Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
ralphpnj;683941 Wrote: > Knowing my friend I would say that it was just plain old non audiophile > silence. Anyway what my friend know about silence, after all he's just > a lowly full time recording, mixing and mastering engineer and not a > part time golden eared high end audio reviewer (a wrote "part time" > since most of the reviewers for the high end magazines earn their > living in other fields, often totally unrelated to audio. There is no need to involve audio tools in the process. Convert, convert back and then compare checksums of the original and final files. They will, of course, be identical. Darren -- darrenyeats http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/A3H57URKQB8AQO/ref=cm_pdp_content_listmania/203-7606506-5721503. SB Touch darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
garym;683922 Wrote: > But was it that "wet, greasy" silence that was astonishingly a level of > nothingness you've never experienced. Or just plain old non audiophile > silence. ;-) Knowing my friend I would say that it was just plain old non audiophile silence. Anyway what my friend know about silence, after all he's just a lowly full time recording, mixing and mastering engineer and not a part time golden eared high end audio reviewer (a wrote "part time" since most of the reviewers for the high end magazines earn their living in other fields, often totally unrelated to audio. -- ralphpnj Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -> Snatch -> The Transporter -> Transporter 2 (oops) -> Touch 'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/) ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
ralphpnj;683916 Wrote: > > > In order to do the test, I used another software, called Fission, to > convert from Flac back to wav. I then brought both the files into > Logic, put a phase inverter on one of them and hit play. Total Silence! > > > So yes, these guys are crackpots." > > Interesting, very interesting. But was it that "wet, greasy" silence that was astonishingly a level of nothingness you've never experienced. Or just plain old non audiophile silence. ;-) -- garym *Location 1:* VB Appliance 6TB (1.10) > LMS 7.7.1 > Transporter, Touch, Boom, Radio w/Battery (all ethernet except Radio) *Location 2:* VB Appliance 3TB (2.0) > LMS 7.7.1 > Touch > Benchmark DAC I, Boom, Radio w/Battery (all ethernet except Radio) *Office:* Win7(64) > LMS 7.7.1 > SqueezePlay Retired: SB3, Duet Receiver Controllers: iPhone (iPeng), iPad (iPengHD & SqueezePad), CONTROLLER, or SqueezePlay 7.7 on Win7(64) laptop Ripping (FLAC) - dbpoweramp, Additional Tagging - mp3tag garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
I asked a good friend of mine who is a recording engineer and an expert in digital audio since digital audio is, after all, his livelihood to read through the first three parts of the series. Here is what he wrote back to me: "Wow, that was some tedious reading. I had to skim through some of it in order to get to what they were actually trying to do, so I might have missed something. But let me get to one particular part that puzzles me the most. It's the one where they convert from wav to flac, compare the listening quality, and then convert from flac back to wav and compare the quality again. There is a very basic and obvious test they could have made that would have told them if there were any differences between the original wav file and the one that were converted back from flac. Bring them both into a multitrack program such as Logic, Protools, Audacity etc, invert the phase on one of them and then play back. If the audio is identical, playback should be completely silent since the two signals would cancel each other out. If they were still able to hear some sound, that would prove that something was messing with audio integrity along the way, but if the result was indeed complete silence, that would prove, beyond all doubt, that the differences they claim to hear don't exist and that they're crackpots. So why, in such an extremely tedious and rigorous test, wouldn't they include such a simple reality check? I just finished co-producing, mixing and mastering a five song EP for this band they decided to offer the full quality audio files, so I ended up making both Apple Lossless, Flac, and Mp3 files so that the customer gets the link to all three. Now, that seemed like an excellent opportunity to do the test I proposed. In this case, the original master file was created in aiff format which is sonically the same as wav (both regular PCM files but with different header formats). That file was converted to wav using iTunes (where we also made the apple lossless and mp3 files). To create the flac files I used a software called Flacer. In order to do the test, I used another software, called Fission, to convert from Flac back to wav. I then brought both the files into Logic, put a phase inverter on one of them and hit play. Total Silence! So yes, these guys are crackpots." Interesting, very interesting. -- ralphpnj Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -> Snatch -> The Transporter -> Transporter 2 (oops) -> Touch 'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/) ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Wombat;683790 Wrote: > Don´t make a joke about this. Exactly this is were we go to. On diyaudio > already is spoken in depth about audiophile silver SATA cable and like > always you find some that believe that and have no doubt in the jitter > of SATA cables. You can produce every part of a PC and claim its > audiophility. You can then build a 1$ PC only to run LMS soon. > Just post a picture of some bits that show the shape of a high-to-low > interval on the RAM that is improved with some kind of better voltage > or alike and the wild ones will hear it. It's also vitally important that the computer you rip your music on be liquid cooled. I've been experimenting with different coolants, and find that my music sounds snappier and fuller, with more space, bloom, and prat, when I keep Evian water in the system. A cheap tweak, but oh so sublime -- totoro sb3 -> mccormack dna .5 -> audio physic tempo 4 + rel storm 3 totoro's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5935 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
