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RE: Xiph Foundation Leader Calls High-Res Audio a Waste of Bandwidth

The guy makes a good point. But misses the point for audiophiles - we want to reproduce the original performance with as much fidelity as possible. Since I find MP3's at 128kbps to be flat sounding and unconvincing on a stereo, it doesn't mean I am fooling myself ... and while I agree that it sure sounds like that performance in that it is recognizable - it isn't enough as I want to reproduce even the ambiance of the venue, and have a convincing illusion of a palpable presence of the performer. I am not going to get that with 95% of the information removed, even if the 5% that's left is the "most critical" information that allows you to best reconstruct the original waveform than any other 5% slice of info.

Once we get to 256-320kbps we start to get a dynamic range and imaging in stereo ... but the convincing "presence" most audiophiles want, isn't apparent until you get to the CD levels of resolution (which appx startes at 400 - 650kbps on average of lossless information depending on the complexity of the music[1.4Mbps raw]). And CD's are pretty inconsistent in the sound - and playback gear has difficulty in reproducing with enough accuracy to make the performance "live/convincing" as it can be. Once you bump the resolution to bigger bit depths, and higher sampling rates - even modest gear can get the palpable presence most audiophiles are after.

So ... in answer to it, it is a big answer of "it depends on your goals" like with any engineering exercise - the best solution always meets a particular goal.

Now having said that, I find getting recordings of music I like, even if compromised is highly enjoyable. Good recordings and performances of it are even more fun. I get less enjoyment out of music I don't like, even if the presence is holographic.

And ... I love albums - especially on vinyl. The best feel like well selected mix tapes ... or even a concert. Even though a lot of it isn't as high fidelity as I prefer.

====
"You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow to annoy you." ~ R A Wilson



Edits: 03/07/12 03/07/12

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  • RE: Xiph Foundation Leader Calls High-Res Audio a Waste of Bandwidth - Bromo33333 13:44:54 03/07/12 (0)

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