Better mastered music could be on the way!

[John Duncan]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

 

[John Duncan]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

 

[CnoEvil]

So Linn are either ignorant or dishonest, yes?

Unless I'm mistaken (always possible), there is little issue with the way Linn's own MP3 stuff sounds.....so all they can be accused of is making them a little louder.

 

[steve_1979]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

Yes.

 

[steve_1979]

Unless I'm mistaken (always possible), there is little issue with the way Linn's own MP3 stuff sounds

I agree. The quality of them all sounds exellent to me.

.....so all they can be accused of is making them a little louder.

No. What they've done on the track 'Oranges and Apples' is reduced the dynamic range. It's this reduction in dynamic that makes the MP3 version seem very slightly louder (although the difference is barely noticable).

The track 'House On The Hill' has also had also had the dynamic range reduced.

The track 'The Missing Plutonium' has had the silent sections cropped off the ends.

The track 'Symphonie Fantastique' has had the volume slightly reduced.

 

[John Duncan]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

Yes.

So if you are able to differentiate between them using ABX, what do you deduce from that?

 

[CnoEvil]

.....so all they can be accused of is making them a little louder.

No. What they've done on the track 'Oranges and Apples' is reduced the dynamic range. It's this reduction in dynamic that makes the MP3 version seem very slightly louder (although the difference is barely noticable).

The track 'House On The Hill' has also had also had the dynamic range reduced.

The track 'The Missing Plutonium' has had the silent sections cropped off the ends.

The track 'Symphonie Fantastique' has had the volume slightly reduced.

If you hadn't analysed them, and the volumes of Linn's one and your one were made identical....can you hear the difference.

Not trying to be difficult....but trying to understand.

 

[steve_1979]

If you hadn't analysed them, and the volumes of Linn's one and your one were made identical....can you hear the difference.

Not trying to be difficult....but trying to understand.

I haven't actually tried but I doubt that I'd be able to tell them apart if they were volume matched.

Even as they are it's very difficult to hear any difference between them.

 

[steve_1979]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

Yes.

So if you are able to differentiate between them using ABX, what do you deduce from that?

That the MP3 I converted myself sounds different to the MP3 that was downloaded from Linn.

But I couldn't tell the difference in an ABX test between the MP3 I converted myself and the Linn FLAC file. These two sound identical.

 

[John Duncan]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

Yes.

So if you are able to differentiate between them using ABX, what do you deduce from that?

That the MP3 I converted myself sounds different to the MP3 that was downloaded from Linn.

But I couldn't tell the difference in an ABX test between the MP3 I converted myself and the Linn FLAC file. These two sound identical.

So what do you deduce from *that*?

 

[steve_1979]

So have you ABXed those two mp3s?

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the MP3 that I converted myself.

The downloaded Linn MP3 sounds very slightly louder than the original FLAC version.

But the MP3 that I converted myself sounds identical the the original FLAC version.

So you ABXed the two mp3s then?

Yes.

So if you are able to differentiate between them using ABX, what do you deduce from that?

That the MP3 I converted myself sounds different to the MP3 that was downloaded from Linn.

But I couldn't tell the difference in an ABX test between the MP3 I converted myself and the Linn FLAC file. These two sound identical.

So what do you deduce from *that*?

That the Linn MP3 has been mastered to sound different to the FLAC version.

 

[John Duncan]

Which is at odds with what they've said, right?

 

[steve_1979]

If anyone reading this thread wants to check out my finding for themselves you can download and install Audacity from here: Clicky

You can download todays FLAC and MP3 files from Linn from here: Clicky

Then all that you need to do is open the MP3 and FLAC files in Audacity and see what they look and sound like for yourselves.

 

[steve_1979]

Which is at odds with what they've said, right?

What Linn are saying doesn't make much sense.

See post #12 on page 16.

 

[steve_1979]

Here's todays free track 'Sunbeam Melts The Hour' by RM Hubbert.

I think that these three pictures can speak for themselves.

Linn downloaded MP3

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff512/steve__1979/LinnDay8MP3.jpg

Linn downloaded FLAC

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff512/steve__1979/LinnDay8FLAC.jpg

My MP3 converted from the original Linn FLAC file

http://i1239.photobucket.com/albums/ff512/steve__1979/MyDay8MP3.jpg

 

[John Duncan]

Which is at odds with what they've said, right?

What Linn are saying doesn't make much sense.
See post #12 on page 16.

Actually, it did make sense, if you believe that mp3 encoders can produce different results. If you don't, or don't think that they can produce results as different as you see, that must bring us back to BenLaw's question to you:

So Linn are either ignorant or dishonest, yes?

 

[steve_1979]

Which is at odds with what they've said, right?

What Linn are saying doesn't make much sense.
See post #12 on page 16.

Actually, it did make sense, if you believe that mp3 encoders can produce different results. If you don't, or don't think that they can produce results as different as you see, that must bring us back to BenLaw's question to you:

So Linn are either ignorant or dishonest, yes?

You tell me.

 

[BenLaw]

Which is at odds with what they've said, right?

What Linn are saying doesn't make much sense.
See post #12 on page 16.

Actually, it did make sense, if you believe that mp3 encoders can produce different results. If you don't, or don't think that they can produce results as different as you see, that must bring us back to BenLaw's question to you:

So Linn are either ignorant or dishonest, yes?

In the context of Steve's findings, I don't think it did make sense. Sure, a file may be different depending which mp3 decoder is used, but none should change the volume, change the dynamic range or delete the beginning and end. Hence my question / conclusion (not specifically aimed at Steve, although he's welcome to answer). Hard to say which of the options, although the ignorance / incompetence would be fairly staggering.

 

[Craig M.]

Actually, it did make sense, if you believe that mp3 encoders can produce different results. If you don't, or don't think that they can produce results as different as you see, that must bring us back to BenLaw's question to you:

So Linn are either ignorant or dishonest, yes?

Strange line of questioning JD, what do you deduce from Steves findings? I can think of a third option, maybe Linn don't care as much about the quality of the mp3. They could always ask Steve which mp3 encoder he is using that seems to be consistently better than theirs.

 

[jcbrum]

I don't think what Linn says makes sense.

Audio compression (reduction of audio dynamic range) is a completely different situation, and effect, to digital compression (used to reduce file sizes).

FLAC and MP3 are digital file compression techniques, not audio dynamic range of loudness compression techniques.

Linn's explanation does not believably satisfy steve_1979's enquiry.

His conversions to MP3 clearly illustrate that.

JC

 

[CnoEvil]

If the quality hasn't suffered (and TBF Steve has emphasized this), and Linn's 320 kbps is up with the best of them, everything else is surely academic.

 

[Overdose]

To answer an earlier question about what we can deduce from Steves findings, I'd guess that the mp3s were made or taken from different sources than the high resolution samples. If not then the mp3s were created from the high res recordings and the files then amended.

Unless the mp3 encoders used, arbitrarily effect dynamic range, volume and track length.

What about you JD? What do you think?

 

[Overdose]

If the quality hasn't suffered (and TBF Steve has emphasized this), and Linn's 320 kbps is up with the best of them, everything else is surely academic.

But he has said that some tracks sound different.

 

[CnoEvil]

If the quality hasn't suffered (and TBF Steve has emphasized this), and Linn's 320 kbps is up with the best of them, everything else is surely academic.

But he has said that some tracks sound different.

I think they were the Non-Linn Record ones......which they can't alter.

(I'm too tired to trawl back, to find out for sure)

 

[char_lotte]

I'm looking to buy a used parachute , I'm told this is the place to find one?