Still not as good as CD or FLAC but....

EndersShadow
EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
edited February 2011 in The Clubhouse
Lets be honest....lots of folks listen to music through their ITunes library....
____________________________________________

Your iTunes Might Sound Almost Twice as Nice Soon

Brian Barrett ? According to CNN, Apple and other digital download services are in talks with record labels to up music files from 16-bit to pristine, high-fidelity 24-bit. But while Macs can handle 24-bit music already, iPods and iPhones would need to be retooled to accommodate the sweet sounds. Soon please!

http://gizmodo.com/#!5767198/your-itunes-might-sound-almost-twice-as-nice-soon
"....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
Post edited by EndersShadow on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,741
    edited February 2011
    Well, if it is a true 24-bit file that comes in a lossless compression from the master, I'd be willing to bet it would be much better than CD or FLAC (ripped from a CD source) when played through a high quality 24-bit sound card. It would have resolution along the lines of SACD, DVD-A and BD lossless audio.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    It can be ok on a lesser system, such as my patio rig which is a Yamaha-something-or another receiver, and small bookshelves; in that environment (background music)--working out in the yard, swimming, etc, But for critical listening, no way. I can barely stand Sonic Tap on DTV (even routed thru my Benchmark DAC) on the main system.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2011
    billbillw wrote: »
    Well, if it is a true 24-bit file that comes in a lossless compression from the master, I'd be willing to bet it would be much better than CD or FLAC (ripped from a CD source) when played through a high quality 24-bit sound card. It would have resolution along the lines of SACD, DVD-A and BD lossless audio.

    Yes. That is true, but that is not what you get from iTunes (the store).

    I do not know if the OP is trolling, or is referring to music purchased from iTunes. iTunes (the store) only sells lossy music. iTunes (the software) lets you copy lossless files from a CD, and manage those files to play on either a computer, or an iPod. In that situation, the music is just as good as from a CD player. Maybe better if your standalone DAC is better than the CD DAC.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • On3s&Z3r0s
    On3s&Z3r0s Posts: 1,013
    edited February 2011
    I've been buying some tunes from Amazon just for the instant gratification factor. They use some pretty good quality compression it seems (high variable bit rate, but still lossy). I intentionally bought a couple of tracks that I already have on CD to do A/B comparison, and only on Sennheiser 650's can I tell the difference, and then I have to really be paying attention. On my HT rig and my 2-channel rig I can't hear the difference even when I know what I'm listening for from having heard it on the Senn cans.

    I still buy stuff from HDtracks, and it sounds better than most CD's or MP3's. I couldn't say for sure whether that was due to the higher bit-depth and sampling frequency or just because someone paid a lot more attention to getting the mastering right. On all my systems, going from a DVD-audio disk I have to an MP3 that I believe came from the same master definitely sounds different on everything. But for me, I'm being swayed to the convenience of even lossy compression for an increasing amount of the music I listen to.

    It would be ridiculous to think this is somehow a trolling thing. I think the point (and I happen to agree) is that lossy compression isn't so terrible as to prevent its use, and if they start offering high resolution files, so much the better.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited February 2011
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Yes. That is true, but that is not what you get from iTunes (the store).

    I do not know if the OP is trolling, or is referring to music purchased from iTunes. iTunes (the store) only sells lossy music. iTunes (the software) lets you copy lossless files from a CD, and manage those files to play on either a computer, or an iPod. In that situation, the music is just as good as from a CD player. Maybe better if your standalone DAC is better than the CD DAC.

    Not trolling at all. Just letting folks know I saw that article which seems to indicate that Apple and other folks, like perhaps Amazon may be attempting to source higher quality files for download.

