Does High Res Music Really Matter?

In this video I ask the question is CD quality good enough?

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[US_Joe]

Well done - good to remind us to keep our feet on ground vs market hype $$$ ! Thank you sir.

[PhoggHawk]

One thing that I have noticed is there seems to be a "sound signature" difference between the different music services, regardless of the file resolution that they are presenting. For example, Tidal has almost a flat sound when comparing their MQA lossless format to Amazon Music HD's FLAC files, which at the same volume are louder and much more dynamic sounding to me. This is my experience regardless of what equipment I am using, and I've tested it on PC, tablet, Android, or loudspeakers; and hard wired through a hi res DAC through several different hi res capable headphones. Even YouTube Music Premium, which is a lossy format, sounds better and more enjoyable, to my ears, than Tidal MQA. I haven't seen or heard anyone else talking about this, but I definitely think that each music service processes the audio differently somehow. Maybe there's some setting that I haven't figured out that accounts for this, but none that I am aware of. It's definitely worth trying out a couple of different services and comparing them because, although it may not be "Hi Res", you might just find that you enjoy the way the music sounds on one service better than another.

[datrumpet]

In comparing Spotify (320k/sec) to Amazon Music HD (up to 1800ish k/sec), I notice some differences even with my bluetooth headphones. For example, the low end range and depth is better. However, my over the ear Sony headphones (1000xm4) get even better when wiring them to my phone.

[landonpraught]

Really agree with you .
I wandering are you going do a video on you cd rack that is behind you .
It looks so cool and way great video thanks for all you do.

[MoPoppins]

I’m a child of the 80s and early 90s, and even w/ my crappy shelf stereo w/ 3-CD carousel from The Good Guys, EVERY ARTIST Babyface produced sounded AMAZING. I wished that ALL producers would master their tracks so that it made their music sound like it was being played back on a premium stereo w/ the best speakers. Everything was crystal-clear, and the entire range of sounds could be heard.

I’m not an audiophile, but have always enjoyed music as a lifeline…I was rarely ever NOT listening to it, if my ears weren’t occupied w/ something else. I couldn’t understand why some CDs had such a muffled, low sound, when Babyface could make everything sound good. Is it the equipment that the audio engineers used, or was it due solely to the talent behind the sound board?

I remember doing some online test to see if I can detect the difference in sound quality between files w/ various sound compressions, and I could, but it was very nuanced. The reason I wanted to know was because I’d run out of memory on my iPad (just 32 GB at that time), and wanted to fit as many tracks as possible from my iTunes library. Fortunately, I couldn’t even tell that the files were compressed, and I was able to open up a few more GB of memory on that device, even after loading my music.

[wavybump]

I believe the true draw of hi res audio is the soundstage it creates. I bought a sony atmos dh790 hires suround system last year(5.2.1). I have a reg suround system in my living room(7.1); which I was always happy with. Bought the new one just for the atmos. Then saw it able to play hires audio. What's this I thought.

When I played the new system using Amazon hd music. It sounded like 3d audio. I heard the drums on the left a background singer came from the corner. If rain played it sounded like it was coming from the windows. I'm thinking wow these 9 speakers truly make it sound live.. THEN I REALIZED...ONLY TWO SPEAKERS WAS PLAYING. The left and right speakers was doing everything when music played, i had to keep checking that the atmos speakers on the ceiling weren't getting involved. Still blows my mind today. Its all about the soundstage!

[johnbrentford]

I have all my music digitized that is 4016 CDs to date they are saved as AIFF format and play at 192/24. That takes up 2.16TB of space hard drives are cheap now saving your music as uncompressed files is no problem. Buy as good a DAC as you can afford I use the Schiit Audio Modi Multibit it's a affordable DAC and sounds good. CD quality you will still get some background noise but a good DAC can clean that up. I don't care for streaming and still use a iPod in my car. I play the music from my computer to my stereo and it sounds great.

[thornev]

To me it's not so much the difference in sampling rate and bit depth that makes a difference in how well we hear the music. It's the higher-quality hardware and the fact that we can put it right into our ears that makes a major difference in the way we hear music. Can I hear a difference between audio recorded at 44.1k/16bit versus 48k/24bit? I would claim that there is a clarity in the latter that is missing from the former. But then the way the music was mastered also makes a difference in what I'm hearing. A band like Toto does an impeccable job at producing music (where every instruments' every notes can be heard) whereas a lot of Metal bands go more for "in your face" (read constant loudness and less dynamic range) where detail and clarity is not necessarily as important.

[xphyle]

Bluetooth 5.2 DOES support Hi-Res audio. I suggest you look into the LHDC codec being used now. Also, check the Edifier Neobuds Pro earbuds. The first Hi-Res certified Bluetooth earbuds.

[shawnorjiakor]

Hi-Res doesn't be really matter. Is it better? Yes, but the differences is barely 5% at best. CD quality is still amazing and with upscaling, it can match the performance and the fidelity as Hi-Res. Plus the library is too small.

[gvppiwi]

Your visual comparison (completely different, off topic) simplified

Standard AUDIO = HD screen

Upscaling= full HD, Blu-Ray

*TRUELY HI-RES "VINYL" QUALITY = 4K-UHD*

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720p (widescreen @ HD)

1080p (full hd, "blue case" Blu-Ray and 4k)

4k *UHD* (FULL strength 4k "black case" and steel books) must be using 55+ inch TVs

*Nobody recognizes image differences above 1080* (they just appreciate better sound quality with Blu-Ray)

Screens under 55" are near impossible to differentiate (you can't use a generic brand TV = then must use a flagship model, usually $600+ )

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Still limited to devices and human perception

[josephvanalstyne]

i can tell with the vibrence of clarity at times. like you said it depends on the mastering. some are remastered to 24bit. if the remastering is bad it will sound terrible. also there tends to be a lack of bass at times with 24bit. and more. but that also could be my stereo rig itself. to an audiophile that really listens there to me is a difference. to the average listener they will never tell.most of my listening is 16bit. with a good dac. mostly audiophile jazz like you.vinyl might sound the best with great phono stage. very important! and thats 8bit analog. great video love watching!

[gvppiwi]

NO @ Actual files

YES @ upscaling (Sony hi-res audio)

paired with newer Bluetooth protocols. *All SONY* LDAC & hi-res (SONY hi-res device paired with hi-res headphones = upscaled > lower but better Bluetooth audio > upscaled again via BT headphones... My estimate 95% hi-res audio)

without hi-res headphones (about 30% better sound = limited by headphones response range = more details but not clear)

100% yes. Wired headphones & IERs (but consumers today dropped wires. *And* aren't willing to spend $750+ for IER headphones)



I fully recommend SONY hi-res (walkman mp3 players, Xperia smartphones, *headphones*, sound bars and AV receivers, *Bravia* tv better) *but* (mp3 players are rarely purchased. And Sony smartphones are expensive *full price only* $1000+ )

Actual speakers @ any brand using 10/12 g wires

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AV RECEIVERS. Hi-res audio is fully worth it (all or nothing) *FULLY WIRED* without compromising parts, speakers, cables

[googoo-gjoob]

Android phones _can_ bluetooth hi-res audio. my Tahoe's headunit is not capable of surpassing CD qualty.
so i have a Mosconi AMAS96k. i *bluetooth* 96khz to this module bypassing the stock radio. signal then goes to my Mosconi dsp, the Mosconi Zero amps to my Focal speakers. it is *s t u n n i n g*