XXHighEnd

Ultimate Audio Playback => Your thoughts about the Sound Quality => Topic started by: goon-heaven on May 30, 2007, 09:18:48 am



Title: Goodbye Foobar Grunge
Post by: goon-heaven on May 30, 2007, 09:18:48 am
Thanks Peter!

Playback Chain: XP SP2, RME Digi96/8, DDDAC1543, Gilmore Headphone Amp, Senn HD650
Installed .NET3 & DirectX

The music is much cleaner and clearer. Best 5minutes!

Best regards
Steve


Title: Re: Goodbye Foobar Grunge
Post by: PeterSt on May 30, 2007, 09:36:26 am

Hi Steve, very nice to hear.

For me there's a kind of interesting message in your post, and that's about the headphones - as I never use one hence this wasn't any judging means during the development.

So, cleaner and clearer ...

Once you'd know that a lot of the cleanness comes from the elimination of standing waves in the room, one might wonder what happens without a room (or is it a very small room there in that caps ?). Of course all just starts with proper sound why the standing waves disappear, so you should be able to hear that in headphones too.

I just never thought about it, nor did I give it any attention.  :scratching:
It would mean that even headphone users would benefit ?

Steve, I don't know whether you are a die-hard headphone user, but if so, would you say you could get real satisfaction by the improvement you obtain ?

Note that I operate in the context of wanting to feel the music, want to "hear the room", and besides that always was thinking that listening through headphones was a too easy task to let the music sound ok.  :innocent:

Peter


Title: Re: Goodbye Foobar Grunge
Post by: goon-heaven on May 30, 2007, 10:15:32 am
Hi Peter,

Yes it is very nice to hear the excellent sound.

I am not a diehard - I listen to headphones whilst working (programmer).

My loudspeaker system has been dismantled for some years as there was no room in my previous home. I am looking to rebuild when the daylight shortens.

>>Once you'd know that a lot of the cleanness comes from the elimination of standing waves in the room, one might wonder what happens without a room (or is it a very small room there in that caps ?)
I dont understand how XX player can reduce standing waves without Bose-ing the sound - which is the opposite of bit perfect?
Please explain.

>> Steve, I don't know whether you are a die-hard headphone user, but if so, would you say you could get real satisfaction by the improvement you obtain ?
This sounds like it could be an expensive question... but yes. [... and I was not unhappy with Foobar, just XX removes a few more veils so the sound becomes more intimate]

Steve.


Title: Re: Goodbye Foobar Grunge
Post by: PeterSt on May 30, 2007, 10:46:53 am
This sounds like it could be an expensive question...

Haha, yes, I realized that when I wrote it, but it isn't so. It is merely that just more people would benefit and want the player for that reason. So it is about money, yes.
But then again I can't imagine that e.g. you (after your last explanation) would spend any money on it.

Anyway, far more important (to me anyway) is that even through headphones you can (easily ?) hear the difference.

Quote
I dont understand how XX player can reduce standing waves without Bose-ing the sound - which is the opposite of bit perfect?
Please explain.

It's far more easy to just observe it (without headphones :)) than explaining it.
The most important is that I apply *no* digital processing whatsoever.

Peter


Title: Re: Goodbye Foobar Grunge
Post by: goon-heaven on May 30, 2007, 11:40:58 am
I can just about A/B Foobar/XX, and yes, I can clearly hear the difference. The removal of the slight Foobar Grunge brings out the finer detail and a more natural sound. I'm using engine1, I just avoid dicking with the player whilst its playing.