Page 15 • Audiophiles unite • Non-Gaming • Music • Eurogamer.net

HitchHiker 31 Dec 2015 15:53:21 2,892 posts
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chopsen wrote:

mrharvest wrote:
If you need to ask "Does it make a difference?" it probably doesn't for you.
Heh, I like that.

Acoustics are really hard to fix though. You can buy new kit easily enough (cost excluded) but sorting a room out is a faff. Even having a "sweet spot" is a problem if it's a room that going to be used for anything other than one person listening to music on their own.

Yeah, but you can't ask yourself if it makes a difference until you have the new gear to try and by then you've already paid for it

MrFlay 27 Jan 2016 23:34:10 4,670 posts
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Anyone listen to Tidal? Is it worth the extra for lossless audio?

Armoured_Bear 27 Jan 2016 23:38:50 31,234 posts
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MrFlay wrote:
Anyone listen to Tidal? Is it worth the extra for lossless audio?

Depends what you're playing it through.
If it's through a good, proper hi-fi then probably, for mobile/computer use - probably not.

chopsen 28 Jan 2016 00:08:59 21,958 posts
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There's research out there that shows in blinded tests people can't tell the difference between CD and higher definition audio (bitrate/frequency).

There a lot of placebo. Also when old stuff is re-released in higher def audio they are remastered to sound better according to modern tastes.

Edited by chopsen at 00:13:35 28-01-2016

greg_wha 28 Jan 2016 08:58:01 1,392 posts
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Any stereo amplifier suggestions to power a pair of Tannoy DC6, gents? Ł500+ budget.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 09:54:24 31,234 posts
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greg_wha wrote:
Any stereo amplifier suggestions to power a pair of Tannoy DC6, gents? Ł500+ budget.

Cambridge CXA60
Arcam FMJ A19
Creek Evolution 50A

Or maybe something higher end 2nd hand?

greg_wha 28 Jan 2016 10:06:38 1,392 posts
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@Armoured_Bear You're not the 1st person to mention the Arcam, definitely need to demo that somewhere.
I can push the budget higher, but the next step up is 1k. Not sure I can justify that, I have a small FLAC collection but my main library is 25,000+ MP3s, most of which were dubbed from CDs years ago when I had no idea what compression was and ripped them as small as possible to fit them all on a 120gb iPod.
300 pieces of vinyl, but firing up the turntable is becoming rare I'm afraid.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 10:11:43 31,234 posts
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greg_wha wrote:
@Armoured_Bear You're not the 1st person to mention the Arcam, definitely need to demo that somewhere.
I can push the budget higher, but the next step up is 1k. Not sure I can justify that, I have a small FLAC collection but my main library is 25,000+ MP3s, most of which were dubbed from CDs years ago when I had no idea what compression was and ripped them as small as possible to fit them all on a 120gb iPod.
300 pieces of vinyl, but firing up the turntable is becoming rare I'm afraid.

I'd re-rip those CDs for a start!
Which turntable do you have?

greg_wha 28 Jan 2016 10:14:43 1,392 posts
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@Armoured_Bear I know, should be done. Can't face it though.
Turntable is a trusty 10 year old 1210.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 10:27:41 31,234 posts
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greg_wha wrote:
@Armoured_Bear I know, should be done. Can't face it though.
Turntable is a trusty 10 year old 1210.

I had to do the same a few years ago, it's a pain but it's worth it.
With those speakers and a good amp you'll definitely get the benefit of the lossless rips.

Reviewer_ 28 Jan 2016 11:18:12 359 posts
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Armoured_Bear wrote:

greg_wha wrote:
@Armoured_Bear You're not the 1st person to mention the Arcam, definitely need to demo that somewhere.
I can push the budget higher, but the next step up is 1k. Not sure I can justify that, I have a small FLAC collection but my main library is 25,000+ MP3s, most of which were dubbed from CDs years ago when I had no idea what compression was and ripped them as small as possible to fit them all on a 120gb iPod.
300 pieces of vinyl, but firing up the turntable is becoming rare I'm afraid.
I'd re-rip those CDs for a start!
Which turntable do you have?

To save reripping them, either upload to iTunes or google play music then redownload. They up the bitrate to an amount that's just as good as CD to non-audio wankery ears.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 11:46:52 31,234 posts
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Reviewer_ wrote:

Armoured_Bear wrote:

greg_wha wrote:
@Armoured_Bear You're not the 1st person to mention the Arcam, definitely need to demo that somewhere.
I can push the budget higher, but the next step up is 1k. Not sure I can justify that, I have a small FLAC collection but my main library is 25,000+ MP3s, most of which were dubbed from CDs years ago when I had no idea what compression was and ripped them as small as possible to fit them all on a 120gb iPod.
300 pieces of vinyl, but firing up the turntable is becoming rare I'm afraid.
I'd re-rip those CDs for a start!
Which turntable do you have?
To save reripping them, either upload to iTunes or google play music then redownload. They up the bitrate to an amount that's just as good as CD to non-audio wankery ears.

