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Help with compression and dynamic range

I'm 51. After a 15 year period of dealing with mortgage payments and childcare needs, I'm trying to get back into higher-end audio quality - especially when it comes to dynamic range in concert DVDs. I've recently spent countless hours trying to research CDs, MP3s and compression issues - with no resolve.

How can I tell which concert DVDs offer wider dynamic ranges? Or, for that matter,CDs? Is there a rating on the covers? I'm willing to do my homework if anyone can give me a reference. I've just read "Get Better Sound" by Jim Smith with no resolve.

Also, I'm looking to purchase a DVD player which will maximize sound quality when I can determine which DVDs and CDs are recorded with minimum compression and wider dynamic range. Can anyone explain what to look for when purchasing a higher-end DVD player. I've seen ratings for DACs, but am unsure what they mean.

ANY help is appreciated.
kewadinbob
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,890 posts
 
Speaker/amplifier match is the main thing to get right in order to optimize for dynamics.

Source quality is important also but tends to be less problematic overall and only matters after you get the speakers and matching amp right. There are many ways to go wrong there! Main thing is to assure amp clipping is avoided at all costs and that speakers are up to the task of delivering what the amp then provides.
mcondo
199 posts
 
Hello youngster, re concert DVD/Blu-rays most recent ones have better specs than cd's and sound very good. I do not think the specs are printed on the jackets, etc but your player / TV should display the specs if there is a menu choice for it. What music do you like - I can post a few good ones if we have similar tastes.

Re a player, many will point you to an Oppo machine. I am happy with my Sony (have 2) and it only cost $150 or so. Look for units that have analogue outs to connect to your system.
wildoats
339 posts
 
"Source quality is important also but tends to be less problematic overall and only matters after you get the speakers and matching amp right."---Um, source quality is the #1 issue. If the source is greatly compressed it's over. The music is not going to sound dynamic. Obviously a better system well matched will enhance dynamics. If you don't care about dynamics source may not be as big a problem but some recordings are so compressed they are close to unlistenable. This guy obviously cares about dynamics. I don't know how you find dynamic sources other than reading what other people think of the recordings. Beware of someone who just says it sounds really good and clear. That tells you nothing about dynamics or compression. Eventually someone will mention compression and if they say it is, then it probably is.
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,197 posts
 
You might try an old DBX compresser/expander but, of course, you are then introducing more noise and distortion into your system.
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
Look for an amp with 3db or more headroom...to simplify it...NAD amps are known for this...as others...
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