Lossless? Really?
Posted by: madgerald on 29 April 2014
Not sure if this is the right place to ask this Q but pretty sure someone will be able to help...
Following the principle that original is best (I've been brainwashed by vinylheads) and if you mess with something you make it worse then if you are going to listen to digital music then CD must be best format (unless you can get your hands on the original uncompressed file). 
A good friend of mine disagrees (yes he is in IT) and says that ripped "lossless" will be as good as the original CD since its all just 1's and 0's anyway. The only way to settle the argument would be to do a blind test streaming a ripped "lossless" CD against the original played on my CDX2 through the same DAC, amp and speakers to see if we can hear the difference. Trouble is I don't have a separate DAC and am not about to buy one just to prove him wrong.
Has anyone conducted such a test and if so what were the results? Feel free to point me at a previous post if this has been discussed before.
Thanks if you can prove me righteous 
Bill
It used to be "uncool" to like the Moodies, but they're probably my favourite band of all time - quite magnificent!
Am not sure how uncool is defined in musical tastes, but lately I have 'rediscovered' Supertramp, Yes, and The Moodies all of whose music was excellently produced and included artists of real capability and originality.
It used to be "uncool" to like the Moodies, but they're probably my favourite band of all time - quite magnificent!
Am not sure how uncool is defined in musical tastes, but lately I have 'rediscovered' Supertramp, Yes, and The Moodies all of whose music was excellently produced and included artists of real capability and originality.
It become very 'uncool' to like any Prog Rock much like having a mullet really. Well I never sported a mullet but I was a big Prog fan, not so much the Moodies but the Canterbury lot and a few others and yes Supertramp were really underrated.
Cool and uncool are pretty much defined by those who place themselves in judgement upon others. It's ok, a natural part of life, and I guess every generation regards the one before as uncool by definition. It's odd, because the people I regard as cool don't give a wotsit for anyone's opinion - and that's what makes them cool!
Personally I wouldn't want to listen to The Moody Blues or Supertramp. They're talented in their way, but I find it all a bit histrionic. But there's no doubt that bands I do like were influenced by that era, such as Elbow (new album is wonderful) and before them Talk Talk (in later years). And some folks have taken prog dramatically forward such as Alt-J and, most of all, the sublime Radiohead. They're all an acquired taste, but well worth it.
Cool and uncool are pretty much defined by those who place themselves in judgement upon others. It's ok, a natural part of life, and I guess every generation regards the one before as uncool by definition. It's odd, because the people I regard as cool don't give a wotsit for anyone's opinion - and that's what makes them cool!
Personally I wouldn't want to listen to The Moody Blues or Supertramp. They're talented in their way, but I find it all a bit histrionic. But there's no doubt that bands I do like were influenced by that era, such as Elbow (new album is wonderful) and before them Talk Talk (in later years). And some folks have taken prog dramatically forward such as Alt-J and, most of all, the sublime Radiohead. They're all an acquired taste, but well worth it.
I go hot and cold on Elbow primarily because of their lyrics but musically they are excellent. Never got into Talk Talk or Alt-J but that's simply because I never really heard them. Radiohead I still think are wonderful, at least the early stuff. Actually, just listening to a bit of a Pink Floyd at the moment.
I hear Apple are supposed to be going hi res with OS 8. Overpaid that Beats bloke for a set of cans IMHO, but they are sitting on a dung heap of cash.
Streuth, $24.98 for Goodbye Cream. I bought the original in '69 and it was a poor recording / production as has been every one I have heard subsequently. If I had something proper to play this stuff through I would give it a try. Am all over the place, just listening to an excellently produced Snow Patrol track regurgitated from my MacBook Air via Airplay to my B&W A7. Lovely 
I bought a download from HD Tracks this morning & they took my money via Paypal, but other than the latter's confirmation of payment I've yet to receive the download code or whatever from HDT. Is this normal? Downloads I've bought in the past have been available almost immediately.
Hi Tony,
This is not normal, did your HDT down loader screen not show automatically when you placed the order??? I guess not.
If you log on to your HDT account it will take you straight to your “Dashboard" & will say ….
My Dashboard
Hello, Tony!
From your My Account Dashboard you have the ability to view a snapshot of your recent account activity and update your account information. Select a link below to view or edit information.
Recent Orders
In recent orders it will show the orders that are complete – successfully downloaded
Those that did not complete –i.e. a www drop out – it will indicate & you can go in & complete the process
So I guess there should be your purchase waiting for you to start the download.
If this is not how it is, send them a contact note, I found they get back very quickly.
Thanks guys. Looking on my HD Tracks account (I've only obtained their free HD Sampler so far) shows nothing, but Paypal payment has gone through. I'll contact them.
Cool and uncool are pretty much defined by those who place themselves in judgement upon others. It's ok, a natural part of life, and I guess every generation regards the one before as uncool by definition. It's odd, because the people I regard as cool don't give a wotsit for anyone's opinion - and that's what makes them cool!