You should probably read the thread title and consider your post.

Reviewer_ 28 Jan 2016 11:56:45 359 posts
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There's a difference between audiophile and audio wankery. An audiophile should know that.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 12:04:39 31,234 posts
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Reviewer_ wrote:
There's a difference between audiophile and audio wankery. An audiophile should know that.

So lossless music, i.e. the same standard as ancient cd is "audio wankery"?
You're embarrassing yourself now, I'd quite before it gets worse.

Reviewer_ 28 Jan 2016 12:59:09 359 posts
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The difference between 'lossless ' and the top end rates on streaming sites is non existent to the human ear, no matter the equipment.

Not being aware of that means you're just someone that likes wasting their money for something imagined.

chopsen 28 Jan 2016 13:21:53 21,958 posts
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Yeah, there are blinded trials that show that people can't tell the difference between MP3 and lossless (if done with a decent encoder with a decent bitrate)

Also, there are studies that show no ability to differentiate between CD quality and hi-res/hi-def audio.

Jeepers 28 Jan 2016 13:34:03 16,616 posts
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But if that's true, Mr Chops, why would anyone be stupid enough to spend thousands of pounds on high-end hifi equipment?

I mean, you'd have to be a fantastically insecure narcissist who defines themselves by the things that they own, wouldn't you?

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 13:59:52 31,234 posts
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Reviewer_ wrote:
The difference between 'lossless ' and the top end rates on streaming sites is non existent to the human ear, no matter the equipment.

Not being aware of that means you're just someone that likes wasting their money for something imagined.

That's just bullshit, on a phone and average headphones then yes, there isn't a gigantic difference, the music on my phone is AAC+ 256kbps.
However, on my home system, the difference is perfectly noticeable.

Edited by Armoured_Bear at 14:07:04 28-01-2016

Decks 28 Jan 2016 14:02:22 31,014 posts
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Being able to hear a Thomas the Tank Engine slippered footstep from 4000 meters has its downsides.

MrFlay 28 Jan 2016 14:05:12 4,670 posts
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There's definitely a noticeable difference in sound quality while using decent headphones or audio equipment. Most people have hearing loss because they listen to their music on headphones at full volume and/or spent too much time at gigs without any ear protection.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 14:06:32 31,234 posts
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RoyBatty wrote:
Being able to hear a Thomas the Tank Engine slippered footstep from 4000 meters has its downsides.

I thought you were going to be less of a cunt now that you're back.

Deleted user 28 January 2016 14:24:58

chopsen wrote:
Yeah, there are blinded trials that show that people can't tell the difference between MP3 and lossless (if done with a decent encoder with a decent bitrate)

I've also been involved in blinded experiments with this and found that there is a difference between MP3 and lossless. I'm happy to believe there is no noticeable difference to the listener between CD and Hi-Def.

Armoured_Bear 28 Jan 2016 14:29:56 31,234 posts
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I always find this behaviour difficult to understand.
It’s like going into a Porsche thread and shouting “My Fiesta does me just fine, you’re all mugs that have wasted money”.

MrFlay 28 Jan 2016 14:33:57 4,670 posts
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So Tidal? Anyone tried listening to a FLAC stream on decent but not incredible equipment?

Edited by MrFlay at 14:41:47 28-01-2016

Jeepers 28 Jan 2016 14:44:43 16,616 posts
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Armoured_Bear wrote:
I always find this behaviour difficult to understand.
It’s like going into a Porsche thread and shouting “My Fiesta does me just fine, you’re all mugs that have wasted money”.

It's more like going into a gold-plated HDMI connector forum and pointing out that you're all sat in your pants wanking to anime.

chopsen 28 Jan 2016 15:22:01 21,958 posts
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Armoured_Bear wrote:
I always find this behaviour difficult to understand.
It’s like going into a Porsche thread and shouting “My Fiesta does me just fine, you’re all mugs that have wasted money”.

It's nothing alike.

Unless the fiesta looked exactly like the Porsche, drove exactly like the Prosche, and could only be differentiated by analysing metrics that had no effect on the driving experience.

Owning nice gear, well I can see that. Basically you're in the realm of buying stuff because it looks nice, or has nice design features. Like drinking something out of a proper glass. You could make cocktails and drink it out of a mug. Doesn't affect the drink, but the presentation leads to subjective experience that is pleasurable.

However, arguing over the merits and difference over CD/MP3/HD audio: you're in the realm as arguing for the benefits of homeopathy.

https://xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html

http://www.music.mcgill.ca/~hockman/documents/Pras_presentation2009.pdf

JuanKerr 28 Jan 2016 15:31:06 37,710 posts
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There are some similarities - the Porsche owners will almost exclusively be total cunts.

MrFlay 28 Jan 2016 15:33:47 4,670 posts
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Does owning high-end tech make you less of a cunt than owning high-end vehicles? Headphones, speakers, monitors, amps etc.

Audiophiles unite • Page 15