Understanding lossless, high-resolution, and spatial audio

09 June 2021


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  • Dorian
  • Bi}
  • 26 Jul 2022

I have been in demos where they have CD quality compared to High Res Files in the highest settings of a DAC and the difference is nothing short of extraordinary.

There is absolutely no comparing the two. The CD sounds as if the equipment has been changed. The instruments are dull and do not flow thru the air. While the Super High Res files fill the room as if the instrument is being played in front of you.

There is a difference.

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    • Anonymus69
    • L8%
    • 10 Jul 2022

    nazar6, 26 Feb 2022I have a CDLA earphone and a Phone that support hi-res, LDA... morewhere did you download the files from?
    can you share the link?

      I have a CDLA earphone and a Phone that support hi-res, LDAC, aptx-HD, has 24bit audio LDAC etc. etc. So I got some file which my Phone and earphone can support properly. I have some Flac and OPUS audio files.
      I have some flac audio files. Lossless Audio Checker has given “Clean” ranking to the following audio file, and the “Spek” software waveform/pics/details is shown in the figure below. The First file name is ;
      1. ACE OF BASE THE SIGN.flac, 192000 Hz, 5585 kbps,24bits size is 22 mb




      2. ACE OF BASE THE SIGN 2.flac 44100 Hz, 16bits 989 kbps, size is 127 mb




      Same query is related to this 2 audio files

      3. BOB MARLEY COULD YOU BE LOVED 2.flac, 192000 Hz, 24bit 5419 kbps, size is 153 mb

      4. BOB MARLEY COULD YOU BE LOVED.flac, 44100 Hz, 854 kbps, 16bit size is 22.4 mb


      Now I wants to know from the above 2 flac audio file which file will be really a good lossless audio file and which one will sound louder & clear.

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        • Anonymous
        • RCY
        • 29 Dec 2021

        I am looking for a bluetooth headphone that is
        1. Dolby dts enabled
        2. Produces hi res audio
        3. Has aptx hd codec.

        Please suggest if you know any.

          • H
          • Hulio Iglesias
          • XR6
          • 20 Aug 2021

          What an awesome explanation from Prasad, A++++++
          Brilliant !
          I use a Topping DAC and a Schiit Magni Heresy hooked up to TV, blueray, computer and speakers , most definitely vastly better sound.
          Check out https://www.audiosciencereview.com/

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • g@A
            • 14 Jun 2021

            I really appreciated the article and the facts interlaced with your opinions. I tend to agree with you. I recently switched to iPhone 12 pro due to various reasons, and when I discovered that Apple Music was going to be HD lossless, I got excited. However, I have discovered that the iPhone 12 Pro device only supports 24-bit / 48kHz output via the lightning connector. So if I understand correctly, I can get 20Hz to 24kHz audio sounds from the phone via the built-in speakers, or via the lightning port. That pretty much limits the additional "depth" that would be available to influence/improve the lower audible frequencies in the music. I think it's great that we can get lossless for purchasing/archival purposes. I recently had my hearing checked and unfortunately, I can only hear solidly up to 11kHz, but it is spotty going up to 14kHz. Anything above that I cannot hear. In a side by side test, I cannot tell the difference between the MP3 version and the FLAC version of Ariana Grande's "7 rings" or other HD / Spatial audio songs. So for me, whether there is factual proof or not, it doesn't matter. Hopefully, the rest of your readers have better hearing and can actually benefit from the lossless audio. Oh and BTW, yes, I am listening through SH HD650 and a FiiO K3 DAC - maybe not the best setup, but I would think sufficient.

              Thanks Prasad, for the detailed good article. Appreciate it.

                AnonF-964910, 09 Jun 2021I did an A/B test between a 320kbps MP3 and FLAC and could ... moreBest way is to download hi res version of your favorite mp3. Depends also on device and headphones, if those are worthless... but you should spot difference even so.

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                  • Anonymous
                  • g%E
                  • 12 Jun 2021

                  J, 10 Jun 2021High-res audio is a scam. Makes zero difference to the list... moreYou’re wrong

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                    • Anonymous
                    • 6wN
                    • 11 Jun 2021

                    Anonymous, 11 Jun 2021Totally agree. There is no evidence that anyone can reliabl... moreI agree too. My music library contains only stereo mp3 files with this format - 320kbps bit rate 44100hz sample rate. And it is really good if you use decent headphones or earphones.

