[Niouke]

Hello all,
 
I just got my first serious DAC, a Fiio X5 III. I've been enjoying the few FLAC files I have, like "White Rabbit" of Georges Benson on my sony XBA-3 IEM's. Then I tested the same music on max quality Spotify, and while the FLAC version is more aired, spacious and detailed in the treble, the difference is not earth shattering to my ears. Are you guys to the point where you can't listen to compressed music?
 
Also Apple markets its 256kbps AAC as lossless, is it any better than the 320kps Vorbis that Spotify offers (for now)? I'm pretty sure its not. What about Tidal?

 

[jgosroc]

I'm not someone with any real credibility in Head-Fi land... but my two cents follow, because it's certainly something that I've thought about as I've been dragged while screaming and throwing my money helplessly to all corners of the earth...
 
I agree fundamentally that it's difficult to really dance with the different quantities of data that is being stripped in a coherently deliberate fashion along the spectrum of commercialised forms of music  that we consume all the time.
 
Hmm, long sentence. I'll see if I can do better.
 
First off, I do my listening on iems almost exclusively - pretty good ones. I'm listening to the Noble K10 at present... but 
 
But, what I've found is that if I segment the chain of playing systems according to their relative impacts on my enjoyment, then I find the level of "lossless" to be the smallest contributor...
 
So I think $ spent on headphones need to be first, then look at the DAC chip. Personally, I find that something the Audioquest Dragonfly Red to nicely "open up the music", whether that when used with the Apple's "lossless" (the difference I can still hear clearly) or with Tidal's high res music (same)...
 
Only, then does the Tidal versus Apple lossless war get considered... last... Because frankly I hear it the least. The thing is I personally use Tidal everyday because they adhere to the audiophile creed of using more data... But can I REALLY tell, as I'm listening to it... in an A/B sense, initially yes sure. But 5 minutes in - then not so much. 
 
Good on you for asking this question though... I wonder whether this thread will be propelled forward or not...?

 

[serman005]

Personally, I have a difficult time telling the difference between different types of lossless and lossy files. Sometimes I wonder if there is something wrong with my hearing because of the above. But anyway, because of this, I, too, expend most of my resources on headphones first. I just think it is the most critical piece in the chain. Second for me is an amp, followed by a dac, third. Then, it's music. Maybe I have it backwards, but that's how it works for me. I am pretty happy with my setup, for whatever reason.

 

[jgosroc]

It's nice to hear a Headphoneous Supremus suggest doubts around the issue of lossy versus lossless. I find that comforting, and it makes me wonder how many of us have been too self-conscious to say, 'yeah, I can't really pick the difference most of the time'.
 
I think in a head-fi context, it's somewhat easier (in a group peer pressure sense) to bag the 'low res crappy sources', then to humbly admit, "hey, actually I can listen to lossy files for hours and not appreciate that I'm not listening to nice hi res FLAC source." Of course, maybe most of us have 'bad hearing'! But if so, then it's strange that we've spontaneously become passionate about a subject like hi-fi. This is one pretty counter-intuitive passion / hobby to pursue while carrying strong doubts about the quality of our own hearing...
 
But it seems common. 
 
By way of example, I really enjoy Brooko's reviews. He's written nearly 140 reviews. Brooko's reviews always include a version of an anti-golden ear disclaimer ("I am not a ‘golden eared listener’. I suffer from mild tinnitus, and at 49, my hearing is less than perfect (it only extends to around 14 kHz nowadays). My usual listening level is around 65-75 dB.")
 
But his reviews are clearly some of the best around. And as for the lack of Golden Ear... One example, (and there are at least 140 of them!) is that Brooko correctly guessed in his early Noble Savant review that Noble were using a 2 BA set up - before it got leaked! (When someone predictably ripping open a pair to have a look). 
 
Anyway, I hope more people speak up, even if this thread does get a bit contentious. I think it's a discussion worth exploring. In seeking the ideal of sound, we're all doing this through the perceptual prism of trying to find our version of the "truth" aren't we?

 

[Niouke]

I appreciate the answers, as @SoundSquare stated in the X5III thread, as audiophiles we are maybe too focused on listening to the sound and forgot about the music along the way. I think he's got a point there that being too analytical is ruining the pleasure of music and the feeling it procures.
 
I smoked on that thought and this morning after a bit of "Macy Gray - Stripped" when my ears were still fresh I put on the dirtiest mp3's I was listening to as a teenager with a tacky EQ setting and had a blast like I didn't have for a long time (Bob Sinclar - Africanism II). I'm pretty sure the quality equipment helped, hopefully

 

[Niouke]

I bought a 24/192 FLAC copy of Stripped and that was a useful waste of money, now I know Maybe one day with a high end headphone I'll be able to tell the difference?

 

[PETEBULL]

  I bought a 24/192 FLAC copy of Stripped and that was a useful waste of money, now I know Maybe one day with a high end headphone I'll be able to tell the difference?

Read these threads by an audioengineer and stop making a fool of yourself
http://www.head-fi.org/t/415361/24bit-vs-16bit-the-myth-exploded
http://www.head-fi.org/t/571259/hi-rez-another-myth-exploded

 

[Niouke]

thank you for the read but watch your language

 

[PETEBULL]

  thank you for the read but watch your language

In Russia we have a law that prohibits offending believers' feelings so actually disregard what I had said.

 

[Niouke]

no hard feelings I figured you were from eastern europe, if you were from UK or USA I would be seriously offended and would have reported you...lol
 
The read was very interresting and fits my listening experience, so as a noob Head-Fier I am very happy!

 

[PETEBULL]

  no hard feelings I figured you were from eastern europe, if you were from UK or USA I would be seriously offended and would have reported you...lol

What? You mean eastern europeans are barbarians, drinking blood, eating hearts, punching each other in the face just for fun and can't hold a civilized conversation?
Well me maybe but not everyone here.

 

[Niouke]

lol 

 

[wink]

If lossless is a can of worms, then it's definitely for the birds.........   

 

[rafo]

lol