I have always preferred great preamps in my systems. i have heard the DCS stuff and generally preferred with preamp...not sure why...maybe the volume section not as good? Do not fully understand.
How Much Hi-Res do you actually listen to/own compared to Redbook?
- Thread starter LL21
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I have always preferred great preamps in my systems. i have heard the DCS stuff and generally preferred with preamp...not sure why...maybe the volume section not as good? Do not fully understand.
I was having a chat with a dealer in Singapore the other day who happened to be quite knowledgeable since he's an electrical engineer. He said that a preamp is specifically built to gather, process and redistribute the signal to the amp. So there's no way a DAC or a CD player with just an internal volume control can ever take the place of a preamp. Makes sense...
That does make sense...that said, i could imagine the volume attenuators in something like the Meridian 808.3 is exceptionally good. Look forward to hearing your views on this!
Thanks Lloyd, I've already read it a couple of days ago. In fact, I was going to post this as well but I thought it would be information overload if I posted 2 reviewsBtw, I can't seem to figure out how the scoring system work.
I can't answer your question yet as I'm still waiting for my baby to arrive! Actually, I got a bit confused about not using the built-in preamp but going direct into the amp using the digital volume control. That would be like the Puccini and the Berkeley Alpha DAC. There are some that posit that this internal volume thingy can never match or take the place of a very good preamp.
I also 'tend' (big tend) to agree;
there are much better volume control's implementation out there (analog, and digital).
* Thanx for the links (reviews) folks! :b
I'm scratching my head as to why there needs to be a volume attenuator when Meridian has taken the trouble to include a decent full-featured preamp.
I didn't properly answer OP's title thread. I hardly listen to hi-res and don't really have a desire to do so. Because I don't expect my favorite music and songs from Earth, Wind & Fire, Wham!, Kajagoogoo, Spandau Ballet, David Bowie, Prince, Duran Duran, Stylistics, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, MJ, Marvin Gaye, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Carpenters, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Stevie Wonder, Kool & The Gang, "007" movie theme songs, Bryan Adams, Journey, Paul Young, Sade, James Ingram, Air Supply, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Dire Straits, etc etc to be available as hi-res downloads anytime soon or even years from now.
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Actually a whole bunch of that stuff is available right now as hi-res downloads, SACD, Bluray and/or DVD-A.
And the technology exists to make your own high-res digital copy of any title that makes you happy.
Hi JTein,
It is interesting to see that much of this has been Remastered onto 16/44 format...and in some caes is quite good. Specifically from memory, i am pretty sure i have seen the following (from your list) remastered: Wham! (Best of George Michael), Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Marvin Gaye, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Carpenters, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Stevie Wonder, Bryan Adams, Journey, Air Supply, Chicago, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Dire Straits,
I checked the websites of HDtracks and HRx Reference Recordings....nothing much really. Bluray and DVD-A is out so that leaves SACD but I don't find SACD that much better than Redbook, to my ears.
That might be the way to go. But it means I'll still keep buying more CDs to upload to my PC.
Yes, I have remastered versions of all the above in 16/44. But I thought this doesn't fall under hi-res?
Why are Bluray and DVD-A out? If you are ripping CD's to your computer, why not Bluray or
DVD-A?? Why would anyone want Bruce Springsteen in hi-res, his records are among the most poorly recorded in the industry in any format. Most of Chicago's catalog is available in one hi-res format or another with the rest apparently coming, same with Dire Straits. I've never heard anything in any format by some of the artists on your list (Lionel Richie, Air Supply, Wham).
Yeah, who's into the good stuff here (Classical, Jazz, World, and all that Blues ...)? :b
Me, that's who, and I want the best recording formats there is for the music I luv.
Like some people are willing to pay over $100 for an LP, I'm willing to pay $40 for an SACD.
If I luv what I hear with my heart, I'll make the extra effort to get it in the best clothing possible.
Me, that's who, and I want the best recording formats there is for the music I luv.
Like some people are willing to pay over $100 for an LP, I'm willing to pay $40 for an SACD.
If I luv what I hear with my heart, I'll make the extra effort to get it in the best clothing possible.
Hi JTein, Yes, that was sort of my point...i have noticed personally that over the last 24 months, an increasing number of great albums are being remastered...onto 16/44. MFSL, FIM, Sony K2, XRCD, Verve, Analogue Productions, RVG...so those with 16/44 are really benefiting from just enjoying better quality music simply thru 'investing' in these remasters.
i am NOT saying no need for hi-res...simply that many of us have recognized much of the quality improvement in sound comes during the remastering process...and thus, many albums in 16/44 can still have great improvements in quality. (ie, possibly moving in favor of 16/44 vs hi-res, a bit given that many of have invested in 16/44...both CDs and technology).
I agree with this. There are many examples of properly (re)mastered 16/44 albums that sound better than their 24/96 issues.
We're still in the early stages of the commercialisation of hi-res music. Just like the CD, people will eventually get the hang of it, and start remastering the albums for hi-res properly. As it is, a hi-res version is no guarantee of better sound, specially when a remaster from a decent source (MFSL, etc.) is available.
We're still in the early stages of the commercialisation of hi-res music. Just like the CD, people will eventually get the hang of it, and start remastering the albums for hi-res properly. As it is, a hi-res version is no guarantee of better sound, specially when a remaster from a decent source (MFSL, etc.) is available.
Why are Bluray and DVD-A out? If you are ripping CD's to your computer, why not Bluray or DVD-A?? Why would anyone want Bruce Springsteen in hi-res, his records are among the most poorly recorded in the industry in any format. Most of Chicago's catalog is available in one hi-res format or another with the rest apparently coming, same with Dire Straits. I've never heard anything in any format by some of the artists on your list (Lionel Richie, Air Supply, Wham).
If I'm ripping CDs to my computer, it would make more sense to invest in a DAC rather than buying bluray or DVD-A discs so that I can transfer the songs onto them. On top of that, I'll have to invest in a player that plays Bluray or DVD-A.
I'm not too sure what your last sentence means. Do you mean you've never heard these artistes even on CD?
What I mean (and Tom also mentioned) is that simple relatively inexpensive hardware (computer drives) and software exist to rip hires Bluray and DVD-A audio to your computer. SACD is a little more complicated, necessitating a PS3 and some more expensive software.
To my knowledge, I have never heard Lionel Richie, Wham or Air Supply. I like rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass and classical, and I doubt they fit anywhere there.
To my knowledge, I have never heard Lionel Richie, Wham or Air Supply. I like rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass and classical, and I doubt they fit anywhere there.
What I mean (and Tom also mentioned) is that simple relatively inexpensive hardware (computer drives) and software exist to rip hires Bluray and DVD-A audio to your computer. SACD is a little more complicated, necessitating a PS3 and some more expensive software.
To my knowledge, I have never heard Lionel Richie, Wham or Air Supply. I like rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass and classical, and I doubt they fit anywhere there.
Ok, now I understand you. Won't work for me simply because I'm the sort of person who just wants to plonk a CD into the CD tray and press the 'play' button.
Wowsers....Lionel Richie is one of those artistes you must hear, not because of the sound quality, but his music. Wham and Air Supply are a little corny and syruppy. I have a big collection of serious jazz and classical music as well. The artistes I had listed above reflect the fun and pop side of my musical taste. As you can see from the list, I belong to the 70s and 80s music era. They don't write songs like that anymore these days.
I suppose here's the next question...how will most of us answer this question in 3-5 years? Will this be an SACD thing which had early promise and never went anywhere near mainstream...or will we all be 70% hi-res on our digital libraries? Many SOTA manufacturers are coming out with SOTA transport/16/44 equipment...either that's demand driven or perhaps they see something on the hi-res front which focuses them back on redbook.
Yes, many of these have hi-res capability...but many also focus on the redbook quality.
Yes, many of these have hi-res capability...but many also focus on the redbook quality.
I think if anything this might suggest more hi-res downloads (as opposed to physical product). The overwhelming amount of physical product out there is CD, which already exists. If the future is downloads, you want to focus your physical playback on what is likely to exist.
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