What music formats do you listen to via your A/V receiver?

[2channel lover]

I think too much thought is put into what format the recording is in and not whether or not the mix and engineering is good.

I've got multiple recordings of Dark Side of the Moon and some sound good, others do not. My DVD-A isn't very good at all. Lots of hiss. My DTS recording sounds good, but can sound a bit over-boosted in the bass. My regular CD sounds great. Probably the best recording I have for that album.

I also have a Led Zeppelin album on 8 track (yup) and CD. They sound very different and it's not the medium that makes them sound different. The 8 track doesn't have some of the fade outs that the CD does. It's been too long since I've listened to the 8 track, but there were other differences.

I would tend to agree, if a recording is good, it's good in any format...if it's bad, it will be bad in any format.

Where I might differ is the quality (engineering, etc)... it does matter, but not something I labor with. If I like the music but the recording is poor I might not play it as often, but I would still play it.

DSOTM...I had the LP, and I now have the CD, and MC-SACD...with the sound effects in the recording, if an album was ever destined to be in multichannel, this is it...easily the best version of that classic imo.

 

[Pogre]

I would tend to agree, if a recording is good, it's good in any format...if it's bad, it will be bad in any format.

Where I might differ is the quality (engineering, etc)... it does matter, but not something I labor with. If I like the music but the recording is poor I might not play it as often, but I would still play it.

DSOTM...I had the LP, and I now have the CD, and MC-SACD...with the sound effects in the recording, if an album was ever destined to be in multichannel, this is it...easily the best version of that classic imo.

So, will any 4k blu ray player also play sacd's (such as my Xbox 1s)? And if so, is this the version of DSOTM I'd want?

 

[Andrein]

Just subscribed for Tidal hifi. In general satisfied with quality. Run it on my Oppo 103d though yamaha 1070 also supports tidal. Like Oppo and tidal integration and mobile app.

 

[3db]

On the main system I listen to vinyl, cassette, CD, and MP3 stored on a USB drive. Same goes for my secondary system with the exception of vinyl.

 

[2channel lover]

So, will any 4k blu ray player also play sacd's (such as my Xbox 1s)? And if so, is this the version of DSOTM I'd want?

IDTS...I know some versions of the PS3 could play SACDs, and later ones don't so I'm saying not all 4k blu ray players will play SACDs....check it, maybe you got lucky.

DSOTM...the multichannel sacd imo is the best version for the surround effects...I think it's out of print not, but they've available used.

 

[Pogre]

IDTS...I know some versions of the PS3 could play SACDs, and later ones don't so I'm saying not all 4k blu ray players will play SACDs....check it, maybe you got lucky.

DSOTM...the multichannel sacd imo is the best version for the surround effects...I think it's out of print not, but they've available used.

Is that the one I linked?

I'll practice my goo-fu and see what I find about the xbox.

 

[2channel lover]

Is that the one I linked?

I'll practice my goo-fu and see what I find about the xbox.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/10539/Pink_Floyd-Dark_Side_of_the_Moon-Hybrid_Multichannel_SACD

This is it.

 

[lovinthehd]

So, will any 4k blu ray player also play sacd's (such as my Xbox 1s)? And if so, is this the version of DSOTM I'd want?

Yep, I bought mine used a year ago via Amazon (and paid 19.97 ! ).

 

[Pogre]

http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/10539/Pink_Floyd-Dark_Side_of_the_Moon-Hybrid_Multichannel_SACD

This is it.

It's unavailable there, but looks and is described the same in the link I posted. I found a slightly better deal on ebay and the seller is listed within 25m of my zip code.

 

[Pogre]

Yep, I bought mine used a year ago via Amazon (and paid 19.97 ! ).

So would this be a good one to jump on at ~$20?

 

[lovinthehd]

LOL just messaged you about such....

 

[2channel lover]

Yep, I bought mine used a year ago via Amazon (and paid 19.97 ! ).

I got it there used as well...$23+

 

[2channel lover]

It's unavailable there, but looks and is described the same in the link I posted. I found a slightly better deal on ebay and the seller is listed within 25m of my zip code.

No, they have been out for a while....just trying to show the 5.1 version...the casing is the same, but it should indicate multichannel.

 

[sterling shoote]

While some Blu-ray players will play multi-channel SACD from HDMI output, this would still be a problem if you have a legacy receiver or pre/pro with no HDMI input. In such a case you would need an OPPO player. These players have multi-channel RCA output in addition to HDMI.

