Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs?

The thing that most people miss is the importance of the transport vs a regular CD player with DAC included. Even a budget CD transport like the Audiolab 6000 + a tube based DAC like the LAB12 DAC1 (non oversampling) should be an eye opener to anyone that can actually hear these changes. 

@lalitk maybe you’re someone who buys the sales pitch that you’re sold instead of someone who knows what they’re doing, but I’m willing to give you a chance

Go ahead and define what is "high definition" audio

Then please explain why music mastered at 96K is superior to music mastered at 44.1

And then explain how up sampling improves a master file

Extra Credit: why is MQA more of what the artists intends vs the mastered file

 

go ahead and be the expert, I’m here for it.

Ok I'm 72 grew up with 45s and 33s...Vinyl lps were my big source of music ,With a stack in the 70s was over $1,000 bucks...I also used R to R with a nice recorder.When cds came out I thought these suck...but then grew to love them...that in 2014 I Soul all my lps 1,100 I got 1,400...but there were in great condition, I always took care of my stuff and always up greater my equipment, the first cd player was,$500 and that was in 1989.I should of known I had good stuff bec6the guy ,who worked for the place ,I sold them to said hey can I come over and buy some Lps for 5 bucks each.He bought 20,lol. Then I buy cds .anx then I wany lps again...Now I have 1,200 and in excellent condition and bought lots and Audio 45s and lps...Now I buy cds used and new for a buck or two each ,I now have like over 3,000 cds.lol...I've never streamed and never will...I'm a nut job buyer...My daughter is mad ,and said dad what I'm I going to do with this stuff when you died...I tell her Get a good price....I'm also an equipment  nut with like 20 pairs of speakers, classic and new  never used....God help meeeeeee.....

“maybe you’re someone who buys the sales pitch that you’re sold instead of someone who knows what they’re doing”

@brianlucey

That’s quite presumptuous on your part…LOL! Since you asked and folks with an aptitude to learn may benefit from this information,

What is High Definition (Hi-Def) Audio ~ High-definition audio refers to audio recordings with higher resolution than the standard CD quality of 16-bit/44.1kHz. It typically involves:

• Higher Bit Depth: Increases dynamic range and reduces quantization noise. Common values are 24-bit or higher.

• Higher Sampling Rate: Captures more detail in the frequency domain. Typical rates include 96kHz or 192kHz.

Why is Music Mastered at 96kHz Superior to 44.1kHz?

• Frequency Range - While 44.1kHz can theoretically capture frequencies up to 22.05kHz (Nyquist theorem), 96kHz extends this to 48kHz, reducing the risk of aliasing artifacts and better preserving high-frequency overtones, even if they’re outside human hearing.

• Phase Accuracy - Higher sampling rates improve phase coherence, particularly for complex waveforms, which contributes to more natural sound reproduction.

• Anti-Aliasing Filters: 96kHz allows for gentler filters in the ADC/DAC process, reducing pre-ringing and phase distortion.

However, the perceived superiority also depends on:

• Mastering Quality: A well-mastered 44.1kHz file can sound better than a poorly mastered 96kHz file.

• Playback Chain: Many systems don’t fully exploit the benefits of higher sampling rates.

How Does Upsampling Improve a Master File?

Upsampling doesn’t add new information but can improve playback by:

• Gentler Reconstruction Filters: By upsampling, DACs can use less aggressive filters, reducing artifacts like ringing or phase shifts.

• Noise Shaping: Moving quantization noise to inaudible frequencies improves perceived clarity.

• Interpolation: Smooths transitions between digital samples, potentially reducing harshness in the sound.

I do not believe in upsampling cause upsampling can’t recreate lost detail from a lower-resolution source. That’s why I always gravitated towards files in its native resolution and focused on optimizing playback system. This has served me well over the years as I am able to experience recordings as intended by artist or recording engineer.

Why is MQA More of What the Artist Intends vs. the Mastered File?

MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) claims to deliver “studio sound” through,

• End-to-End Authentication: Ensures the file you hear is identical to the studio master.

• Time Domain Accuracy: MQA emphasizes reducing temporal blur, which it claims improves the spatial and timing cues in music.

• File Compression: MQA uses a folding technique to deliver high-resolution audio in smaller file sizes, making it more accessible for streaming.

Artist Intent vs. MQA Mastered File

While MQA markets itself as aligning with the artist’s intent, this is subjective. The “intent” could already be achieved in the master file, and MQA’s processing may alter that….I could go on but I see no sense in debating a defunct medium.

IMHO, Artist intent is more about the quality of the original recording and mastering than any specific format or technology.

I don’t claim to be an expert, just a person with little bit of understanding on how technology works and deep admiration for musicians and engineers responsible for the music we have been enjoying in our personal space.

@lalitk 

 

you made a couple of reasonable comments and then a whole lot of sales pitch that any AI could have generated  

upsampling a master is always damaging, always

MQA always adds distortion. Always. Bulk processing was common and that technology was always just respondent with lies, starting with the lossless patent 

sample rate for 99.9% of music has absolutely nothing to do with sound quality in a mastering context.  For a recording engineer or a mixing engineer, a higher sample rate can mask the deficiencies of the conversion and make it seem subjectively better  
 

my AD converter was $24,000 in 2002 and at 44.1 or 96k it is massively superior to a cheap AD converter at 96 or even a good AD converter made today

surface mount components don't sound as good as discrete circuits given equal design skill.