                      • L
                      • Lccy
                      • n1h
                      • 11 Jun 2021

                      AnonF-964910, 10 Jun 2021That's a false equivelence, you are comparing the inte... moreIt's not a false equivalence, it's a real life example

                      You don't listen to music the same way as when you undergo a/b testing.

                      You're not constantly trying to identify qualities or differences in the sound, instead when you enjoy the music, the qualities then become evident.

                      Sound is not like sight, sound generates impulses in our brains which can be reenacted with similar sounds, whereas sight is temporarily independent.

                      The rapid switching between two identical tracks of different resolutions can lead to merging.

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                        • Lccy
                        • n1h
                        • 11 Jun 2021

                        J, 10 Jun 2021High-res audio is a scam. Makes zero difference to the list... moreIf 16/44.1 is perfect, why do studios waste money to record beyond 16/44.1 and archive their analog tapes in double dsd? Why not archive at 16/44.1, and upsample if edits are required, why not record at 16/44.1 and upsample to edit? Why not archive analog tapes at 16/44.1 and discard them?

                        Answer, a perfect reproduction is only possible if and only if the signal is perfectly band limited which audio signals are not, therefore heavy brickwall low pass filtering is required when sampling and reconstructing cd quality audio.

                        The CD sample rate was chosen as the minium required to reproduce human hearing and fit a 1 hour concert on a disc, not because it is perfect.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • 0cJ
                          • 11 Jun 2021

                          J, 10 Jun 2021High-res audio is a scam. Makes zero difference to the list... moreTotally agree. There is no evidence that anyone can reliably hear differences between modern lossy compressed codecs above the rates commonly streamed and lossless, uncompressed. The discarded information is inaudible to humans.

                          I've seen enough double-blind tests proving that no "golden ears" can tell the difference, which is why they never cite any evidence.

                          It's the same marketing scam as exotic speaker wires or power cords. Today virtually all DACs from reputable manufacturers exceed the limits of human hearing, and the same is true for digital amps.

                          But nobody ever lost money fooling the gullible.

                            • J
                            • J
                            • d@v
                            • 10 Jun 2021

                            High-res audio is a scam. Makes zero difference to the listener unless he's in the audiovoodoo club, but those guys are hopeless anyway. 44.1kHz/16bit was chosen for a reason - the reason being "the capability of human ears". High-res audio is only useful for music production and mixing. Not for the final product.

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                              • Anonymous
                              • va1
                              • 10 Jun 2021

                              Great article, thank you.

                                • F
                                • AnonF-964910
                                • n5n
                                • 10 Jun 2021

                                Lccy, 10 Jun 2021Take this as an example, when you are in the middle of a co... moreThat's a false equivelence, you are comparing the interpretation of sound quality to talking to friend.

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                                  • Wereweeb
                                  • J@X
                                  • 10 Jun 2021

                                  Just buy a good quality earphone, a good DAC, and be done with it.

                                    TBH, I'm kind of a newbie in this audio stuff,

                                    But if I want to experience more from my music (my friends call it "critical listening") I won't use a smartphone.Dedicated Audio Player (DAP in short) is far better,
                                    And yeah lossy and lossless is not that much different,especially if you got an upsampled files (a lossy files that converted to lossless one). It's different though if you compare an mp3 format and DSD 😅 .
                                    IMO, mastering(or recording?) quality is more important than the format,
                                    And to top it off, you need a good cans(headphone/IEM/earbuds) to hear the difference

                                      Lccy, 09 Jun 2021The article does not tell the whole truth CD quality is ... morewell, if one is going to analyze the audio frequency with a tool, they will find it. for practical or real world listening, very trivial. I just happen to buy affordable triple driver earphones a few years ago and listened to lossless continuously for a week or two. While I could I hear the improvement in the high frequencies, it just feels more airy and doesn't really add to the music. One is better off nerding and burning cash on high end speakers/earphones

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 6wN
                                        • 10 Jun 2021

                                        Fayth, 10 Jun 2021I am not an audiophile as long as the music has clear ster... moreMe too. Use good headphones and good equalizer configuration and enjoy.

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