrote:Is it ‘every study’ or one study that you think you remember reading? Be interested to see it. CDs aren’t lossless, they aren’t compressed at all, and as far as I’m aware are universally recognised as having better sound quality than a 256kpbs file. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a suggestion before that people can’t tell the difference between those through the right equipment. What is often questioned is whether anyone can tell the difference in quality beyond a CD, and yes, nobody has ever in a double-blind test been able to recognise anything better than 44.1khz. But then you get into the whole debate about bit rate and bit depth and mastering and dynamic range and all that, which if you think is all bollocks fair enough, but live and let live. |
Headphones
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You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
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Registered 15 years ago -
fontgeeksogood 12,913 posts
Seen 5 months ago
Registered 3 years agoI can tell the difference between blu and white tac holding my speakers off their stands -
I've done tests between Spotify, CD, Tidal Hi-Fi (not Masters) and Amazon Music HD on my hi fi at home. I could only tell a slight difference if I tried really hard to listen for one between Tidal/ Amazon Music HD and CD, and I couldn't tell you which was which, or which was better. I guess this supports Kal's comment about people not being able to reliably hear the difference with anything better than CD quality. In contrast, the difference between CD and Spotify was pretty big, even if I wasn't really paying attention.
I also have some Sony XM3 headphones and it was much harder to notice any difference between Amazon Music and Spotify. Maybe the difference is more noticeable if plugged in to a good headphone amp, but connected to my phone via bluetooth probably limits any difference in the source quality over a certain point.
Edited by andytheadequate at 21:48:55 08-12-2020 -
ozthegweat 2,977 posts
Seen 48 minutes ago
Registered 10 years agoIt's both. 🙂 I remember reading a study in some tech magazine years back, and also thought there were no studies showing people being able to tell the difference.
I'm not saying it's all bollocks, I just haven't seen any solid evidence.
Testing it myself would be another option.
Mastered for iTunes is not higher bitrate, right? It's just AAC files directly from the master records? -
MrWonderstuff 3,617 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoOoohhh JVC Exofield XP-EXT1.
Edited by MrWonderstuff at 11:11:55 09-12-2020 -
Has anyone tried the Monolith M1070? It's meant to be an alternative to the Audeze LCD-2C etc range, for a third of the price
I have Stax electrostats, I have dynamic headphones, but I want to try planar magnetic ones.
https://www.monoprice.eu/products/monolith-m1070-over-ear-open-back-planar-headphones-by-monoprice
Edited by UncleLou at 10:41:56 09-12-2020 -
monkman76 18,987 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 13 years agoHeadphones with "mono" in their name seems like a bad idea to me, not to mention the idea of strapping a monolith to my head. -
Pah, you obviously have no idea what Sennheiser actually means! -
chopsen 21,958 posts
Seen 33 minutes ago
Registered 16 years agoozthegweat wrote:
Yeah. The point is that even if some freakish bat-like sound engineer can do it under studio conditions with £10k's worth of kit....it doesn't mean that most people in real world conditions can tell the difference. Or even if they can, that the difference actually makes any difference to their experience on a day to day basis.
It's both. 🙂 I remember reading a study in some tech magazine years back, and also thought there were no studies showing people being able to tell the difference.
I'm not saying it's all bollocks, I just haven't seen any solid evidence.
Testing it myself would be another option.
Mastered for iTunes is not higher bitrate, right? It's just AAC files directly from the master records?
It's a bit like the wine thing. There is now evidence that even the ponciest sommelier under randomised blinded testing can't tell the difference between really nice wine and really really nice wine. So you think some pleb who gets their wine from Laithwaites is going to be able to?
Sure, the really god awful ones you can spot. But with beyond a certain point the "quality" becomes arbitrary and driven by other factors, such as what you think you're experiencing, if you're in a pleasant environment experiencing it.
Edited by chopsen at 11:32:50 09-12-2020 -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
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Registered 15 years agoAgain I think we’re confusing whether people can tell the difference between super high res audio and CDs, or the they can tell the difference between CDs and Spotify.
