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31
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Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Challenging hiend cd player/transport result
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on: January 10, 2011, 04:06:54 pm
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http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue41/ca_kentpoon.htm3. Let's move on to ripping. As with the above, there are proponents that claim only certain software, and optical drives for that matter, can "accurately" rip a CD. That they can clearly hear differences between rips via different means; even though the rips are bit for bit perfect. Any thoughts on what is going on here? Is there an advantage to using specific ripping software or drives over another? Say iTunes, WMP, Max or whatever when compared to say EAC?
We had this test in our article too. From our test, the iTunes rip is as good as EAC/Plextor rips on a disc in good condition. It is not a big deal in ripping with today's computer resources. However an EAC or Plextor rip is only superior because it re-reads the data on a scratched disc and will tell you what's going wrong during the whole process. If the rip is bit for bit perfect, then you will not able to tell any difference because there is none. iTunes has a shuffle function. You can create an album playlist with all bit perfect, but different ripping method files. Work with a friend and play them in shuffle mode to see if you really can detect which is which.
7. What do you see as being the most important factor in getting the best sound in computer-based audio? That is what should the consumer address with the greatest concern when setting up a computer-based audio system?
Don't try to use money as measure of sound quality. For example, saying that a Mac Book pro can never sound as good as the $10,000 CD transport because of all the audiophile terms regarding their differences. This is a gap between the traditional audiophile and the new generation of audiophiles. The biggest concern in computer-based audio is the DAC. A good DAC will guide you through.
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33
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Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: Challenging hiend cd player/transport result
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on: January 10, 2011, 07:19:21 am
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If you really like to test this: Use the latest EAC version (there is a new version 1.0) and make sure your log looks (something) like this (1.0 version has log updates): rip the whole album, F4 detect gaps, create cue sheet - non-compliant, use test© function to rip, then compare files, dont use plextools. See how the crc calculations are matching, the albums "should" sound the same. btw. This is not my log, just a log, i have a plextor drive too (PX-755), used plextools for a long time, also used a clamp ("de mat") before used Taiyo-Yuden and gold discs in the past to burn my cd's, dont burn anymore, just rip. maybe if you have results spread some filemail links around :-) Roy Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 5 from 4. May 2009
EAC extraction logfile from 26. October 2010, 8:59
Asura / 360
Used drive : PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-212D Adapter: 1 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure
Utilize accurate stream : Yes
Defeat audio cache : Yes
Make use of C2 pointers : No
Read offset correction : 48
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Null samples used in CRC calculations : Yes
Used interface : Native Win32 interface for Win NT & 2000
Gap handling : Appended to previous track
Used output format : User Defined Encoder
Selected bitrate : 128 kBit/s
Quality : High
Add ID3 tag : No
Command line compressor : C:\Program Files\FLAC\flac.exe
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "ARTIST=%a" -T "TITLE=%t" -T "ALBUM=%g" -T "DATE=%y" -T "TRACKNUMBER=%n" -T "TOTALTRACKS=%x" -T "GENRE=%m" -T "ALBUMARTIST=%v" -T "ALBUM ARTIST=%v" %s
TOC of the extracted CD
Track | Start | Length | Start sector | End sector
---------------------------------------------------------
1 | 0:00.00 | 5:52.32 | 0 | 26431
2 | 5:52.32 | 5:53.47 | 26432 | 52953
3 | 11:46.04 | 8:26.45 | 52954 | 90948
4 | 20:12.49 | 10:33.21 | 90949 | 138444
5 | 30:45.70 | 5:45.15 | 138445 | 164334
6 | 36:31.10 | 8:15.34 | 164335 | 201493
7 | 44:46.44 | 7:45.64 | 201494 | 236432
8 | 52:32.33 | 6:28.58 | 236433 | 265590
9 | 59:01.16 | 9:13.57 | 265591 | 307122
10 | 68:14.73 | 9:25.04 | 307123 | 349501
Track 1
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\01 - El-Hai.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC CEBAB780
Copy CRC CEBAB780
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\02 - Regenesis.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 2493BA9B
Copy CRC 2493BA9B
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\03 - Altered State (album edit).wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 04943A16
Copy CRC 04943A16
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\04 - Atlantis Child.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 2B9A57BD
Copy CRC 2B9A57BD
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\05 - Erase.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC BDCED9F0
Copy CRC BDCED9F0
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 6
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\06 - Halley Road.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 0E63EA5D
Copy CRC 0E63EA5D
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\07 - Longing for Silence.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 198253C7
Copy CRC 198253C7
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 8
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\08 - Getsemani.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 7F1390ED
Copy CRC 7F1390ED
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 9
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\09 - Le dernier voyage.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC A1619745
Copy CRC A1619745
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
Track 10
Filename D:\Asura - 360 (2010) [FLAC]\10 - Virgin Delight.wav
Peak level 96.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 3019430A
Copy CRC 3019430A
Track not present in AccurateRip database
Copy OK
None of the tracks are present in the AccurateRip database
No errors occurred
End of status report
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34
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Ultimate Audio Playback / Your thoughts about the Sound Quality / Re: And then there was W7 SP1 (RC) ...
