Studio quality samples in different formats?

Makhaira

Makhaira

Makhaira

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Joined
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Location
Lancashire, UK
Evening OcUK!

Simple enough really - the old man has a rather nice stereo setup and is interested in hearing the difference between various sound formats. Whilst I've been able to find odd files around on the net, I've not found anything that is a studio-quality like-for-like comparison.

Ideally I'd like WAV, 320k CBR MP3, FLAC, AAC as a minimum.

Any idea where I could head for such files?

Cheers!
 
one of the hifi manufacturers has a pretty extensive online collection of albums in various formats that would be ideal to compare - jazz, classical ect - ranging from flac down to low end mp3 stuff.


...i just cant remember the bloody name :p


edit: LINN! it was Linn lol http://www.linnrecords.com/
 
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You beat me to it James, :-))))

I have few albums off the site, not always my taste in music but some good stuff.....

Makhaira, how these files sound will be a lot down to the digital streamer or DAC being used, as "even" the MP3 files off the site sound pretty dam good through the right kit.
 
There are various 96khz 'SACD' available in flac formats. The modern network capable amps can play flacs directly.


any lossy codec like MP3 is not going to sound great. even cds seem to be worse than vinyl.
 
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a1ex2001 said:
You must have a very special stereo and an even more special set of ears!
Click to expand...

some healthy sceptisim :-),
When i get my new 684s and onkyo 808 at the end of this week, i will run off a few tests of 320kbs mp3s, 16bit 44khz cd/flacs and 24bit 96khz flacs and might be able to sound more confident.
 
Good luck !!!! but with any broad statement you are as much wrong as you are right !!!....

Which format is better or sounds better is going to be down the hardware and the mastering done during the recording process, so basically you can "prove" which ever format you like is better with few careful selections ;).... Then you can factor in that many AV amps etc are general purpose, DAC's that try and be all things to all people, so often don't handle each bit rate the same, or get the most from all.

Basically when you have a choice use FLAC at the highest rate available to you.... but 320K MP3's can sound dam good on the right gear as well.....and then many people would be hard pushed to tell the difference.....

Oh and make sure any testing is "double blind" ;)
 
ginjaninja said:
some healthy sceptisim :-),
When i get my new 684s and onkyo 808 at the end of this week, i will run off a few tests of 320kbs mp3s, 16bit 44khz cd/flacs and 24bit 96khz flacs and might be able to sound more confident.
Click to expand...

Any difference you hear on that kit bettween 16bit 44khz cd/flacs and 24bit 96khz flacs will be imagined and I would expect the MP3's to take a serious listening to notice the difference.
 
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