I really wasn’t aware there was any debate around the latter. I thought pretty much everyone could hear that difference even without amazing tech. -
I can‘t really hear the difference, even with good headphones. In some cases, yes, maybe, if I concentrate on high cymbals in a fast tune. I doubt I’d pass a blindfold test, though.
That said, I never tried it with Spotify, but with the different Tidal modes and with iTunes 256kb, but with VBR.
edit:
I do need a decent DAC one of these days, I hasten to add, so maybe it's not just my ears..gif)
Edited by UncleLou at 12:50:34 09-12-2020 -
nickthegun 87,711 posts
Seen 4 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoI bet you would.
I find your ears get used to something relatively quickly so nothing ever really sounds ok or even shit for very long but if you were given something even marginally better, you can hear it pretty distinctively.
Like the stereo in my new car sounds like crap next to my old car. It’s still terrible but I am used to it somewhat now so don’t really think about it.
Edited by nickthegun at 12:56:24 09-12-2020 -
Lukus 24,639 posts
Seen 23 minutes ago
Registered 17 years agoI can't say I've ever gone to the effort of comparing the same albums on CD Vs the rips on my computer. I just assumed there was always going to be a compromise for the convenience of the latter. I'm pretty sure I would be able to tell a difference though. -
Not-a-reviewer 7,686 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 7 years agoI’ve tried between all the streaming services (tidal vs Spotify etc) and CDs and it’s very hard to notice any significant difference. It’s not like the old 128kb quality which was awful.
Maybe I need better equipment or better hearing. -
@nickthegun That's certainly true, but there's so many other factors though - a minimal difference in volume can make a huge difference. And there's the human factor - there are days where I find my Stax headphones, which sounded great the whole week, sound absolutely terrible all of a sudden.
Here's a quick test - I was actually looking for another one I dimly remember which I think was from Harman Kardon, but I only found this instead. Not tried it myself yet.
https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2015/06/02/411473508/how-well-can-you-hear-audio-quality?t=1607519425979 -
nickthegun 87,711 posts
Seen 4 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoIt is tough in tests like that. This guy reviews headphones and whatnot and does comparisons kind of less about the quality and more about the sound stage. I dont live in anyone elses head (yet) so I dont know if this happens to everyone, but the transitions between headphones always fry my brain.
https://youtu.be/kR0xiIYvOSw?t=281
https://youtu.be/BhgFkr1-zdY?t=719
Edited by nickthegun at 14:05:02 09-12-2020 -
You-can-call-me-kal wrote:
Yep, 100% this. The difference between Spotify and CD/Tidal is pretty big, if you can't notice it then you either have crap hearing or there's some limitation with the speakers/headphones you're listening on.
Again I think we’re confusing whether people can tell the difference between super high res audio and CDs, or the they can tell the difference between CDs and Spotify.
I really wasn’t aware there was any debate around the latter. I thought pretty much everyone could hear that difference even without amazing tech.
I haven't really done back to back tests with my bluetooth headphones so I'm not 100% sure if I can tell a difference with them though.
Edited by andytheadequate at 17:05:40 09-12-2020 -
Tomo 19,565 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 18 years agonickthegun wrote:
Who is this guy?!
It is tough in tests like that. This guy reviews headphones and whatnot and does comparisons kind of less about the quality and more about the sound stage. I dont live in anyone elses head (yet) so I dont know if this happens to everyone, but the transitions between headphones always fry my brain.
https://youtu.be/kR0xiIYvOSw?t=281
https://youtu.be/BhgFkr1-zdY?t=719
DD
Suddenly I want some Grados... -
beastmaster 22,373 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 17 years agoReview embargo over for the new Apple headphones. Not watched any YouTube videos yet. Probably all going WOW!!! -
nickthegun 87,711 posts
Seen 4 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoTomo wrote:
I used to work with a guy who had the the same pair for work. They sounded great but wearing open backs in an office is a cunts trick, even if you are wearing them as a badge of honour.
Suddenly I want some Grados... -
beastmaster 22,373 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 17 years agonickthegun wrote:
I’ve got the SR80i and they are stunning. Only ever wear them in the house. Apparently the much higher end models are not that much better. Worse in some cases as I was looking at getting a newer pair just for the hell of it.
