With everyone going for a lossless option I wanted to explorer this quantitatively
I failed in blind testing in the past and I was certain that it was just because I did not spend enough on my hifi system.
I was excited to do new tests on my LS50wii and quite shocked to see I couldn't make the difference.
Without blind testing I tend to think that I sense something but after blind testing clearly I can't tell (
or this test is crap http://abx.digitalfeed.net/list.html)
I checked my ears and clearly it's not a physiological issue as I can easily hear up to slightly above 18Khz and after doing those tests I doubt that anything that can be heard at those levels can be enjoyable. Theoritically if a track was made to include those kind of sounds I'd rather listen to a 320kbps song. I am know thinking that 320kbps is marginally better than lossless.
Questions:
1. Are there many people that can reliably pass those tests? Do they enjoy it more if they can make the difference?
2. What percentage of people are actually enjoying lossless audio? (for what is is, or for marketing. I was enjoying Qobuz before but I think I've been fooled)
3. Why most reviewers makes you thing that lossless is great?
4. Am I stupid?
When I read this on Tidal's review by Whathifi, I must seriously consider that 4. is true.
"We’d wholeheartedly recommend signing up for Tidal HiFi if you can.
While the 320kbps streams just pip their Spotify and Deezer equivalents with a slightly richer, fuller-bodied sound, tracks streamed in lossless offer much more detail, a better sense of space and a tighter handle on timing than their 320kbps counterparts."
After reading twice, in particular "While the 320kbps streams just pip their Spotify and Deezer equivalents with a slightly richer, fuller-bodied sound" I am feeling less stupid actually.
Are there really people thinking that Tidal has such a better way of encoding at 320kbps to make it richer and fuller-bodied?? Seriously wtf??
I wrote this because I am slightly disappointed to understand that lossless heaven is a myth but relieved not to ever bother again about this. Unless I am mistaken but I don't see how. I am not going to change my mind again if the difference is never going to be huge.
I failed in blind testing in the past and I was certain that it was just because I did not spend enough on my hifi system.
I was excited to do new tests on my LS50wii and quite shocked to see I couldn't make the difference.
Without blind testing I tend to think that I sense something but after blind testing clearly I can't tell (
or this test is crap http://abx.digitalfeed.net/list.html)
I checked my ears and clearly it's not a physiological issue as I can easily hear up to slightly above 18Khz and after doing those tests I doubt that anything that can be heard at those levels can be enjoyable. Theoritically if a track was made to include those kind of sounds I'd rather listen to a 320kbps song. I am know thinking that 320kbps is marginally better than lossless.
Questions:
1. Are there many people that can reliably pass those tests? Do they enjoy it more if they can make the difference?
2. What percentage of people are actually enjoying lossless audio? (for what is is, or for marketing. I was enjoying Qobuz before but I think I've been fooled)
3. Why most reviewers makes you thing that lossless is great?
4. Am I stupid?
When I read this on Tidal's review by Whathifi, I must seriously consider that 4. is true.
"We’d wholeheartedly recommend signing up for Tidal HiFi if you can.
While the 320kbps streams just pip their Spotify and Deezer equivalents with a slightly richer, fuller-bodied sound, tracks streamed in lossless offer much more detail, a better sense of space and a tighter handle on timing than their 320kbps counterparts."
After reading twice, in particular "While the 320kbps streams just pip their Spotify and Deezer equivalents with a slightly richer, fuller-bodied sound" I am feeling less stupid actually.
Are there really people thinking that Tidal has such a better way of encoding at 320kbps to make it richer and fuller-bodied?? Seriously wtf??
I wrote this because I am slightly disappointed to understand that lossless heaven is a myth but relieved not to ever bother again about this. Unless I am mistaken but I don't see how. I am not going to change my mind again if the difference is never going to be huge.