JohnSwenson;484905 Wrote: > A couple thoughts on the subject. I HAVE been able to hear differences > on an SB3 between streaming flac or PCM (wav). A couple times I have > thought something was amiss, things were sounding "flat". It turned out > to be the file type settings had been changed (I certainly didn't change > them) > > In general I have not been able to tell any difference between flac or > WAV files as long as both are streamed as PCM. There was one case where > it made a difference. At one point streaming flac files was sounding > much worse (much bigger difference than what I hear between flac and PCM > streaming). It turned out the FLAC files had replay gain tags and of > course the wav files did not. Somehow replay gain had been turned on so > it was applying digital volume control. The particular firmware in the > SB3 had a bug such that it was not properly implementing digital volume > control. This has been fixed for a long time, so even with replay gain > on, there is very little difference now (other than the volume!). > > I've had many different versions recently (I'm a beta tester for the > Touch) and have not heard any degradation in sound between any version. > When I switched from 7.3 to 7.4 the firmware on the touch updated to > version 130 but its remained the same for a long time now. > > What version of the firmware are you running? If somehow it didn't > upgrade when you changed SC versions that MIGHT cause a problem, but > even thats doubtful. > > The sound coming out of the SB3 with firmware 130 and the recent SBS > versions have definately not been any worse and maybe slightly better > than what was there before. (the Touch on the other hand has improved > its sound significantly as things progressed, its now REALLY good). > > John S.
John, I can understand all the points you've listed above. I dont have my CD's ripped in FLAC. I only have them ripped in Wave, however, you may be aware that slim server software by default is set to stream in flac as I've already mention, which is a fact. The very first generation of the software originally had it by default set to stream in PCM/Wave, that is if you use wave files. Things quickly changed. I have all the different versions, 7.2.1, 7.3, and 7.4.1. I even have 7.5 which as you know is not supported or made official yet. Install 7.2 on 1 machine, then install 7.4.1 on another. Play the same wave source on both versions making sure the files types for wav is set to native rather than the default flac. There is a difference between versions. Ofcourse the firmware will be updated on SB3 when you switch between versions. The point I'm trying to make which the slim device developer has picked up and requested I do the test with the logs is when you play wave files and stream in wave/PCM, in theory there shouldn't be any difference in sound quality for the versions of sofware. The dac hasn't changed, or harware, hence i expect the same sound reproduction regardless of software or firmware if not better. My argument is its worse with the new sofware rather than better. My suspicion is maybe the Flac conversion on the server packed with the firmware upgrade is not working properly. As I've already said the default is streamed in Flac and not PCM even if you have a wave file. Normally when you change to native you will notice the difference in sound quality for 7.2, in 7.4 there are no differences and the sound is poorer. I hope this now very clear. Maybe you could do the test and post your findings. Also as some people are not able to tell the difference in sound quality between flac and wave makes it even more difficult. As least you can. Hopefully your postings and findings will help make a better sofware. I love the product so much I'm inputing a lot of my energy to get it right, because I think the touch will even be a bigger sucess. -- Louishlomador ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Louishlomador's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=34260 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=71321 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