Tomo wrote:
I used to work with a guy who had the the same pair for work. They sounded great but wearing open backs in an office is a cunts trick, even if you are wearing them as a badge of honour.
Suddenly I want some Grados... -
SnackPlissken 3,512 posts
Seen 5 days ago
Registered 4 years agobeastmaster wrote:
They're finding it hard to find a comparison with the price point. XM4s are the best headphone for the price. I'm still really happy with my XM3s. Best noise cancelling I've tried.
Review embargo over for the new Apple headphones. Not watched any YouTube videos yet. Probably all going WOW!!! -
ozthegweat 2,977 posts
Seen 48 minutes ago
Registered 10 years agoOn Reddit, there's already a consenus. They suck.
Notably of people who haven't heard them. -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 10 minutes ago
Registered 15 years agobeastmaster wrote:
I had a falling out with a someone using Grados at work. It’s just not appropriate. It’s basically like having a little set of personal speakers on your desk, except your less aware of how loud it is for everyone else.
nickthegun wrote:
I’ve got the SR80i and they are stunning. Only ever wear them in the house. Apparently the much higher end models are not that much better. Worse in some cases as I was looking at getting a newer pair just for the hell of it.
Tomo wrote:
I used to work with a guy who had the the same pair for work. They sounded great but wearing open backs in an office is a cunts trick, even if you are wearing them as a badge of honour.
Suddenly I want some Grados...
The leakage is absolutely fundamental to the sound, so you’ll get it on every model. I still don’t have a pair. Every time I get close I end up getting something else. I love their sound but ultimately 90% of my music is electronic based so they’re just not got value for me. -
nickthegun 87,711 posts
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Registered 16 years agoNow it looks like Im going to be working from home pretty much full time, Ive started to have half an eye on some open backs and supporting gear. No one to annoy other than the cat. -
beastmaster 22,373 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 17 years agoYou-can-call-me-kal wrote:
Yeah, I wouldn’t dare ware them outside the house. I do fancy a pair of wireless over ear headphones. Looked at the Sony’s and still might get them at some point. Low priority if I’m honest. I usually use my AirPods Pro when I’m outside.
beastmaster wrote:
I had a falling out with a someone using Grados at work. It’s just not appropriate. It’s basically like having a little set of personal speakers on your desk, except your less aware of how loud it is for everyone else.
nickthegun wrote:
I’ve got the SR80i and they are stunning. Only ever wear them in the house. Apparently the much higher end models are not that much better. Worse in some cases as I was looking at getting a newer pair just for the hell of it.
Tomo wrote:
I used to work with a guy who had the the same pair for work. They sounded great but wearing open backs in an office is a cunts trick, even if you are wearing them as a badge of honour.
Suddenly I want some Grados...
The leakage is absolutely fundamental to the sound, so you’ll get it on every model. I still don’t have a pair. Every time I get close I end up getting something else. I love their sound but ultimately 90% of my music is electronic based so they’re just not got value for me. -
ozthegweat 2,977 posts
Seen 48 minutes ago
Registered 10 years agoGet the Fiio K5 Pro amp. -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 10 minutes ago
Registered 15 years agonickthegun wrote:
Yeah I finally got some Stax based on this.
Now it looks like Im going to be working from home pretty much full time, Ive started to have half an eye on some open backs and supporting gear. No one to annoy other than the cat. -
You-can-call-me-kal 23,013 posts
Seen 10 minutes ago
Registered 15 years agoozthegweat wrote:
I’m fairly surprised Mr ‘it’s all snake oil’ as a DAC/amp I must say
Get the Fiio K5 Pro amp. -
beastmaster wrote:
I dare say you're correct, likely because they've all been sent a free pair for "review".
Review embargo over for the new Apple headphones. Not watched any YouTube videos yet. Probably all going WOW!!!
"Until now, I've always used earbuds, but now Apple have invented these new headphones that go over your ears... and I have to say, they sound A-mazing."
.gif)
DD
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