2. misc-audio
  3. 190074-178702

Why do Wav and Flac Files Sound Different?

This article is from 2016, so outfits like JRiver may have developed workarounds for the metadata/sound quality issues sussed out below. Inquiring minds want to know.

Why Do WAV And FLAC Files Sound Different?

"Based on these results, we attempted to pinpoint which section of the metadata might be responsible. Since the cover art file associated with the metadata is the largest contributor to the metadata header size, we began by examining the effect of deleting cover art prior to the WAV-to-FLAC-to-WAV conversion protocol. This proved fortuitous, as our first suspicion proved correct."

bolong

Showing 1 response by cundare2

cundare2
296 posts
 

@erik_squires

Maybe I’m reading something into your last message, but can you explain what HDCP has to do with FLAC v. WAV?

I’m not trying to hassle you, this is an honest question posed to an obviously knowledgable colleague.

FWIW, this is a topic long of interest to me. I wrote some lengthy articles about digital copy-protection the topic for mainstream tech publications back when the first round of DVD CP standards emerged, and at the time, HDCP’s only application for audio had to do with DVD-Audio media (and then hirez SACD DSD-encoded stereo).

I understand that today HDCP is incorporated into HDMI/DVI/etc.-transported signals, but that would not distinguished between FLAC & uncompressed PCM content.

Btw, +1 re: your comments about metadata being processed independently of digital-audio content. Jeez. Yes, nothing’s impossible, but Sagan’s Law ("extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof") applies here.

D

More to discover