320kps downloading

First of all, where did you download the 320k stuff from? Are these files that you bought or were files sent to you by another user? Files that are downloaded from file sharing networks are suspect. You never know what the source is. They could be a transcoded 192k MP3 files. And sometimes even the professionals accidentally use a lossy source.

Anyway, Tom, give us some more specifics. What exactly are you playing? Where did you get it from? Did they sound fine in Minny... if so, what was your set up there?

-Erik-

Tom, as Erik mentioned, you need to be careful of the original source. A 320kbps of a 128kbps source is never going to be very good. But it still can be said to be an "320kbps rip."

Erik the file came from Roy and it was the new release of the tiomkin/gerhardt recording. I'm now back to using my tube equipment and my big Klipsch Corner Horn Speakers. In Minneapolis I had a NAD integrated amp with some smaller JBL monitor 2 way speakers. For your info my CD Player is also a tube unit that goes perfectly with my McIntosh tube preamp and amp. I would assume from Roy or Jim the quality would be good but this wasn't the case. As I said before even the lossless download from Chandos was missing something. I'm still intrigued with this so called better quality than a CD download. I guess I should write the author of the book.
Thomas

That's right up there with the chicken and the egg.
And the answer to that one (in case anybody is wondering) is the egg.

Elin

science does not work like that. Things are pretty simple with there things.

very subjective treats they can't be scientifically tested at least not easily and trustworth enough.

Some kind of weird ass D'ism

it has to do with how the sound is processed.

That's not true. There are high end... and mean HIIIIIIIIGH end headphones that will give you the exact sound that you need.



Tom... first of all, you have to have a competent recording engineer in order for you to hear all of those separate elements. I don't care how much money you spent on your gear or where you set it up but if the recording engineer doesn't know what he is doing then what's the point.



I've been to a few concerts and recording sessions and I love the sound of a concert hall. Out of all the CD's I own the closest anyone has come to capturing that sound of sitting in the seats at a concert hall was Jack Renner and his 80's recordings with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops. I remember concerts both in Buffalo and Toronto and thinking to myself this sounds just like a Telarc recording.

I'm sure there or many other albums that sound just as good so I think it is possible to re-create that concert hall sound in your living room.

-Erik-

It would be interesting if you did a rip using a good ripper (like Exact Audio Copy) and a good encoder (Lame) and tested whether you could tell the difference between a 320 kbps mp3 and the CD. One thing that's important is that the test must be blind, because psychology can really play in if you're aware which is which. If you get a friend to play the tracks for you, where he knows which is which and where you don't, and you then try to hear if you can tell which is which, that would be convincing.

Peter

Please don't tell me I have to rip all my CDs again!

Phew!

With all this talk of mp3s of differing quality and FSM's fervent criticism of the new Conan The Barbarian release I'm considering just reading books about film music rather than actually listening to anything!

Remember that my equipment was designed for listening to lp's not digital downloads and cd's. D of all people should truly understand where I'm coming from on this friendly discussion. Perhaps the answer is that tubes don't mix well with digital processing. While I'm the first to admit that there is an unavoidable level of surface noise and click and pop from the LP there is a warmth that is impossible to duplicate when the digital process takes place. In fact some of the best recordings I own are mono classical recordings. The room acoustics, usually a very old church come through loud and clear. Even a transfer to CD from a 50's recording and I site as an example a recording that Fritz Reiner made of Scheherazade with the Chicago Symphony in 1956 have decent sound but the Living Stereo LP is superb. I would encourage all to listen to it through proper equipment and you'll understand my point. I will admit as far as modern equipment is concerned this new SACD system is very good. There are too few recordings however available in this format and as I stated before my room acoustics are shit. I'll someday as a project seek out the so called super headphones that Erik talks about to hear them but phones cannot duplicate the concert hall.
Thomas

I am not talking about you Tom

one other point to keep in mind and that is I spent so much money on this equipment that at the time I could have purchased a house but chose the audio system instead. probably not a wise choice.
Thomas