• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Can an MP3 sound better than a CD?

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
sounds good, but without a blind A/B comparison I'm afraid we're all simply being subjected to the power of suggestion.

plus computer speakers aren't exactly the epitome of sonic quality!
 
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
One of my clients needs their collection archived at 24/96 minimum and the space needed is going to be in the 45,000 TB range!

Cheers!
Click to expand...
:Q

What line of business are you in?

That'd be awesome. 😀
 
Originally posted by: KevinF
I'm listening right now on my brand new etymotic ER-4P's and it sounds pretty good. I don't know that I could say better than the CD because I don't have the cd next to me, but still, I'm impressed.
Click to expand...

im impressed by your headphones more than the mp3s....
 
plus computer speakers aren't exactly the epitome of sonic quality!
Click to expand...

This is true. I recommend a good set of cans and amp to listen. Some people also have their PC's connected to mid-fi systems that will start to see the difference.

Cheers!
 
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
plus computer speakers aren't exactly the epitome of sonic quality!
Click to expand...

This is true. I recommend a good set of cans and amp to listen. Some people also have their PC's connected to mid-fi systems that will start to see the difference.

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Damn you for making me break out my Shure e3c and my Bithead amp. 😛
 
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
One of my clients needs their collection archived at 24/96 minimum and the space needed is going to be in the 45,000 TB range!

Cheers!
Click to expand...

JEBUS

Library of Congress audio collection?
 
Originally posted by: kyparrish
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
One of my clients needs their collection archived at 24/96 minimum and the space needed is going to be in the 45,000 TB range!

Cheers!
Click to expand...

JEBUS

Library of Congress audio collection?
Click to expand...

probably a club? Or maybe an independant (rare) radio station?
 
Originally posted by: halik
Originally posted by: KevinF
I'm listening right now on my brand new etymotic ER-4P's and it sounds pretty good. I don't know that I could say better than the CD because I don't have the cd next to me, but still, I'm impressed.
Click to expand...

im impressed by your headphones more than the mp3s....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I love 'em. I've had ER6's for about 2 years, and the 4's have gotten so cheap I just bought them. They're definitely a step above, but the ER6's are almost as impressive. I can't recommend either of them highly enough. Now I just need to buy/build an amp and a 4s adaptor, but I'm just not sure it's worth it.
 
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
One of my clients needs their collection archived at 24/96 minimum and the space needed is going to be in the 45,000 TB range!

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Bob Weir?
 
Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: JoeKing
Originally posted by: pulse8
http://www.juxtapost.net/dust2.mp3

This is from the greatest hits CD. This one seems to be mixed differently than yours, but other than that they sound similar to me.
Click to expand...

the dust1.mp3 defiantly sounds warmer to me.
Click to expand...

That may be more the source than the compression.
Click to expand...

Warm as in there's more noise (data) underneath. Which makes sense since dust2 is only encoded at 192 kbps... get that low-fi crap away from my ears!!!! 😉
 
Originally posted by: Triumph
sounds good, but without a blind A/B comparison I'm afraid we're all simply being subjected to the power of suggestion.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you.

plus computer speakers aren't exactly the epitome of sonic quality!
Click to expand...
I agree almost completely.
They may not be the most accurate, but you will be hard pressed to find anything more revealing.

Someone is going to say headphones, but - Headphones lose stereo, so it literally sounds like a 3D movie looks when you take those glasses off.
Now, how you are going to say what anything in the movie looks like, especially in detail, escapes me.
Same thing with headphones.
near field listening - the speakers on your desk 12" in front of you are going to have AMAZING detail.

It is amazing, we can watch people in this thread rave about headphones, and complain about MP3s.
Heaphones lose stereo, mp3 loses something a lot less important.
 
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
Does anyone have these songs on CD to listen to them to compare?

The MP3 files sound very good! Yes I am an audiophile and these files were not created like the population creates MP3's so...

Updated with new files...

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Am I missing something?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! 😕
 
near field listening - the speakers on your desk 12" in front of you are going to have AMAZING detail.
Click to expand...

Yes but the lack of decent SNR of onboard audio and sufficient frequency response and dynamic range really spoils things quickly.

Not too many people have Westlakes with Mark Levinson monoblocks pumping them on their desktop! 😛

Am I missing something?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Click to expand...

Oops, sorry! 😉

Excerpt from Sweet's Love is Like Oxygen

Cheers!
 
Originally posted by: JoeKing
Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: JoeKing
Originally posted by: pulse8
http://www.juxtapost.net/dust2.mp3

This is from the greatest hits CD. This one seems to be mixed differently than yours, but other than that they sound similar to me.
Click to expand...

the dust1.mp3 defiantly sounds warmer to me.
Click to expand...

That may be more the source than the compression.
Click to expand...

Warm as in there's more noise (data) underneath. Which makes sense since dust2 is only encoded at 192 kbps... get that low-fi crap away from my ears!!!! 😉
Click to expand...

Actually, it's also on the ape file I have of it as well. I imagine on something like a greatest hits they did a remastering of the song so it's not the same thing.
 
Sounds pretty good to me. But I can't tell the difference between a 192k mp3 and a cd even with my expensive sound setup.....
 
Originally posted by: shuttleteam
near field listening - the speakers on your desk 12" in front of you are going to have AMAZING detail.
Click to expand...

Yes but the lack of decent SNR of onboard audio and sufficient frequency response and dynamic range really spoils things quickly.

Not too many people have Westlakes with Mark Levinson monoblocks pumping them on their desktop! 😛

Am I missing something?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Click to expand...

Oops, sorry! 😉

Excerpt from Sweet's Love is Like Oxygen

Cheers!
Click to expand...
Not many people have Sweet on their system either.
Let me guess - you got all the good stuff, ARS, 10CC - spill the beans on you song list!!!!
 
Not many people have Sweet on their system either.
Let me guess - you got all the good stuff, ARS, 10CC - spill the beans on you song list!!!!
Click to expand...

HAHAHA! We're jamming right now and if we had the bean (KB) as a neighbor, he would be driving his Ferarri over here right now to bust a few caps in our @ss! 😛

Cheers!
 
Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: JoeKing
Originally posted by: pulse8
Originally posted by: JoeKing
Originally posted by: pulse8
http://www.juxtapost.net/dust2.mp3

This is from the greatest hits CD. This one seems to be mixed differently than yours, but other than that they sound similar to me.
Click to expand...

the dust1.mp3 defiantly sounds warmer to me.
Click to expand...

That may be more the source than the compression.
Click to expand...

Warm as in there's more noise (data) underneath. Which makes sense since dust2 is only encoded at 192 kbps... get that low-fi crap away from my ears!!!! 😉
Click to expand...

Actually, it's also on the ape file I have of it as well. I imagine on something like a greatest hits they did a remastering of the song so it's not the same thing.
Click to expand...

Probably. I've heard some really horriable remasterd crap in the past, although they have gotten much better with it now. Let me clarify that when I say "noise" I don't mean it's bad. It's extra sound that supports the main sound. The small things you don't necessarily hear but add to the overall piece.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top