24/192 on SB3

BPT · « **on:** 9 May 2009, 05:26 pm »

I know 7.32 and 7.4 on SB3 will play 24/96 FLAC files so just for fun I tried 24/176 (Reference Recordings) and 24/192 converted to FLAC and they play as well. You are not really getting the 176KHz and 192KHz frequency extension as I believe these extra bits are dropped but your getting the 24 bit resolution and they do play. So, if anyone was curious about the sound of the hi-rez Reference Recordings--here ya go.
Chris H.

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 May 2009, 05:32 pm »

Chris,

I thought a Squeeze Box couldn't pass 24/96 and was limited to 16/44.

When you say play, are you saying the SB3 is passing a 24/96 in a native fashion or is it down converting it and passing as a 16/44 file?

George

woodsyi · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 May 2009, 05:34 pm »

I think someone said it was down conversion a while back.

BPT · « **Reply #3 on:** 9 May 2009, 05:57 pm »

I don't believe it is down conversion. I think the software ignores the extra bits of higher frequency information--for 176KHz my SB3 outputs 44.1KHz and for 192KHz it outputs 48KHz. You do get the 24 bit resolution. It sounds quite good and worth a listen. The files are really big, as an 8 minute song at 24/192 in FLAC is 215MB (almost 500MB as WAV).
Chris H.

BPT · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 May 2009, 07:28 pm »

For those that want to try this go to http://www.2l.no/hires/index.html and download a free 24/192 FLAC and give it a listen.
Chris H.

rahimlee54 · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 May 2009, 07:39 pm »

Quote from: BPT on 9 May 2009, 07:28 pm

For those that want to try this go to http://www.2l.no/hires/index.html and download a free 24/192 FLAC and give it a listen.
Chris H.

found it nvm

BPT · « **Reply #6 on:** 9 May 2009, 07:45 pm »

Now, for the eternally curious--download either the Mozart or the Britten in both 24/192 FLAC and 24/48 FLAC and see if you hear a difference.
Chris H.

Jon L · « **Reply #7 on:** 9 May 2009, 07:47 pm »

Quote from: BPT on 9 May 2009, 05:57 pm

I don't believe it is down conversion. I think the software ignores the extra bits of higher frequency information--for 176KHz my SB3 outputs 44.1KHz and for 192KHz it outputs 48KHz.

Unfortunately, by definition, that is downsampling when original 176 is downsampled to 44.1 and 192 to 48 whether 24 bit is preserved or not.

Then again, when the master sounds good, even downsampled output *still* sounds great!

BPT · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 May 2009, 08:00 pm »

If you are curious how it is done, contact Sean Adams on the Slim Devices forum.
Chris H.

sleepysurf · « **Reply #9 on:** 9 May 2009, 08:02 pm »

I've bought a few 24/96 albums from HDTracks, that I also have Redbook versions of. Even when downsampled to 24/48 (as SqueezeCenter does) they still sound far better! I just wish I could hear true 24/96 (or 24/192) resolutions, without having to buy a Transporter, or USB capable DAC!

rahimlee54 · « **Reply #10 on:** 9 May 2009, 08:28 pm »

Media monkey wont play these, is that correct? For some reason nothing plays but the file is recognized. New to FLAC and computer audio. I am getting the stereo 24/192 FLAC and just trying to play them on my computer.

Thanks

BPT · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 May 2009, 08:36 pm »

This is for those that use the Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 and SqueezeCenter.
Chris H.

rahimlee54 · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 May 2009, 08:42 pm »

Quote from: BPT on 9 May 2009, 08:36 pm

This is for those that use the Slim Devices Squeezebox 3 and SqueezeCenter.
Chris H.

Cool, I was unaware I'll have to wait until mine gets here then.

ted_b · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 May 2009, 09:14 pm »

It's called Sound eXchange (or SOX for short) and is resampling all greater-than 24/48 stuff to it's 24 bit (bit depth doesn't change) lower brethren (by even divisor, meaning 96k and 192 go to 48k, and 88 and 176 go to 44k). On the Transporter, already capable of up to 24/96 natively, SOX works on 24/176 and 24/192.

sleepysurf · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 May 2009, 09:23 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 9 May 2009, 09:14 pm

Chris,
It's no longer just skipping bits, it's resampling in V 7.3+. It's called Sound eXchange (or SOX for short) and is resampling all greater-than 24/48 stuff to it's 24 bit lower brethren (by even divisor, meaning 96k and 192 go to 48k, and 88 and 176 go to 44k). On the Transporter, already capable of up to 24/96 natively, SOX works on 24/176 and 24/192.

Just curious, for those with a Transporter, have any of you compared 24/48 to 24/96 (or higher) res? Is there really an audible improvement going beyond 24/48 (assuming you have sufficiently resolving speakers)?

ted_b · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 May 2009, 09:27 pm »

Quote from: sleepysurf on 9 May 2009, 09:23 pm

Quote from: ted_b on 9 May 2009, 09:14 pm

It's called Sound eXchange (or SOX for short) and is resampling all greater-than 24/48 stuff to it's 24 bit lower brethren (by even divisor, meaning 96k and 192 go to 48k, and 88 and 176 go to 44k). On the Transporter, already capable of up to 24/96 natively, SOX works on 24/176 and 24/192.

Just curious, for those with a Transporter, have any of you compared 24/48 to 24/96 (or higher) res? Is there really an audible improvement going beyond 24/48 (assuming you have sufficiently resolving speakers)?

YES! More of everything, especially well-controlled treble energy. Some would say that the majority of the improvement of say, 24/192, is more info above the 20k hearing limit...but it sounds better nonetheless. Go figure.

BPT · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 May 2009, 09:29 pm »

Thanks, Ted. I like SOX.

Chris H.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 May 2009, 03:47 pm »

Quote from: BPT on 9 May 2009, 07:45 pm

Now, for the eternally curious--download either the Mozart or the Britten in both 24/192 FLAC and 24/48 FLAC and see if you hear a difference.
Chris H.

I downloaded both of the Britten files yesterday.
It'll be a couple days before the head cold I have goes away, so there's no point in listening now.
Everything sounds bad.

Anybody else do an A/B?

Bob

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 May 2009, 09:56 pm »

Nobody else?

I'm still not "clean enough in the head" to give a fair comparison of the tracks.

Bob

BPT · « **Reply #19 on:** 22 Aug 2009, 11:31 pm »

OK, for those of you who haven't tried it yet, here is a couple of FREE 24/176 downloads from Reference Recordings http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Complimentary-241764-HRx-Downloads-Courtesy-Reference-Recordings . Download the FLAC files and play them back on your SB3 with SOX. Tell us if you hear better sound than your 16/44 files.
Chris H.