HDX nectar

Posted by: Thorsten_L on 23 August 2015

I just love the sound quality of my HDX.

 

This weekend, I did some comparisons in the realm of playing files from the internal 2 TB disk.

 

The difference between WAV and FLAC files was HUGE.

 

If anyone cannot hear this difference by playing files from the internal disk, then I guess something must be utterly wrong.

 

It was like listening to mp3 and then 24/192...

Posted on: 24 August 2015 by Harry
Originally Posted by MusicLover:

If anyone cannot hear this difference by playing files from the internal disk, then I guess something must be utterly wrong.

Different certainly. Wrong? Depends on many things, not least the ears of the beholder. I personally agree with you that there is a difference but not, in my experience, of the scope you have heard. I don't think this necessarily means there is something wrong with your system.

Posted on: 24 August 2015 by Simon-in-Suffolk

I agree with Harry - however unless you are using a certain amount of 'poetic licence' in your description, it might be worth getting your HDX checked out, as PCM files are PCM files no matter how they are encoded  - the encoding format will often produce a certain amount of digital noise on playback - and more noise is typically produced in decoding FLAC than WAV but it shouldn't be extreme.

Simon

Posted on: 24 August 2015 by analogmusic

I have tested HDX and find it to be a good source.

 

Also have noticed FLAC and WAV differences.

 

Prefer wav. The processor has to work a lot less to decode these than FLAC.

 

Posted on: 24 August 2015 by Thorsten_L

Some poetic license was there....Sorry for the exaggeration...

 

But in my humble ears, the difference was very noticeable. Not that the FLAC files sounded bad, but the WAV files much better....

 

Let us just say I heard such a difference that I immediately deleted the FLAC files on the HDX, converted all of them into WAV files and networked them to the 2 TB disk of the HDX...took some time for about 1.2 TB....lol

 

Posted on: 24 August 2015 by garyi

I raspberry pi can transcode flac on the fly with neary a heart beat, this stuff about processor load does not wash I am afraid.

Posted on: 25 August 2015 by Mr Underhill

Hi Thorsten,

 

I use a NS01 which I also enjoy, and yes I can hear a distinct difference between wav and flac, the former being better.

 

That said my previous file playing solution used the same files and I heard no difference; I do wonder whether this is a very specific Naim server phenomenon?

 

M

Posted on: 25 August 2015 by Harry
Originally Posted by Mr Underhill:

I do wonder whether this is a very specific Naim server phenomenon?

No. Or at least not in my house.

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by Mr Underhill

Thx Harry!

 

M

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by Thorsten_L
Originally Posted by Mr Underhill:

Hi Thorsten,

 

I use a NS01 which I also enjoy, and yes I can hear a distinct difference between wav and flac, the former being better.

 

 

M

Thanks. Same here.

:-D

 

Posted on: 26 August 2015 by Harry
Originally Posted by Mr Underhill:

Thx Harry!

 

M

For what it's worth.

 

All systems, rooms and ears are different. 

Posted on: 31 August 2015 by sktn77a

Honestly, at 64 years old, I can no longer hear a consistent difference between WAV and a good FLAC track (although I can hear the difference between MP3 and WAV, no problem).  What I don't understand is those who say FLAC sounds BETTER than wave?!  I can see how they may sound different but can think of no rational reason why a compressed format would sound better than an uncompressed format?