totoro;683789 Wrote: > Come on, everyone knows that what is really important is an audiophile > computer power supply, and even more importantly, audiophile ram. You > don't want your ones getting tarnished on the way to the hard drive. > > I have some of that ram for sale. Only $800 per 4g stick :); Don´t make a joke about this. Exactly this is were we go to. On diyaudio already is spoken in depth about audiophile silver SATA cable and like always you find some that believe that and have no doubt in the jitter of SATA cables. You can produce every part of a PC and claim its audiophility. You can then build a 1$ PC only to run LMS soon. Just post a picture of some bits that show the shape of a high-to-low interval on the RAM that is improved with some kind of better voltage or alike and the wild ones will hear it. -- Wombat Transporter (modded) -> RG142 -> Avantgarde Acoustic based 500VA monoblocks -> Sommer SPK240 -> self-made speakers Wombat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4113 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
ralphpnj;683732 Wrote: > Ah, very clever! I wasn't thinking along those lines but it does make > sense. I suppose that there will be a follow up series which does > something similar to this series but using Mac/Apple computers and > software. > > In addition I'm sure that the final part, which is going to be about > how to improve the sound of one's computer setup will wax on about how > high end USB cables sound so much better than standard, generic USB > cables, along with many other very costly but totally worthless > recommendations. Come on, everyone knows that what is really important is an audiophile computer power supply, and even more importantly, audiophile ram. You don't want your ones getting tarnished on the way to the hard drive. I have some of that ram for sale. Only $800 per 4g stick :); -- totoro sb3 -> mccormack dna .5 -> audio physic tempo 4 + rel storm 3 totoro's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5935 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Wombat;683727 Wrote: > The things TAS describe in different playback depends on the software in > most cases as i understand it. So in the future they test software as it > was audio gear and deliver listening results about the software versions > = New market Ah, very clever! I wasn't thinking along those lines but it does make sense. I suppose that there will be a follow up series which does something similar to this series but using Mac/Apple computers and software. In addition I'm sure that the final part, which is going to be about how to improve the sound of one's computer setup will wax on about how high end USB cables sound so much better than standard, generic USB cables, along with many other very costly but totally worthless recommendations. -- ralphpnj Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -> Snatch -> The Transporter -> Transporter 2 (oops) -> Touch 'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/) ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
The things TAS describe in different playback depends on the software in most cases as i understand it. So in the future they test software as it was audio gear and deliver listening results about the software versions = New market -- Wombat Transporter (modded) -> RG142 -> Avantgarde Acoustic based 500VA monoblocks -> Sommer SPK240 -> self-made speakers Wombat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4113 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Wombat;683708 Wrote: > I did read on several forums already people finaly feel understood and > post like "I knew it all the time!" > So TAS only tests out the new breed of customers that buy into such > things. These customers now may buy such publications to know how their > software sounds. They test software updates in future and not gear. > Some years back our governments should have established entrance exams > for the internet use. It is to late now... I'm sure I understand what it is you are trying to say. What do you mean by software? -- ralphpnj Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -> Snatch -> The Transporter -> Transporter 2 (oops) -> Touch 'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/) ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
ralphpnj;683689 Wrote: > A better question would be exactly what does TAS have to gain by > publishing such garbage? While one can at least the merits of various > analog based audio myths, such as expensive cables, there is absolutely > no basis for the drivel this series is spewing. In the discussion of > this series on the TAS forum someone mentioned that Stereophile > rejected this series when the authors submitted it for possible > publication. At least Stereophile has some standards (although they > still promote and recommend over priced USB and HDMI cables). I did read on several forums already people finaly feel understood and post like "I knew it all the time!" So TAS only tests out the new breed of customers that buy into such things. These customers now may buy such publications to know how their software sounds. They test software updates in future and not gear. Some years back our governments should have established entrance exams for the internet use. It is to late now... -- Wombat Transporter (modded) -> RG142 -> Avantgarde Acoustic based 500VA monoblocks -> Sommer SPK240 -> self-made speakers Wombat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4113 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
