best audio files ?

[Kiwi_Skov]

hello.

anyone that know a website or somthing where i can get some of the best recorded songs so i dont have to listen to youtube's quality ?

[BiscuitMassacre]

4 minutes ago, Kiwi_Skov said:

hello.

anyone that know a website or somthing where i can get some of the best recorded songs so i dont have to listen to youtube's quality ?

Spotify Premium

[Kiwi_Skov]

Just now, BiscuitMassacre said:

Spotify Premium

i dont like spotify since i dont really hear a diffrence in most of the song and i think its just uploaded from youtube most of it.

[BiscuitMassacre]

Just now, Kiwi_Skov said:

i dont like spotify since i dont really hear a diffrence in most of the song and i think its just uploaded from youtube most of it.

If you get premium there is a 'high' quality feature. If you really want the best, there are some crazy huge raw files ported from freaking Vinyls. 

 

You can get a trial of Spotify Premium, and if you aren't content, just get the CDs. 

[KaminKevCrew]

1 hour ago, BiscuitMassacre said:

If you really want the best, there are some crazy huge raw files ported from freaking Vinyls. 

Vinyls aren't really the best analog source - tape is, but that's kind of neither here nor there. Why wouldn't you just get actual vinyl and listen to that??? Also, there are even bigger files called DSD that are just ridiculous, but hey, some people swear by it.

1 hour ago, Kiwi_Skov said:

i dont like spotify since i dont really hear a diffrence in most of the song and i think its just uploaded from youtube most of it.

Well, it's not uploaded from Youtube, but whatever floats your boat. Tidal does lossless streaming, and there are sites like HDTracks that sell High-res formats. You'll likely need to upgrade the headphones that you're using to really be able to tell any difference though. 

 

Also, if you decide you want to do DSD, you'll need a special DAC that can actually process DSD stuff.

[Dackzy]

13 minutes ago, KaminKevCrew said:

SNIP

DSD files are huge and there isn't many DSD files compared to FLAC.

 

I loved Tidal, but they layout is a bit weird if you are used to spotify (like I am). Tidal is also a bit too expensive IMO and you need Tidal Hifi to get lossless and that cost about 29$ a month (for me atleast).

Anyways Tidal gets a +1 from me  

[Bouzoo]

5 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

DSD files are huge and there isn't many DSD files compared to FLAC.

 

I loved Tidal, but they layout is a bit weird if you are used to spotify (like I am). Tidal is also a bit too expensive IMO and you need Tidal Hifi to get lossless and that cost about 29$ a month (for me atleast).

Anyways Tidal gets a +1 from me  

On a side note, how is HQ Spotify? Haven't had a chance to try it since it's not available in my country. 

[Dackzy]

10 minutes ago, Bouzoo said:

On a side note, how is HQ Spotify? Haven't had a chance to try it since it's not available in my country. 

320kbps for "premium" and 192kbps for desktop or "high" quality on phone (free) and normal quality is 96kbps.

 

This is why I only use spotify on my phone when I am running around doing things..

[Bouzoo]

1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

320kbps for "premium" and 192kbps for desktop or "high" quality on phone (free) and normal quality is 96kbps.

 

This is why I only use spotify on my phone when I am running around doing things..

I wasn't talking about numbers, but does it really sound like, let's say a 320 kbps .mp3 file? Or is it just marketing?

[Dackzy]

Just now, Bouzoo said:

I wasn't talking about numbers, but does it really sound like, let's say a 320 kbps .mp3 file? Or is it just marketing?

320kbps is a MP3 file

[Bouzoo]

1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

320kbps is a MP3 file

I meant does it really sound like one, or is it more like "I will upload a video on Youtube with 320 kbps sound and it won't sound as good".

[Dackzy]

Just now, Bouzoo said:

I meant does it really sound like one, or is it more like "I will upload a video on Youtube with 320 kbps sound and it won't sound as good".

yeah it sounds like a MP3, youtube has shit audio compression, it is some of the worst I have ever heard or seen.

[spwath]

1 hour ago, KaminKevCrew said:

Vinyls aren't really the best analog source - tape is, but that's kind of neither here nor there. Why wouldn't you just get actual vinyl and listen to that??? Also, there are even bigger files called DSD that are just ridiculous, but hey, some people swear by it.

Well, it's not uploaded from Youtube, but whatever floats your boat. Tidal does lossless streaming, and there are sites like HDTracks that sell High-res formats. You'll likely need to upgrade the headphones that you're using to really be able to tell any difference though. 

 

Also, if you decide you want to do DSD, you'll need a special DAC that can actually process DSD stuff.

I might need to listen to some dsd, pretty sure my DAC (go450) can do dsd.

[Stagea]

2 hours ago, Dackzy said:

DSD files are huge and there isn't many DSD files compared to FLAC.

 

I loved Tidal, but they layout is a bit weird if you are used to spotify (like I am). Tidal is also a bit too expensive IMO and you need Tidal Hifi to get lossless and that cost about 29$ a month (for me atleast).

Anyways Tidal gets a +1 from me  

DXD and DSD256 are very big, but they tend to be the formats used for recent masters (to preserve the source quality as much as possible while the data is being manipulated). That much resolution is probably not needed for reproduction in most cases, but it does make for one less stage of lossy conversion/transfer. 

 

Increasing format resolutions are being supported by studio gear (DSD512, DSD1024, DSD2048, DXD 768, 1536/32, etc.). I'm sure they'd make it to the consumer end once feasible. As with anything, there are diminishing returns.