Personally I wouldn't want to listen to The Moody Blues or Supertramp. They're talented in their way, but I find it all a bit histrionic. But there's no doubt that bands I do like were influenced by that era, such as Elbow (new album is wonderful) and before them Talk Talk (in later years). And some folks have taken prog dramatically forward such as Alt-J and, most of all, the sublime Radiohead. They're all an acquired taste, but well worth it.
Cool and uncool are pretty much defined by those who place themselves in judgement upon others.
What a pompous statement. Cool is just a word, nowadays used partly in jest most of the time. Do you take yourself that seriously? Do you never judge someone? Oh yes, you judge people who use the word cool, I forgot.
How do you now that the people you think are cool don't give a wotsit?
Nice of you to say the the Moodies & Supertramp 'are talented in their own way' - not sure what that means though. I think that Elbow are talented in their own way but they bore the pants off me. I bought their album 'The Seldom Seen Kid' because it had the big hit 'One Day Like This' on it and that is a great song. But the rest of the album is not that good at all.
Music is a subjective thing, you may think someone's taste is not good but it is THEIR taste.
Dean Martin was the coolest bloke who ever lived and he was in a generation before me. A natural part of life? Maybe not.
So, HD Tracks have replied prompty, to let me know I can't order from them, me being in the UK and all, and have refunded my money. Oh well...
So, HD Tracks have replied prompty, to let me know I can't order from them, me being in the UK and all, and have refunded my money. Oh well...
Oh no! It sounds like they have blocked the plug hole.
I have just looked at their site and they will let me view, which I couldn't do the other day and I bought a couple of downloads yesterday. See what happens when I can't resist the urge any more to buy 'Let It Bleed'.
You could be back to IP Blocker then tonym.
I have bought from them using Paypal in the past and am based in the UK.
Then a couple of months ago I couldnt buy from them all of a sudden.
I got round it no problem using an IP Blocker for a hI res download this week after reading some of the earlier posts/posts in another thread.
And some folks have taken prog dramatically forward such as Alt-J and, most of all, the sublime Radiohead. They're all an acquired taste, but well worth it.
Oh yes... Radiohead are what I play on my system the most...
The later stuff is even better than the early stuff if you give it a chance.
Hmm well, maybe I haven't expressed myself too well. You're kind of making a similar point to the one I was trying to make.
It seems to me that many people don't regard, say, Supertramp as cool. But I think there's something great about liking a band even their not regarded as cool, and not so great about liking the latest media-hyped band just to appear cool. I don't happen to like Supertramp but my point is that it's subjective. I like Elbow and you don't - that's the wonderful nature of music.
I didn't at any point say anything negative about anyone else's taste and neither would I. My whole point was that it's subjective, and therefore there will be differing opinions about pieces of music. Explaining why I don't like one thing and do like something else is not criticising someone's taste, it's commenting on music.
I totally agree! I love King of Limbs and In Rainbows most of all. Due respect to the early progs too - but I listen to Jigsaw Falling into Place at least three times a week.
Hmm well, maybe I haven't expressed myself too well. You're kind of making a similar point to the one I was trying to make.
It seems to me that many people don't regard, say, Supertramp as cool. But I think there's something great about liking a band even their not regarded as cool, and not so great about liking the latest media-hyped band just to appear cool. I don't happen to like Supertramp but my point is that it's subjective. I like Elbow and you don't - that's the wonderful nature of music.
I didn't at any point say anything negative about anyone else's taste and neither would I. My whole point was that it's subjective, and therefore there will be differing opinions about pieces of music. Explaining why I don't like one thing and do like something else is not criticising someone's taste, it's commenting on music.
But who get's to decide who is cool? It seems like you have taken the job on.
Wat as always very cool taste. although it's not up to me.
I totally agree! I love King of Limbs and In Rainbows most of all. Due respect to the early progs too - but I listen to Jigsaw Falling into Place at least three times a week.
Have you seen them live? Just incredible and the sound was so good that its the only time I've come back home and not wanted to listen to my hi-fi!
It felt like I'd been unfaithful to my Naim system...
But who get's to decide who is cool?
I'll do it!
Cool: A Polar bear in sunglasses
Not Cool: Socks with sandals
But who get's to decide who is cool?
I'll do it!
Cool: A Polar bear in sunglasses
Not Cool: Socks with sandals
Socks with sandals - not cool. Are you mad, madgerald?
Hmm well, maybe I haven't expressed myself too well. You're kind of making a similar point to the one I was trying to make.
It seems to me that many people don't regard, say, Supertramp as cool. But I think there's something great about liking a band even their not regarded as cool, and not so great about liking the latest media-hyped band just to appear cool. I don't happen to like Supertramp but my point is that it's subjective. I like Elbow and you don't - that's the wonderful nature of music.
I didn't at any point say anything negative about anyone else's taste and neither would I. My whole point was that it's subjective, and therefore there will be differing opinions about pieces of music. Explaining why I don't like one thing and do like something else is not criticising someone's taste, it's commenting on music.
Supertramp and Elbow are both crap, so that's ok. Everyone knows that fans of the mighty Smiths are the coolest dudes around.
Need I say more?