    I know the bitrate on them right now when you download them isnt the greatest, so I got kinda excited.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited February 2011
    +1 on the NOT trolling.... anyone who reads these forums daily would know that Enders is here for love of music and new gear. I live 5hrs away and don't know him personally but from all his posts I've read I would say he just enjoying this hobby, has time and desire to post links to gear for sale (deals no affil), links to other topics of interest, takes the time to get together w/ other friends with similar interests, goes out looking for gear at bargain prices because he has a budget like most of us, if I remember right recently got married, has had some medical issues which sucks money faster than stereo equip, still has aspirations to get better gear and listen to others and learn from those on this forum and others such as AVSforums....... sorry for the rant, I'm just a little tired of seeing people jump on the troll wagon. Alot of us are new and we don't have 2000 posts to our name; however, we do have a love for this hobby and have to start somewhere. Some noobs ask stupid ?'s myself included or don't search for an answer that is easily found but for s ome of the forum members here to try to belittle or make comments which can be construed as harsh criticism or especially accuse someone of trolling well it just pisses me off. There are trolls and I don't like it anymore than anyone else. I spend enough time on here already and don't want that time to be wasted by those who have an obvious agenda or just like to argue certain points ad nauseum for the hell of it. Again sorry for the venting but please take the time to read not just one post and make a snap judgement as to someones intentions by putting something out there if you don't take the time to look at what else they have been contributing for days or months. If its the same crap everytime fine tell the guy to get lost or spread their nonsense elsewhere but that is not the case from anything I've ever seen Enders post. Travis
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2011
    TNHNDYMAN wrote: »
    +1 on the NOT trolling.... blah blah blah

    We all troll, even if accidentally. There have been more than enough arguments here about iPods and iTunes. And my quick reading of the OP was that perhaps another iTune argument was being attempted. My apologies for the wrong impression.

    Anyway, 24 bit songs would be a tremendous improvement beyond CD quality, and tempt me into actually buying music from iTunes. I hope the iPod just needs a software update to handle the higher bit rate. Also, the sampling rate should be higher that 44kHz, so that to needs to be handled.

    Also, if Apple wanted to sell better quality music they could start offering lossless files on iTunes, in addition to the current lossy files they sell.

    I wonder how the record companies are going to deal with DRM if they offer high-res files? They already are upset people can copy CD quality files so I expect they will go berserk if people can copy high-res files.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited February 2011
    So the real question is, where are the 24 bit files coming from?
    original masters, remix, or just up sampled 16 bit stuff?
    GIGO.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • comfortablycurt
    comfortablycurt Posts: 6,745
    edited February 2011
    Not I. I've never even used itunes before.
    The nirvana inducer-
    APC H10 Power Conditioner
    Marantz UD5005 universal player
    Parasound Halo P5 preamp
    Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
    PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
    Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2011
    sucks2beme wrote: »
    So the real question is, where are the 24 bit files coming from?
    original masters, remix, or just up sampled 16 bit stuff?
    GIGO.

    At this point in time, most recording is done in a high-res format, and then downgraded to CD quality.

    Think of a CD as the MP3 version of a high-res file. :wink:
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • coolsax
    coolsax Posts: 1,824
    edited February 2011
    Hell I'd just be happy to be able to download CD quality tracks.. though I think i'd rather have Amazon selling FLAC than apple Selling ALAC personally, but either way I probably download from online if I could get at least the redbook quality.
    Main 2ch -
    BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
    TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.

    TV 3.1 system -
    Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    coolsax wrote: »
    Hell I'd just be happy to be able to download CD quality tracks.. though I think i'd rather have Amazon selling FLAC than apple Selling ALAC personally, but either way I probably download from online if I could get at least the redbook quality.

    Check out HDTracks, as On3s&z3roes menioned, their quality is abot as good as it gets. Although you pay a bit more per song.

    For me it depends on what kind of music it is. If it's something poppy or something I know i'll only listen to while skating or on the bus, etc, then i get the cheap lossy stuff.
    design is where science and art break even.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • newrival
    newrival Posts: 2,017
    edited February 2011
    Thanks for the link enders, it's good to see apple taking an interest in quality. Theyve changed the way we listen to music and have made it way more accessible than ever, and it seemed like quality was only a secondary thought to them in the past. Maybe Hi-Fi Stereo will experience a renaissance :)
    design is where science and art break even.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,190
    edited February 2011
    newrival wrote: »
    Thanks for the link enders, it's good to see apple taking an interest in quality. Theyve changed the way we listen to music and have made it way more accessible than ever, and it seemed like quality was only a secondary thought to them in the past. Maybe Hi-Fi Stereo will experience a renaissance :)

    With Airplay , Airport Express and Airport Extreme running the back bone , Macbooks and Imacs everywhere loaded with Itunes , I'm waiting on the Iamp.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2011
    http://edition.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/02/22/24.bit.music/index.html?hpt=T2

    IMO, 24/192 is on par with SACD.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter