Apple announces lossless Apple Music is coming in June at no added cost
- Thread starter pauldmps
- Start date
Told you guys...all these spatial/ 360 degree audio etc. are rubbish. But it's not only Apple, all lossless streaming services suck compared even to Redbook CD FLAC rips.
I've compared many, 24/48 streaming sounds same or worse compared to 16/44.1 normal rips.
Moreover Android downsamples everything with a crappy decoder. USB Player Pro bypasses it, but it's not that great either.
Only android high end DAPs do something magical at both software and hardware level.
Iphones/ ipads at least can send a clean signal upto 24/96 with the cheap Apple dongle.
I've checked with pretty good gears and can confirm Apple lossless ( upto 24/48 not high res) sounds much better with ipad/ iphone as source compared to Android. But the sound is same (or worse in some cases) as 16/44.1 FLAC rips.
It can be my hardware also, but that's unlikely as I'm using everything wired and the observations are same with Macs too.
I've compared many, 24/48 streaming sounds same or worse compared to 16/44.1 normal rips.
Moreover Android downsamples everything with a crappy decoder. USB Player Pro bypasses it, but it's not that great either.
Only android high end DAPs do something magical at both software and hardware level.
Iphones/ ipads at least can send a clean signal upto 24/96 with the cheap Apple dongle.
I've checked with pretty good gears and can confirm Apple lossless ( upto 24/48 not high res) sounds much better with ipad/ iphone as source compared to Android. But the sound is same (or worse in some cases) as 16/44.1 FLAC rips.
It can be my hardware also, but that's unlikely as I'm using everything wired and the observations are same with Macs too.
Synth-Pop
Guide
I agree 1000% , these services sucks and are not worth spending much. I've my own CD's Ripped in FLACs and sold about 1000-1200 CD's & I 'm still left with 250-300CDs, 80-100 LPs and about 150-200 audio cassettes.
Digitization source is most important, I've observed 96 khz sounding poor than 48Khz. I suspect some streaming services converted the standard 16/44.1 to 24 bit /44 or 48Khz just for boosting sales.
Same is the scenario with the cinema halls , we've got some good movie theaters loaded with highend features like Dolby Atmos , cinema surround and all blah blah marketing tech words.
These theaters provide excellent detailed sound and surround effects but lacks that punch and thump of the late 80s and 90s theater sound.
Digitization source is most important, I've observed 96 khz sounding poor than 48Khz. I suspect some streaming services converted the standard 16/44.1 to 24 bit /44 or 48Khz just for boosting sales.
Same is the scenario with the cinema halls , we've got some good movie theaters loaded with highend features like Dolby Atmos , cinema surround and all blah blah marketing tech words.
These theaters provide excellent detailed sound and surround effects but lacks that punch and thump of the late 80s and 90s theater sound.
What is your listening setup? I could make out a difference even with Tidal Hifi (which easily gets trumped by CD Flacs/WMA)
This. All we have got now are glorified crappy home theaters in the name of cinema halls. I recall Michael Keaton's Batman at Chanakya in Delhi and that remains my most immersive cinematic experience in terms of both audio and video. Hell, even the Hindi version of Independence Day at Regal was a revelation compared to the shitty multiplex experience.
The closest you can get is an Imax. Better to pop a 4k Atmos at home and enjoy with your HT setup.
Sorry for the off-topic rant.
Let's just say, all the desktop setups can drive 600 ohm DT880 easily.
Monolith 124459
Topping A90/ D90 stack
Sprout 100 (for speakers, not used all that much now, but it has a pretty good headphone out too)
A completely insane and stupidly expensive Woo Audio tube set up.
And few more that aren't used all that much (including a vintage Cambridge Audio P40)
Oh yes, MOTU M2 interface also has good headphone amp, but presently I'm using Apollo Twin as interface.
I sincerely hope these setups are good enough for high res audio.
Not going to list headphones..it's a stupid collection.
Did you rip your own CDs? Downloaded FLAC from torrents are often of very poor quality.
My audio collection is very limited. Around 100 CDs only, and all of them some MUCH better than Tidal/ Apple high res.
In my 25 year of audiophilia journey, I'm certain of only one thing...you can't trust even private trackers for quality ( even if the disc image is available)
99.9% of pirated music lacks quality, same with streaming services.
Nitendra is a true smart audiophile, he has the exact same opinion. You want quality music, you need to buy original CDs.
Some SACD and DVD audios are excellent too ( like Metallica's Black album, but can't say the same about Master of Puppets)
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superczar
Juggernaut
On headphones, its hit or miss..
some tracks sound better, some worse.
However it works very well on an actual ATMOS setup.. much better than I had thought
Synth-Pop
Guide
I do ripped my own CD's but I've pirated copies for some CD's which I can't find. Including everything all my rips and purchased or pirated downloads collection is approx. 1350GB. (Includes multiple copies and rips of some albums)
Where is that thread ? what you've done in lockdown period.
I've selected the best copies and ignored most of the albums which I don't listen very often. Reduced this complete collection to 600GB but still can't fit on a 500 GB MicroSD card and 1TB card is still expensive and not supported by many devices.
I still 've 2 copies as backup of all content
.Pirated music lacks quality I agree but not always, I've listened to some hindi 320kbps mp3s which sounded way better than poorly pressed CD's from rough vinyls.
I've spent more on these CDs LPs than buying audio gears. Yes, may not be a audiophile but getting smarter. I 've digital copies but as a fan owing CD's LPs is a different feeling.
nick.knack91011
Explorer
I do ripped my own CD's but I've pirated copies for some CD's which I can't find. Including everything all my rips and purchased or pirated downloads collection is approx. 1350GB. (Includes multiple copies and rips of some albums)
Where is that thread ? what you've done in lockdown period.
I've selected the best copies and ignored most of the albums which I don't listen very often. Reduced this complete collection to 600GB but still can't fit on a 500 GB MicroSD card and 1TB card is still expensive and not supported by many devices.
I still 've 2 copies as backup of all content
Pirated music lacks quality I agree but not always, I've listened to some hindi 320kbps mp3s which sounded way better than poorly pressed CD's from rough vinyls.
I've spent more on these CDs LPs than buying audio gears. Yes, may not be a audiophile but getting smarter. I 've digital copies but as a fan owing CD's LPs is a different feeling.
Interesting ! Sorry off topic but Man I have been able to find most of english music I wanted in cds and been able to RIP but Hindi music Cds I find it harder to find for some reason so all my english music is flac and hindi is mostly 256 or 320 kbps esp older songs , not sure how to change that ugh .
rdst_1
Innovator
It's slight OT, but BWTorrents are open for registration right now. Have lots of FLAC Hindi stuff over there and all is freeleech for now. I have been downloading like crazy since I joined yesterday.
Synth-Pop
Guide
Hindi CD's are gone bro. It's difficult to find latest releases but actually I don't need CD's for stupid songs releasing now a days. What a shame we can't buy and struggle for a 10 year old release.
Commendable how Americans and Europeans preserved their media. As I remember last time I purchased about 60-80 hindi CD's was 2010-11 from flipkart , then it's end game. you may still find some CDs but not those which you are looking for.
See I'm selling @ olx, got these 3 CD's for 50$ each and people on olx offer 500 Rs. each.
https://www.olx.in/item/hindi-audio...-selection-mint-import-edition-iid-1578605348
can checkout my other ads too for more CDs.
Not a spam or promotional link, I am the owner of this olx thread, mods feel free to edit & notify me if it's something against the forum rules.
It's not the same BWT as it was earlier, quality of pirates also degraded over time, No more DDR, VMR, DUS ICTV and all those.
If you can't find something and looking for something specific , do PM me may be I've it and can upload for you. Now let's not make it a torrent forum.
nick.knack91011
Explorer
Thats exactly my problem , tried finding bu cant for most part really ! Esp some Indipop / movie gems popular in 2000s. Old Kishore Rafi stuff atleast is findable on net
Hmm yeah anyway lets not derail this thread anymore ! maybe we can have a diff thread for hindi music thing favorites / suggestions plus where can we get it and I also mean buy it not just torrent !
Synth-Pop
Guide
yes agreed. let's not spoil this Apple lovers thread.
Just a tip * if you like old retro kishore, manna de, etc. buy CD compilations from Universal music and Sony music. just avoid Saregama music.
rdst_1
Innovator
Not looking for anything particular. Just downloading stuff I can get my hands on. I have a pretty small Hindi CD collection myself but they have been used and played and I have had trouble ripping from them. Next time I go to Chandigarh, I'll visit my Dad's friend who is a big music distributor. Will ask him what's the CD scene in India these days as he still runs a big music store.
This is how apple music app works on android... It crawls and crashes
In songs as well it buffers... While trying to load library it buffers for minutes! Imagine any other streaming app doing that...No its not my connection... Just adding a screenshot of my connection speed as well
In songs as well it buffers... While trying to load library it buffers for minutes! Imagine any other streaming app doing that...No its not my connection... Just adding a screenshot of my connection speed as well
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Just for experiment sake, if you can try listening to different source on any (even entry level) speakers, instead of headphones. I think you might feel the quality difference.
And I meant, that even basic CD Flacs/WMA (of my own CDs) trumps Tidal HI-Def/Masters streaming service.
Yes, I tried with NFMs, and you're right.
No, it's even worse in speakers. They possibly are using some sort of mastering software to the source and streaming the output.
Don't know about what exactly Tidal is trying to do, but they really messed up some nicely mastered albums trying to upscale ( not going to MQA, as didn't understand the basics of it, but we all know overall sound changes even if we cut out inaudible frequencies) Native 24/48 is perfectly fine for most people ( even 24/44.1 for that matter)
Another weird thing is trying to split normal stereo master BUS into multi channel for spatial audio ( still acceptable for music recorded in Pro Tools) at least in theory they can be panned differently with 7.1 plugins ( if they have access to the project files)
But trying the same with master tapes is ridiculous!!
Don't know about what exactly Tidal is trying to do, but they really messed up some nicely mastered albums trying to upscale ( not going to MQA, as didn't understand the basics of it, but we all know overall sound changes even if we cut out inaudible frequencies) Native 24/48 is perfectly fine for most people ( even 24/44.1 for that matter)
Another weird thing is trying to split normal stereo master BUS into multi channel for spatial audio ( still acceptable for music recorded in Pro Tools) at least in theory they can be panned differently with 7.1 plugins ( if they have access to the project files)
But trying the same with master tapes is ridiculous!!