DSD or FLAC
Posted by: Bert Schurink on 01 March 2016
I just got my first DSD album from a friend. But I never have heard an A B comparison between FLAC and DSD. So my question is that assuming one can get both formats - which one should be preferred, assuming they are based on the same source.
If you look at the pure size you would assume DSD, but if so can somebody explain it... ?
DSD seems far quieter at the same preamp setting regardless of the peaks. Needs to be increased substantially to be similar and then does seem to sound better BUT is this an artefact of increasing the volume at the preamp?
Too many questions RK, to be honest I don't know, to many variables methinks. Could it be the influence of pre-amp volume gain or the speakers dB level that makes it come to life ?? It could be variable with different speaker makes & models (I expect that to be most probable) ............ whatever I tend to have a little think & switch off the theory & go for a big long listen & soak up the sounds.
jmtennapel posted:George,
When listening to an orchestral piece I can hear the different instrument groups better on PCM than DSD. If that is better or not is again a personal thing, but the PCM represents better what I hear when I'm in a hall or playing in an orchestra myself.
Hi JM,
I agree it is a personal thing and IMO our hearing processor (brain) is individual and is the reason why we should not try to confince each other which sound is best.
In my ears PCM conversion is producing a lot of extra information on transients f.e. new instruments playing, a chance of rythm, cymbals, etc. However: this information is not in one location in the three dimensional space; It's moving uncontrolled and loudness is variable and therefore I find this fatigueing and not natural. To me this is an anoying distortion.
I am not a musician at all but I like to visit all kinds of concerts from Steven Wilson to Lang Lang but with PCM a piano or a violin does not sound like a real instrument to me. DSD was capable of doing this................
Until recently: The "H" thing is capable to remove this PCM distortion and control the stereo sound so that I can enjoy the music instead of hearing additional things that are introduced by a D/A converter.
So far my hearing experiences to demonstrate it is all personal and to conclude that the "H" thing wil not be a good choice for everyone.
Our goal should be to pick the audio system that fits best to our own hearing system.
Peter
George Fredrik Fiske posted:I suspect that an awfully large number of people listening to classical music replayed have minimal experience of what a real performing ensemble sounds like from a good seat in a great concert hall!
But that does not stop their opinions being expressed as a sort of replay gospel.
ATB from George
A wise lesson to apply to your own response.
It is possible for me to know that there are times when I am completely right. This is one such case in point!
Best wishes from George