2. amps-preamps
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So many YouTube clips to evaluate sound quality. Why???

There are several audio gear Youtubers chronically playing clips displaying speakers and amplifiers and even cables to have YouTube listeners evaluate sound quality.  And then they go to shows and display music clips from the very small Hotel rooms.  And yes I watch a few and some can be interesting. It's gotta be tough for these manufactures to go to these hotels all the time and deal with all the people. Basically, it's a mixture of all kinds of higher end components and somehow it's possible to appreciate what individual components sound like. $200,000 speakers surrounded by lots of other high-priced gear. How does one charge anything?

Are they trying to fool people with sound comparison music clips? What is the point and why are they wasting their time?  Maybe headphones might detect something.  I fail to appreciate why these individuals do this, and why do they dedicate so much time to this.  Are they being paid to promote speakers and amplifiers?  And then reading the comments where all these people seem to really believe they hear differences.

Time might be better spent explaining technical merits of the gear and opinions on how it sounds. And why their recommended gear is so expensive.  
 

 

emergingsoul
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bruce19
214 posts
 

I answered my own question, and here is the answer for anyone interested. These are the specs for YouTube quality for audio. Actually, it looks like you can transmit high quality audio given the availability of flak and wave formats, however than the unknown becomes the microphone quality and the recording process. 
 

Audio file guidelines

The following guidelines are for audio tracks that you provide to YouTube. These guidelines describe the formatting specifications that yield the highest quality for playing audio on YouTube and for matching your audio tracks to the audio tracks of user-uploaded videos. Note that an audio track would only be played back on YouTube if you have opted to include that track in YouTube's AudioSwap program. Generally, we recommend that you upload the highest quality audio possible.

  • Supported file formats:
    • MP3 audio in MP3/WAV container
    • PCM audio in WAV container
    • AAC audio in MOV container
    • FLAC audio
  • Minimum audio bitrate for lossy formats: 64 kbps
  • Minimum audible duration: 33 seconds 
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cleeds
5,653 posts
 
emergingsoul

Really good recording quality songs sounds great on any system.

That’s probably true, but YouTube uses lossy compressed audio, and it sounds like it, especially on a real audio system. I think most YT creators hope to become influencers, and some certainly strive to create a niche for themselves. We’ve seen a few do that here on A’gon.

marantz33's avatar
marantz33
35 posts
 

@pabs85 nailed it. You can't discern much from these clips but you can discern something. I find it is usually about the character of the speaker dynamic versus laid back. Plus just looking at them is gear porn.

shooter41
64 posts
 

I used to be completely dismissive about these videos but then I began noticing that you can hear some differences provided the poster has set it up correctly. Obviously no critical listening can happen over YouTube, but, as others have said, you can get a taste of what a particular speaker sounds like and can certainly pick a favorite among two or more that are properly compared. I’m much more cynical towards other equipment, cables, etc. than I am speakers, but who knows, maybe I’ll come around on those someday, too.

I should add that I have a pair of fairly good Audioengine powered speakers connected to my iMac, with very good headphones available if I'm really interested.

emergingsoul OP
936 posts
 

Jays YouTube site seems to be most prolific with sound clip vids on speaker that cost like $400,000.

Absurd someone spends this much money on speakers.  My guess these things are on loan since he's got new speakers every other week.  To keep the same speakers means he loses his viewers.

 


 

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