 

[2channel lover]

While some Blu-ray players will play multi-channel SACD from HDMI output, this would still be a problem if you have a legacy receiver or pre/pro with no HDMI input. In such a case you would need an OPPO player. These players have multi-channel RCA output in addition to HDMI.

I have the 205...love it. That said, I have heard the 203 in a store setting...nice unit also in a value oriented price slot. We're still awaiting the AH review on the 203/205.

The other universal player I considered was the Cambridge CXU...not a 4k unit, but heralded as a great audio source, offering dedicated 2 ch, and 7.1 analog /hdmi...Wolfson DACs vs ESS.

 

[Roen]

I am buying my first AV receiver and I am considering spending up to $1,500.00 for it. My music library consists of MP3s and CDs.

1. Irrespective of the receiver I choose or the speakers I buy, what is the optimal source format of music to take full advantage of the listening experience that my system will be able to provide?

2. Is high res audio considered to be largely legitimate or gimmicky? I ask because I've read claims that there is added value to it over other formats, but I've also read that there isn't any meaningful differences or differences at all...and that this is due to our ears' listening limitations and that you can't improve the sound quality of a recording beyond the fidelity of the original recording. I also noticed some receiver have the high res audio sticker, and if there is clear beneficial value to this format, that would play a role in the receiver I choose.

256 VBR AAC, 320 CBR MP3, 320 VBR AAC, ALAC, FLAC, DSF, DFF, WAV

 

[bommai]

So, will any 4k blu ray player also play sacd's (such as my Xbox 1s)? And if so, is this the version of DSOTM I'd want?

Actually only the oppo and Sony UHD players can play UHD bluray and sacds in addition to dvds and cds and DVD-Audio. I have the Sony x800 and love it.


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[MrBoat]

They've been at the tipping point with audio playback quality for more than a couple decades, to where the only next obvious step is to sound better than the artists capabilities. Whether it be a live venue, a top notch studio, or if they were to sit at your bedside and sing you a lullaby.

There is already plenty with what's known to knock one's socks off if they would just listen.

I often read about these quests for the holy audio grail, most often while I have music playing. I close my eyes and it occurs to me that one could drive themselves perpetually crazy after improvements that mostly reside the ears/mind of a computer.

The last real profound improvement to my ears was from vinyl to CD. I still can't imagine being able to decipher anything beyond that. It seems it would have to be something that was implanted in our brains, for us being the weak link in what's left.

 

[3rdeye]

I think too much thought is put into what format the recording is in and not whether or not the mix and engineering is good.

I've got multiple recordings of Dark Side of the Moon and some sound good, others do not. My DVD-A isn't very good at all. Lots of hiss. My DTS recording sounds good, but can sound a bit over-boosted in the bass. My regular CD sounds great. Probably the best recording I have for that album.

I also have a Led Zeppelin album on 8 track (yup) and CD. They sound very different and it's not the medium that makes them sound different. The 8 track doesn't have some of the fade outs that the CD does. It's been too long since I've listened to the 8 track, but there were other differences.

I appreciate your response. Unless there is something fundamentally I misunderstand about music, I presumed that the quality of the mixing and engineering of music isn't something that a consumer can shop based on - if there is a way for consumers to know, I for sure don't I know how to acquire that information and use it to improve my purchasing habits.

The conclusion I drew (which I admit may be flawed) was that the mixing and engineering is what it is. But the quality in which we experience their work will vary...and that this is squarely tied to the format in which we choose to consume the music...which has its inherent benefits and flaws over other formats. Am I off base here?

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[Blue Dude]

There really isn't a definitive One True Format, or One Format To Rule Them All. Even the sample rate/bit depth isn't much of a factor. Mastering differences account for the vast majority of any audible differences between lossless digital formats. Anything CD quality or better will convey the artist's intent more or less flawlessly within the limits of human detection. The delivery method or container type just doesn't matter much, or at all really. A WAV file, a CD, a lossless hi-res file, or a FLAC of the same material from the same master will sound the same to you if played over competently designed equipment. Your room and especially your speakers will affect your music far more than any trivial differences in format, or even product differences in your receiver, prepro, or transport. The signal chain from source to just before the amp is, for practical purposes, flawless, even for budget equipment. You pay for better speakers, better amps, the number of amps, room correction, network features, etc., but the basic signal chain is just about as good as it's going to get, regardless of price. So don't worry about it, and enjoy!