Question BBC Radio in Hi-Res?

[Dave_]

Puzzled why some forum members are so dogmatic. “I don’t value it, so no-one should get it” 🤔

I’m currently enjoying UHD content from iPlayer. Not everyone has the kit or bandwidth to do the same. Should BBC revert to SD and 425 lines and “dumb down” so everybody gets the same?

There's a real and discernable difference between SD and UHD/HDR.... Hi-res audio is demonstrably pointless

No publicly funded body should be wasting funds pandering to the beliefs of audiofools.

A funding model harking back to the days of dog licences and requiring me to pay it so the wife can watch Corrie live, enforceable via the courts, is simply no longer viable. The yield from it is reducing and the generations coming don’t use live TV in the same way.

I hope to see its demise. I’d be happy to subscribe for its drama and natural world stuff. News, current affairs, and sport (with its opinionated presenters) can go swing for me 🤷🏼

Just for the record I'm not a BBC licence fee payer and haven't been for a decade now, and agree it's funding model needs reform, but it's not me that needs convincing.

The BBC are opposed to subscriptions and/or ad funding, as are its supporters and the commercial sector, who doesn't want an "800lb gorilla" playing in it's sandpit and lobby govt's hard to make sure it doesn't happen.

The new PM is committed to the current funding model at least until the BBCs charter is up for renewal in 2027 incidentally

 

[Minkey1]

There's a real and discernable difference between SD and UHD/HDR.... Hi-res audio is demonstrably pointless

No publicly funded body should be wasting funds pandering to the beliefs of audiofools.

Very curious and dogmatic POV, but each to their own🤷🏼

 

[nopiano]

13-bit? Currently, the CD quality 16-bit audio already sounds like a big vacuum hole in the middle of the full frequency range to me, where the details are lost, alongside the loudness to compensate for the loss.

32-bit audio, for both live as well as in recorded formats, would be great with compatible audio devices.

Yep, 13 bit. Full article in the link below, includes: “In principle a 13-bit linear PCM system should be able to provide a dynamic range (ratio of maximum clean signal to background noise) of the order of 78dB. In practice the background noise level will vary depending on the details of how the system is implemented. ”

With all due respect there must be something amiss with your hearing or equipment if you hear ‘a big…hole” on 16 bit recordings.

The BBC PCM / NICAM Story

 

[nopiano]

For instance, on the product page of the Next-generation Klimax DSM, a dedicated 32-bit live radio streaming app (availability based on regions) could be added in the future release or via a software update when fully implemented from the source to the playback.

Unfortunately my more modest Akurate may not handle such things. But searching Airable earlier I did find some 24-bit 192kHz radio stations. In particular, I thought this sounded good…

Hi-Res music streaming - best quality webradio on Earth!

Mother Earth Radio offers free hi-res music streaming without adverts! Best sound quality, selected tracks - stream now!

motherearthradio.de

 

[podknocker]

Many DACs support 32 bit depth audio at incredible sampling rates, but I don't think there are any formats recorded at 32 bit depth. I don't know why people are fixated with the numbers. The CD format covers the entire human range of hearing and anyone thinking higher than CD quality isn't enough, hasn't heard the format in the right system. The recording quality and dynamic range are important and people should stop obsessing over these numbers. The hardware today is futureproofed, but I doubt we'll see anything like this as it's total overkill. My Audiolab Omnia has a DAC supporting formats at 32 bit depth and 768kHz sampling frequency. Good luck finding music formats with these values. CD is 16 bit at 44.1kHz sampling rate and gives 1411 kbps over 2 channels. I don't think we need anything higher than CD quality and I don't think anyone can detect any improvement over this. Proof via blind listening tests would be welcome.

 

[Kenneth Fernandes]

Many DACs support 32 bit depth audio at incredible sampling rates, but I don't think there are any formats recorded at 32 bit depth. I don't know why people are fixated with the numbers. The CD format covers the entire human range of hearing and anyone thinking higher than CD quality isn't enough, hasn't heard the format in the right system.

I haven't come across a 128-bit and above DAC chip yet or a semiconductor manufacturer that produces a 128-bit chip. Have you?

Where can I find a 128-bit or higher DAC to purchase, along with a 128-bit ADC as well, and a compatible DAW?

To play music on floor-standing/bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer when paired (wired connections) along with stereo amplifiers/streamers.

 

[Kenneth Fernandes]

With all due respect there must be something amiss with your hearing or equipment if you hear ‘a big…hole” on 16 bit recordings.

Yes, all the details are lost.

 

[DougK1]

Chasing unicorns yet again!

 

[podknocker]

I haven't come across a 128-bit and above DAC chip yet or a semiconductor manufacturer that produces a 128-bit chip. Have you?

Where can I find a 128-bit or higher DAC to purchase, along with a 128-bit ADC as well, and a compatible DAW?

To play music on floor-standing/bookshelf speakers and a subwoofer when paired (wired connections) along with stereo amplifiers/streamers.

There will never be a 128 bit DAC and you would never need one anyway. Why do you think you need these devices? Higher numbers don't reflect any sort of improvement in performance. The DACs available today are the pinnacle of semiconductor technology and are more then capable of processing all the current audio codecs etc.

 

[Kenneth Fernandes]

Why do you think you need these devices?

To achieve a perfect waveform from 0's and 1's.

 

[podknocker]

The device you want won't give you that. I think you will need to contact a few DAC companies and ask them if they are willing to do this for you. You might be disappointed because if these things were necessary, they would exist already. There's also a good book on this subject and you could have a look at that.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Digital-Audio-Sixth-Video/dp/0071663460#:~:text=The%20definitive%20guide%20to%20digital%20engineering%2D%2Dfully%20updated&text=Written%20by%20industry%20pioneer%20and,in%20a%20clear%2C%20practical%20style.