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on: January 07, 2011, 03:31:32 pm
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Personally I think that the upgrade in SQ has nothing to do with the fact that microsoft spended time on audio.  Its more like an hotfix for something completly different, that ofcourse infected SQ (again). must be: Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB979538) Update type: Recommended Install this update to prevent unexpected shutdowns or bluescreens when you are using a USB video device. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. More information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979538or Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2443685) Update type: Important Install this update to resolve issues caused by revised daylight saving time and time zone laws in several countries. This update enables your computer to automatically adjust the computer clock on the correct date in 2011. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. More information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2443685 |
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39
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Ultimate Audio Playback / Interesting Music / Testmaterial / Re: Why Does Some High Rez Sound So Bad?
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on: December 30, 2010, 07:48:01 pm
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Hi Pedal, This could become very interresting, indeed. Give me time to put some albums next to each other. I'am now listening to Steely Dan - Gaucho normal vs mfsl. So far the normal version sounds better. But I suggest we take some time for this before jump to conclusions  PS: after Microsoft listened to "us" maybe the music industry will too (eventually)............hahahaha |
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41
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Ultimate Audio Playback / Interesting Music / Testmaterial / Re: Why Does Some High Rez Sound So Bad?
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on: December 30, 2010, 06:48:08 pm
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Steely Dan - Gaucho
But Pedal did you compared those to the normal 16/44 version or the mfsl version. (with ARC) Frankly I didn't spend too much time going backwards listening/re-listening on everything. Too little time, too much music and too many plans in order to cover everything! Sorry guy's to interrupt. I really read this with much intrest and Pedal came up with some nice figures! which i do not undersand but Peter and Roy may. Pedal not to offend you but Roy offered you something and now i have the feeling you retreat. You can atleast accept them and make such figures when you have a bit of time. Please do not get me wrong but i really dont want his topic to be over! It is very intereseting! Gerard No worry Gerard he (we) will, (PM) I completly trust his experience on this, but i need to upload the albums first, haha Low-pass filtering means: It will let thru the lower frequencies up till 20Khz, above that all is filtered. While the 16/44 should run to 100Khz theoraticly (well short story) Roy |
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42
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Ultimate Audio Playback / Interesting Music / Testmaterial / Re: Why Does Some High Rez Sound So Bad?
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on: December 30, 2010, 06:36:36 pm
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BTW: I loved the CD of Frank Sinatra At The Sands. I bought the DVD-A €80/eBay with big expectations after reading glowing reviews. The problem is that DVD-A reviews are mostly based on the multichannel content, which often is freshly remixed and very good. The stereo mix might be old (as with Gaucho) OR some studio idiot just pushed a button to convert the 5.1 into 2.0. Which normally is manifested by a typical weak vocal. The vocal is too low in the mix. I hear it on Frank Sinatra/At The Sands, Yes/Fragile (some tracks, some tracks not) and some others I can remember right now.
My plan (dream) is to make my own downmix with +a few dB of the front channel, boosting the vocal part a bit on those albums. The center channel is normally occupied by the lead vocal.
Pedal I hope you dont mind putting this on forum (from a PM) Ofcourse you can make your own mix. But in the 5.1 mixing, indeed vocals are mixed in the center speaker. So if you just take the fr L and fr R, you will loose LOTS of the vocal. And if you filter those again, it will never become any better. (well maybe if you know the mastering details, but still) Because I am on all torrent trackers, I get more info than most have when buying original. Its stupid but just the case. If they sell so-claimed hirez recordings for sometimes HI prices, you should expect somewhat more info on the particular recording. Roy |
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