I have now skimmed trough the articles *sob* in depth reading would incvoke far to much alcohol consumption :-/ . Complete nutters , they don't understand a thing wav-flac-wav if everything works and you fiddle with time stamps it is foresically impossible to tell the 2 wav files appart aargh . Their methods stinks it is very easy to debunk make a 200 gen wav-flac-wav copy several times interleave with copies of the gen 1 file in a playlist do a blind test done deal with enogh files you get the expected 50/50 result . wonder if one should troll them to invoke even more silly responses. " Dear almigthy TAS , I'm voried about my backups will they sound the same as the originals ? Several files are copied from multiple old computers, I'm afriad one of them was a win 95 computer will this ruin the file ?" :) These complete jokers think they are tech writers, google cargo cult it comes close to this. There is one cultish elements missing in audiophilia , there is no sacrifices , should one decapitate a chicken perhaps ? -- Mnyb Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4 Misc use: Radio (with battery) iPad 64gB wifi +3g with iPengHD & SqueezePad (in storage SB3, reciever ,controller ) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
cliveb;683677 Wrote: > Well yes, except that in this case it's nothing to do with spending > money on gear. > > One of the claims made is that a CD ripped at one speed sounds > different to the same CD ripped at a different speed, when played back > on exactly the same system, even though they verified that the data in > the two rips is identical. Given that there are several asynchronous > buffers between the hard disk platter and the digital stream delivered > to the DAC, this makes precisely zero sense. (Not close to zero - > exactly zero). What ARE these guys smoking? if they have some university degrees can thier diplomas phd or similar be revoked retroactively ? they have practically showed that they really don't understand what they suposed to understand. if your doctor tries to heal you with crystals his license would swirl down the drain what are they smoking, who knows but the longterm side effects are showing :) In that stage you usually thinks cia has a transmitter in your brain or that gnomes live behind your wallpaper and similar delusions, this is more unusual -- Mnyb Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4 Misc use: Radio (with battery) iPad 64gB wifi +3g with iPengHD & SqueezePad (in storage SB3, reciever ,controller ) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
cliveb;683677 Wrote: > What ARE these guys smoking? or mainlining. ;-) -- garym *Location 1:* VB Appliance 6TB (1.10) > LMS 7.7.1 > Transporter, Touch, Boom, Radio w/Battery (all ethernet except Radio) *Location 2:* VB Appliance 3TB (2.0) > LMS 7.7.1 > Touch > Benchmark DAC I, Boom, Radio w/Battery (all ethernet except Radio) *Office:* Win7(64) > LMS 7.7.1 > SqueezePlay Retired: SB3, Duet Receiver Controllers: iPhone (iPeng), iPad (iPengHD & SqueezePad), CONTROLLER, or SqueezePlay 7.7 on Win7(64) laptop Ripping (FLAC) - dbpoweramp, Additional Tagging - mp3tag garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
probedb;683654 Wrote: > Well they have to try and figure out some way of selling pointless and > over-expensive gear to audiophiles for digital stuff don't they ;) Well yes, except that in this case it's nothing to do with spending money on gear. One of the claims made is that a CD ripped at one speed sounds different to the same CD ripped at a different speed, when played back on exactly the same system, even though they verified that the data in the two rips is identical. Given that there are several asynchronous buffers between the hard disk platter and the digital stream delivered to the DAC, this makes precisely zero sense. (Not close to zero - exactly zero). What ARE these guys smoking? -- cliveb Transporter -> ATC SCM100A cliveb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=348 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Their next series is on soundcheck mods and their universal applicability to all network enabled DACs. -- audiomuze *'Linux finally gets a great audio tagger' (http://www.ubuntugeek.com/linux-finally-gets-a-great-audio-tagger.html): 'puddletag' (http://puddletag.sourceforge.net/)* audiomuze's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=33613 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Well they have to try and figure out some way of selling pointless and over-expensive gear to audiophiles for digital stuff don't they ;) -- probedb 'last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/probedb) probedb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7825 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
is them or what hifi that seriusly cliams that a copy of a file sounds different :) and yes ofcourse faster harddrives sounds better -- Mnyb Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4 Misc use: Radio (with battery) iPad 64gB wifi +3g with iPengHD & SqueezePad (in storage SB3, reciever ,controller ) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
TAS has now published three parts of the four part series and things have gone from the ridiculous to the sublime. There are way too many things to enumerate here but if you want to treat yourself to a good laugh and to see just how much harm some clown with spreadsheet program can do by all means try to get a copy of this hilarious series. -- ralphpnj Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -> Snatch -> The Transporter -> Transporter 2 (oops) -> Touch 'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/) ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
to get TAS today I have to vist a specialist store for international magazines they migth have it . Any sage wisdom on ethernet cables ;) My Meridian speakers use cat5 cables for the special MHR link for the audio and controll signals from the processor in one cable to my digital speakers . i just grabbed some cheap cat5 of the shelf at the nearest netonnet ( dirt cheap swedish crap home electronics store ) . i migth miss out on some 3d midrange palpability and blacker blacks ;) But I should get to read the TAS issue first otherwise the tread drifts to much . any one scanning it ? Would not really like to feed them money. -- Mnyb Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4 Misc use: Radio (with battery) iPad 64gB wifi +3g with iPengHD & SqueezePad (in storage SB3, reciever ) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
