This a follow-up to message #55492. I know there have been talks about converting audio CD's into better quality, may be DVD-Audio. I might have just found a solution.
After reading the article mentioned in msg# 55492, I researched and came across the Creative Soundblaster X-fi Extereme Music soundcard. This is seems to be a rather affordable product compared to many hi-end home stereo DAC's available in market. For the people like me who listen to most of the music on their home computer, X-fi might be the most feasible solution. It cost $129.00, I decided to invest in it and try it out before I could post a message about it. Believe me, this soundcard just rocks, all of a sudden my music came to life, now I can't imagine being without this product. Creative Soundblaster soundcards are the de-facto standard for high quality audio in PC's. They came out with X-fi(Extereme Fidelity) soundcard just this month. This soundcard along with the software it comes with is worth way more than it cost. I believe it has been one of the finest decision I have ever made. X-fi software, besides just playing your low quality(128kbps) in exteme fidelity, allows you to conver your original CD's into 2 upgraded formats: 1. Convert CD from 16bit to 24bit. That is the difference between 2^16 and 2^24. The difference is very noticeable. 2. Convert CD from 16bit to 24bit with surround sound- DVD-audio. I have tried both and the results are just amazing. Creative actually claims that after the conversion to 24bit, the music sounds better than the original CD and I testify to that, they seem to be right. Again, without going into too much detail, this is strictly for audiophiles, who do not want to compromise any quality. If you want to listen to Rahman's music in the highest quality then read on, if you are fine with the 128kbps and care about storage space more than the quality, then you may not read any further. -------------------------------------- My test subject: The Rising-Mangal Pandey Play time: 36:01 (approximate) Conversion formats: 1. 128 kbps 2. 320 kbps 3. X-fi 24bit - 2674 kbps (VBR) 4. X-fi 24bit w/surround 6062(VBR) Storage space occupied: 1. 32.9 MB 2. 82.4 MB 3. 648 MB 4. 1.41 GB Quality: 1. Sounds ok- highs/lows not well defined, mids are louder 2. Sounds better - highs/lows a little better, mids are still loud 3. Sounds real - Well defined highs/mids/lows, can actually differentiate between each instrument, mids are well balanced, the singer's voice is not louder than instruments..this is what you call crystal clear. 4. Sounds surround - Couldn't believe it, usually surround sound from an audio CD on a streo sound like crap, but this is real deal. I remember Vari Vari in theatre and my speakers sounded just like that. Conclusion: X-fi certainly lives up to the expectations and claims made by Creative. And original CD can be upgraded to 24bit and burned right back, so now, the burned CD actually sounds much better than the original CD, unlike the opposite. I was able to burn 648 MB Rising on to a regular CD as Audio files, not MP3. The 1.41 surround has to burned onto a DVD, I have not done that yet. NOTE: On the 24bit burned CD, the overall volume of the music decreases, and this surprised me. I was expecting it to increase, but after some research I found out that lower compression such as 128 kbps takes lesser samples and averages the volume, so real low and high frequencies are not even accounted for, and the everage is louder, focused towards the mids. With more samples and bitrate in 24bit, the extereme low and high frequencies are accounted for, and thus the average is lower, which results in much richer bass, precise definition of different instruments. Well, in conclusion I would like to say that I happen to be an audiophile, and Rahman's music to a certain extent has made me an audiophile, so I do not know how economically and financially feasible this upgrade is to most people, but if you can invest such money, then this is product is definitely worth the buy. Please e-mail me if you have any further questions. Note:Once you upgrade the soundcard, you would have to upgrade to some nice speakers to take the full advantage of the soundcard. So, all together you are looking at close to $200 for both soundcard and spearkers. Here are some links for your satisfaction: 1.Product overview: http://www.creative.com/heartobelieve/ 2.Product review: http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=1792 http://www.cooltechzone.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1751 Sorry for the long post. Regards. --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "kaissiom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I came across this article on the quality of digital music. With the > use of mp3 becoming more and more common, this information becomes > highly relavent. > So, here's the bitter truth: > > --Start-- > > Digitally recorded, produced, and distributed music suffers sonic > degradation at every step. > > 6 WAYS SOUND QUALITY BREAKS DOWN: > > 1. STUDIOs > Home studio software has democratized the recording process - low-end > versions of Cubase and Pro Tools retail for less than $350. Sure, > these apps offer great sound if used properly, but most musicians are > no match for a seasoned engineer who understands why things like mike > placement matter. > > 2. RECORDING MEDIA > Studios used to record onto analog tape, which captures the continuous > sonic stream you hear live. Most of today's digital recordings are > made at 44.1 kHz, meaning the sound is cut into 44,100 slices per > second. That's a narrow slice, but one that can introduce errors > detectable by the human ear. Traditionalists record to reels, then > dump the contents onto computers, but even this may soon end. > > 3. COMPACT DISCS > Sure, CDs have none of the hiss of audiotape or the snap, crackle, and > pop of vinyl. But they are still encoded with 16-bit resolution, even > though 24-bit, with its wider dynamic range, has been available for > years. The bottom line: We're stuck with overcompressed music that > has limited range. DVD-A and SACD offer improved fidelity, but no > one's buying - in 2004, the formats sold only 1.1 million units > combined. > > 4. MP3s > Most iTunes users never fiddle with their encoder settings, which > means they're ripping 1,411-Kbps CD audio into 128-Kbps MP3s - a > shadow of a shadow of the music's original self. Think you're safe > with Apple's proprietary AAC format? It sounds a bit better than MP3 > and uses 30 percent less storage space, but it's not called "lossy > compression" for nothing. > > 5. SOUND CARDS > These devices convert the digital data from audio files into the > analog signals your speakers translate into sound. Unfortunately, the > inside of a PC is a loud place; sound cards pick up noise from the > mechanical whirs, clicks, and hiccups your computer makes - and > deliver that interference right along with the music. > > 6. SPEAKERS > You probably already knew this, but those low-wattage Labtecs you've > got plugged into your laptop suck. How come? While many high-end > speakers use at least three cones to reproduce a wide range of > frequencies, most computer speakers have just one or two. Your iPod's > earbuds are even worse - they don't cancel external noise effectively > and the bass lacks thump. > > --End-- > > After reading this article, I felt bad, since I listen to most of > Rahman on my computer, with the integrated sound card, and the > speakers I got with my Sony Vaio. I researched a bit more and I have > very good news for people who are willing to invest a little over $200 > to upgrade the quality of their music. More to follow in next post... ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Life without art & music? Keep the arts alive today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/iuUuID/dnQLAA/n1hLAA/iyUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic. 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