m1abrams Wrote: > Why? FLAC produces bit for bit identical to the WAV file, you can test > this by ripping a CD to PCM wav, then taking that wav encoding it to > flac but save the original wave. Now decode the flac back to wav and > perform an md5sum of the two wave files, unless your encoder/decoder is > broken they will be identical. This is the procedure that is even on > the FLAC website on how to verfiy the encoder/decoder. > > With FLAC you get the quality EXACLY the same as WAV plus you get > about 2x the storage and 1/2 the needed bandwidth, and you get TAG > support.
Hi there - I hear what you say and agree that if space is an issue (or bandwidth if you are wireless) then FLAC certainly adds up to a good idea - but - in my case, in my system, with my ears, I don't *hear* EXACTLY the same quality (and I am not alone) - when it comes to audio quality a few extra quid spent on more HD space (under £70 for a 250gb HD!) is not an issue here. What goes in may be what comes out when you compare 'bits' - but I have played with this some more over the last few days (I dont take lightly the format I will choose to archive some hundreds of CDs) and on a well recorded CD track I can spot a FLAC decode instantly on the first few bars. This means for me its a no-brainer. Just let me say obviously if your system isn't able to deliver the subtle nuances involved you will of course not hear any difference - and the system is only as good as it's weakest link - which might be our ears of course (I know mine arent what they were after 35 years of interest in the hobby!). I am not sure what is going on here, but perhaps the analogue audio circuits in my pre-amp may be ultra sensitive to digital noise generated by the SB2 doing it's internal decoding of FLAC sat just above it (it would be interesting to measure this against the same noise generated by internal WAV decoding?). I know that Meridian all digital systems support the digital domain right up until the last moment, only converting to the delicate analogue domain (with all its susceptibilities to outside interference) at the very last minute. I prefer the analogue sound however, so my Meridian system contains mostly analogue components. Who knows the exact reason why I can hear the difference between WAV and FLAC, I certainly dont, but it doesnt worry me or cause me anxiety. I am not one of those technical guys who can't envisage anything effecting sound other than that which can be measured - we are talking Hi-Fi here remember. Technical measurements are what design the goods and get us to the gate - but to go through the gate every hi-fi manufacturer understands you have to listen and then fine tune the product with your ears. If technical measurements were all that mattered in hi-fi then we wouldnt bother upgrading cables with exotic mixes (and even stranger - exotic cable insulating materials!). We wouldnt be discussing whether a CD sounds better if you dont pause it during replay (ok thats really weird but just ask Jimmy Hughes!), there wouldnt be such things as turntables with cartridge and arm combinations costing more than my car - and there wouldnt be those who still prefer glowing valves and a nice set of horn speakers! And I wouldnt be able to hear a better sounding system after running the Denson De Magic CD - but I can :-) But please lets not forget we are talking about a £150 box with an Ethernet adapter sat on top of my hi-fi, streaming digital data from my PC - and it wasnt long ago I would turn off my PC to listen to my hi-fi as the digital noise down the mains had a negative effect on the sound (this is common practice and if you have one of Russ Andrews mains sniffers you will actually hear the noise yourself). No - this Squeezebox (V2) is unbelievably good and in every respects approaching audiophile quality (and not by accident either if I read the specs right!) so a little debate about file encoding preferences is to be expected in the audiophile forum. Oops, and I have just noticed how long this little debate post is - please forgive my rants and I hope at least someone might find my remarks of interest :-) -- Timbo _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
