[James Tanner]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mDZcz-V29_M

james

[Mag]

Compression is the reason I don't like Dolby Digital. On dvd Dolby Digital is usually at the low bitrate which is worse than cd quality. At the high bitrate it's much better but still more compressed than dts and dts is compressed more than pcm.

Which means even with Blu-ray, DTS and Dolby have less resolution than a Redbook cd.

[James Tanner]

Compression is the reason I don't like Dolby Digital. On dvd Dolby Digital is usually at the low bitrate which is worse than cd quality. At the high bitrate it's much better but still more compressed than dts and dts is compressed more than pcm.

Which means even with Blu-ray, DTS and Dolby have less resolution than a Redbook cd.

Hi Mag

I agree - given the choice I usually watch TV in PCM mode. 

James

[Mag]

Now there are lots of cd's that don't sound that good, certainly not what redbook cd is capable of, so you gotta figure that compression was used in the mixing process. Other than that I'm not sure of the reason.

Then there is the 'cd compatible' usually Sony, or the cd layer on sacd which is not Redbook cd standard. I have found that if you transfer these to a cd-r they will sound better because the cd-r has the proper thickness.

Another thing with compatible cd is that if you rip them off a computer they can default to an mp3 track on the disc which is why some people wonder why their rips don't sound the way they should.

With these 'compatible cd's' you need something like the Disc Clone that will bypass copy protection in the cd.

[Grit]

I love the head-bob test. I actually select my audio equipment and components that way. I figure if I catch myself tapping my toe or bobbing my head while listening to something, that's the one I want! First time that happened was when I added a Bryston BDA-1 to my system. Seriously.

[ragg987]

Interesting, but a bit one-dimensional.

The premise is that the artist / producer / musician loses control of the quality once it is out there, and that people are losing what the artist intended due to convenience of delivery.

Well, in that case why do they not properly control what they can? Compression and clipping is now more prevalent in the production process despite the technology improving, so CDs nowadays sound terrible. Apply lossy compression on top and it gets worse.

And what is new? I grew up with AM radio, transistors and portable cassette decks, terrible quality but portable and still a way to extend the reach of music. Did not stop them being enjoyable.

Rajive

[spinner]

 Matter of opinion once again.  CD records , if well produced, have never been so good... if you have the right player    lol

[ragg987]

An analysis of the dynamic range of my CDs ripped to FLAC (I make no claim to this being an objective or comprehensive study but revealing none the less). Looks like 2007 was a particularly bad vintage...