Muse flacs with hd555

SkeeterUK · 22 Sep 2011 at 20:12

Is it just me or does it sound really harsh muse songs with these phones. Using a audigy2zs daniel k drivers, no equilizer stuff, 24bit 192k in windows sound settings and using songbird.

Track like from Origin of Symmetry "Hyper Music". Just really hurts my ears.

Just wondering if others with hd555 headphones can listen to muse music without it sounding really harsh when listening at medium volume.

Uriel · 22 Sep 2011 at 21:24

Unfortunately Muse are notorious for having most of their recordings badly mastered. They sound awful on any half-decent audio equipment. It's a nasty techique record companies use for getting songs noticed by being louder than other stuff on the radio. The levels on the recording are such that they hit the '-0db' theoretical maximum. This results in horrible distortion. Goodle 'loudness war' to find out more.

See here for info:

A remastered Butterfiles and Hurricaines to adjust for 'sensible' levels:

SkeeterUK · 22 Sep 2011 at 21:29

Ah so thats why muse sounded so loud and close together and not seperated as much. Thanks.

Shame they did this tho because i really like muse and so it is such a waste grabbing flacs now that they did this to their recordings.

marc2003 · 22 Sep 2011 at 21:34

SkeeterUK said:
Shame they did this tho because i really like muse and so it is such a waste grabbing flacs now that they did this to their recordings.

so you're moaning about music you stole? classy.

SkeeterUK · 22 Sep 2011 at 21:35

I cba to rip them myself i have the albums bought tho so i should be ok.

Rroff · 23 Sep 2011 at 18:56

Just an aside but Creative soundcards tend to sound a bit dry/harsh/clinical paired with headphones that have a fairly neutral reproduction and some music can sound pretty clinical especially stuff like muse.