No no you're all wrong. Don't start with the router. You have to start with a computer with a special audio hard drive and special audio motherboard. And I even think the type of keyboard and mouse you use influences the quality of the audio rip/playback. :) It's sad though that a lot of peaople actually believe this stuff and spend a lot of money on it. -- Hofstede Hofstede's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=29832 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Hmm I migth pick it up on my next xmas vacation :) a long fligth, I think TAS and those small botles can keep me amused. You don't have to try every crazy audiophile tweak yourself , it makes no sense they can usually be dissmissed as implausible on general scientific grounds. the method of trying everything ourself probably made sense 4000 Bc when there where no knowledge base to speak of. Science is a great timesaver for progress :) you dont have to glue feathers on your arms and jump of that cliff, numerous negative results are documented elsewhere. And the constant sigthed testing wo any controll makes for the large amount of false positives as usual. do some one regognise that this way of trying out things actually generate all this bs. just make up some weird tweak anything goes, round up some wideeyeded and gullible audiophiles. some one will naturally " hear the difference " then the roumor mill is on. and it never goes away once a tweak has stuck with the audiophile comunity it is there forever. Great initiative of TAS to cloud the waters rigth now at the begining of high quality computer audio for everyone, the computer or squeezebox or sonos or any other streamer will be every audiophiles source soon. And it's great to see that audiophiles will be missinformed and keept in the dark from day one :) They neutralized the computer treath, what if with some minor tweaks like the rigth drivers asapi wasapi kernel streaming or what it's name today things just worked with just about any computer software and if ripped with eac or dBp you have your perfect rips ? What about if it just works , we cant have that no constant upgrade circus and weird tweaks and bizarre products ;) Any router with tube rectifiers yet ? -- Mnyb Main hifi: Touch + CIA PS +MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Kitchen: Touch + powered Fostex PM0.4 Misc use: Radio (with battery) iPad 64gB wifi +3g with iPengHD & SqueezePad (in storage SB3, reciever ) Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] TAS raises the bar - again!
Just when you thought that the high end audio press could not get any more ridiculous TAS (The Absolute Sound) has taken that leap from the ridiculous to the sublime. Starting with issue #218 (December 2011) TAS began a four part series entitled "Computer Music Audio Quality" co-authored by Charles Zeilig, Ph.D. and Jay Clawson. I have no idea who the authors are or what makes them "experts" on computer music audio quality since no biographical information on the authors is provided. I was going to write this post after reading part one of the series but after reading part two in TAS issue #219 (January 2012) I'm glad I waited. To put things bluntly these gentlemen are completely out of their minds. To go over each and every one of the numerous misconceptions and complete nonsense contained within just the first two parts of the series would make for very long post so just let me hit upon some of the more outrageous claims. The basic premise of the series is that there is a way to measure and improve the digital bit stream being fed by a computer into an external DAC, in other words a way to make the ones more "one" and the zeros more "zero". Of course since Zeilig has a Ph.D. the whole is presented in a very serious matter with detailed descriptions of the methodology and lots of charts, tables and graphs. Wow I'm so damn impressed! Part one of the series basically served has an introduction and it is only with the publishing of part two that one gets to read first hand just how off the wall the authors actually are. In part two the authors do a detailed survey of various playback software, sample rate convertors, CD ripping software, CD burning software and even blank CDRs. Again, has I stated, it's only serious with lots detailed tables and even a convenient "Sound SCore" scale, which kind of reminds me of that famous guitar amp in "This Is Spinal Tap" which plays louder well because it goes to eleven. What makes all this so crazy is that the authors claim that it is not just bit perfect transmission to the DAC which is important but that the various software programs can somehow make the music sound better and not just a little better but measurably better, enough so that a sound Score can be given to each program. Of course the "measurements" are not via any type testing equipment but by the author's golden ears alone. I'd love to go on but to really appreciate how great this stuff is one needs to read the series for oneself. And as an added bonus issue #219 also contains TAS's Product of the Year awards where the $549/meter AudioQuest Diamond USB cable is given "Digital Cable of the Year" honors. I guess this cable also manages to make those pesky one and zeros somehow less pesky. Since this is the audiophile section I fully expect someone to post something along the lines of how can I be so dismissive without having heard what effects the various items in the article actually do have on sound quality and to which I answer because I understand the basic principles of binary computer data and one and zeros are just that: ones and zeros not super ones and zeros. -- ralphpnj Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels -> Snatch -> The Transporter -> Transporter 2 (oops) -> Touch 'Last.fm' (http://www.last.fm/user/jazzfann/) ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=92168 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