[Dackzy]

1 minute ago, Stagea said:

DXD and DSD256 are very big, but they tend to be the formats used for recent masters (to preserve the source quality as much as possible while the data is being manipulated). That much resolution is probably not needed for reproduction in most cases, but it does make for one less stage of lossy conversion/transfer. 

 

Increasing format resolutions are being supported by studio gear (DSD512, DSD1024, DSD2048, DXD 768, 1536/32, etc.). I'm sure they'd make it to the consumer end once feasible. As with anything, there are diminishing returns.

That is very true, but TBH FLAC is more than enough for the consumer side, a lot of people cannot even tell the difference between a well mastered MP3 and a FLAC file...

Also the files are big, FLAC is already bad enough if you have a lot of music.

[Stagea]

4 hours ago, Kiwi_Skov said:

hello.

anyone that know a website or somthing where i can get some of the best recorded songs so i dont have to listen to youtube's quality ?

http://www.2l.no/ has some of the best recordings, imo. They don't have mainstream music, however. 

[Stagea]

2 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

That is very true, but TBH FLAC is more than enough for the consumer side, a lot of people cannot even tell the difference between a well mastered MP3 and a FLAC file...

Also the files are big, FLAC is already bad enough if you have a lot of music.

I completely agree. How the track was recorded and mastered also matters far more than the media format in most cases. A well-made 192kHz AAC will provide a better experience than the hottest 1536/32 whiz-bang when the track on the latter is fundamentally bad.

 

As for FLAC resolution, high res ones can be very good (with a proportional increase in file size of course). Aside from the additional data in the stream, some DACs do perform better when running at higher sample rates and bit depths.

[Dackzy]

4 minutes ago, Stagea said:

I completely agree. How the track was recorded and mastered also matters far more than the media format in most cases. A well-made 192kHz AAC will provide a better experience than the hottest 1536/32 whiz-bang when the track on the latter is fundamentally bad.

 

As for FLAC resolution, high res ones can be very good (with a proportional increase in file size of course). Aside from the additional data in the stream, some DACs do perform better when running at higher sample rates and bit depths.

I agree.

I just looked up what a DSD DAC would cost, but a (DSD) DAC and amp combo showed up and damn it is cheap, 258$ here in Denmark, so even cheaper in the US, but we would need to get a lot more DSD files and DXD files to get it more mainstream like FLAC is.

 

[KaminKevCrew]

3 hours ago, Dackzy said:

DSD files are huge and there isn't many DSD files compared to FLAC.

 

I loved Tidal, but they layout is a bit weird if you are used to spotify (like I am). Tidal is also a bit too expensive IMO and you need Tidal Hifi to get lossless and that cost about 29$ a month (for me atleast).

Anyways Tidal gets a +1 from me  

Yeah. Tidal hifi in the US is $19.99/month. I'm also used to Spotify, so Tidal can be a bit of a PITA to get used to, but holy crap, some of the David Chesky recordings on there sound AMAZING on the HD600.

2 hours ago, spwath said:

I might need to listen to some dsd, pretty sure my DAC (go450) can do dsd.

Yeah, I should probably get a DAC so I can at least try it out, but I'm pretty happy with my Emotiva Stealth for the time being, and  that can't do DSD.

16 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

I agree.

I just looked up what a DSD DAC would cost, but a (DSD) DAC and amp combo showed up and damn it is cheap, 258$ here in Denmark, so even cheaper in the US, but we would need to get a lot more DSD files and DXD files to get it more mainstream like FLAC is.

 

I mean, the Micca Origen+ can do DSD64, if you want something really cheap just to try it.

[Dackzy]

Just now, KaminKevCrew said:

I mean, the Micca Origen+ can do DSD64, if you want something really cheap just to try it.

really? I have never really looked into DSD support, since I find it worthless for now. Maybe it is worth something in 10 years...

[KaminKevCrew]

1 minute ago, Dackzy said:

really? I have never really looked into DSD support, since I find it worthless for now. Maybe it is worth something in 10 years...

Well, according to the one that I had it could do it. I never sought out any DSD files to give it a go though.

[Dackzy]

1 minute ago, KaminKevCrew said:

Well, according to the one that I had it could do it. I never sought out any DSD files to give it a go though.

but does it really matter? There are so few DSD files anyways.

[KaminKevCrew]

Just now, Dackzy said:

but does it really matter? There are so few DSD files anyways.

That's entirely for you to decide!

 

Right now, I'm running a laptop exclusively, since I wasn't about to take my 75lb tower across 3000 miles of the US just so I could have it at school, so I'm running a little short on disk space as it is.

[Stagea]

On 11/19/2016 at 1:27 AM, Dackzy said:

but does it really matter? There are so few DSD files anyways.

There's a huge divide between high res PCM and DSD distribution because of the difference in how they work. The truth is that what was used in the studio normally dictates which would be a better transfer. Some tracks are just superior in PCM over DSD at a similar bitrate, while others are the opposite. I prefer PCM over DSD, but I can't dictate what studios will use so I have to accept that certain DSD files are worth more than their PCM equivalents.

 

To complicate things further, some playback equipment behave better with DSD while others show off their lower noise floor (especially at higher frequencies) with PCM. 

[Dackzy]

2 minutes ago, Stagea said:

There's a huge divide between high res PCM and DSD distribution because of the difference in how they work. The truth is that what was used in the studio normally dictates which would be a better transfer. Some tracks are just superior in PCM over DSD at a similar bitrate, while others are the opposite. I prefer PCM over DSD, but I can't dictate what studios will use so I have to accept that certain DSD files are worth more than their PCM equivalents.

where do you even find PCM audio files? Also what kind of music do you listen to? 99% of what I listen to is 24bit FLAC at best, the last one procent can be found in DSD.