The biggest scams in hifi

So then any of you digital freaks gotten to class D amps yet?

Here's what I find to be the crux of the argument here:

Any "noise" you may hear in a computer-based audio system is largely based on improper shielding of cables, and with an internal soundcard, possibly some "crosstalk" between the system bus and the audio signal paths of the card. That's why I always recommend D/A converters in an external housing.

As far as D/A converters affecting the actual timbral quality of an audio signal, that's just nonsense. Some systems do some "upsampling" tricks to simulate higher res (as Mike explained) , but in the end, the 16-bit/44.1 kHz audio on the disc is precisely what was pressed into the disc (any bits/samples added later are interpolated). Any decent CD player worth it's salt has a low fault tolerance for dropped samples, and will interpolate seamlessly until the damage or interference with the readable surface of the disc is fairly significant.

I'm amazed no one's mentioned the Fletcher-Munson curve. The human ear accentuates certain frequencies (just a product of evolution), and as a result, certain frequencies require more or less amplification to be perceived by the human ear as being the approximate same level.

Much "audiophile" gear is simply tailored to accentuate the Fletcher-Munson curve, in order to make playback sound more "pleasing" or "musical".

In reality, current digital technology is more HI-FI. (More of an accurate representation of the actual recorded vibrations).

Lindsay Lohan wrote: Nope the original version called sound blaster live costed alot when it was relased back in 97! And yes Sound Cards with built in tubes exsist so no im not joking!

Such a soundcard would be VERY noisy with the tube exposed to all the interference inside a computer.

Nope the original version called sound blaster live costed alot when it was relased back in 97!

And yes Sound Cards with built in tubes exsist so no im not joking!

I know people that can't tell the difference between 128kbps and a SACD so how do i know ye are not one of these people?

mystic fred wrote: MikeEnRegalia wrote: Vibration Cancelling Devices for CD players. Doubling cables (using two or more cables instead of one). Power Line tweaking and optimizing. Musical CD players can extract more information from the CD than cheap ones (or computer CD drives). Any comments? I have mixed comments about this: 1. if you mean devices for limiting airborne or surface vibrations i have found wall mounted   platforms  or granite based devices very useful for cd players and turntables as they are susceptible to vibrations from the floor and speakers if placed too close.

Of course I agree about turntables, but I have never heard of a CD player extracting audio information differently when shaken. It might skip or refuse to play, that's right - but only if you really pick it up and shake it around.

mystic fred wrote: 2. by doubling do you mean bi-amping or bi-wiring? i've not found that this makes any difference but many audiophiles swear by it.

Neither have I - and any technician will confirm that it cannot make any difference that would be worth mentioning. Unless that technician is employed by a cable company, that is!

mystic fred wrote: 3. some special electric plugs or block connectors with very thick cables are credited to improve performance but i have tried this and not found any difference.

Of course there is no difference - the input of the power supply and the circuitry of the amp are completely separated from each other.

mystic fred wrote:   4. i have found all cd players extract maximum information but the audiophile quality ones present it more convincingly especially regarding clarity, sound stage and overall prescence. my ears don't lie!

That is correct. The audiophile players apply a lot of post processing to the signal. That's totally ok, but then the audiophiles should not try to make this audible difference a weakness of the cheaper CD player. That player is actually more accurate.

Right now, while I'm writing these lines, I'm listening to Spock's Beard - Go the Way You Go on my computer using my new Creative X-Fi soundcard. It's the first PC soundcard which offers the same tricks that the audiophile players apply to the signal - they upsample it from 16bit/44.1khz to 24bit/96khz and during this expansion they apply intelligent filters. The result is a much more vivid, vibrant sound with much more presence. The instruments are better separated and you generally hear more details.

 I guess the bottom line is: Just trust your ears!

[QUOTE=MikeEnRegalia]

1. Vibration Cancelling Devices for CD players.
2. Doubling cables (using two or more cables instead of one).
3. Power Line tweaking and optimizing.
4. Musical CD players can extract more information from the CD than cheap ones (or computer CD drives).

Any comments?

I have mixed comments about this:

1. if you mean devices for limiting airborne or surface vibrations i have found wall mounted   platforms  or granite based devices very useful for cd players and turntables as they are susceptible to vibrations from the floor and speakers if placed too close.

2. by doubling do you mean bi-amping or bi-wiring? i've not found that this makes any difference but many audiophiles swear by it.

3. some special electric plugs or block connectors with very thick cables are credited to improve performance but i have tried this and not found any difference. 

4. i have found all cd players extract maximum information but the audiophile quality ones present it more convincingly especially regarding clarity, sound stage and overall prescence.

my ears don't lie!

MikeEnRegalia wrote: Lindsay Lohan wrote: All music i play on my pc has always picked up noise from the hdd, cd rom drive and power supply...it means if the hdd works hard the sound can get distorted. And yes i have no sound cable between the cd rom and motherboard   I know what you mean - you're right. But the problem can be solved by a better sound card.

Aha so creative's sound blaster live is crap?

All music i play on my pc has always picked up noise from the hdd, cd rom drive and power supply...it means if the hdd works hard the sound can get distorted. And yes i have no sound cable between the cd rom and motherboard

 

oliverstoned wrote: Computer is an extraordinary power's pollution source. It features one or two Cd players, which already explains something.

 maybe you don't know much about computers. Usually you have one DVD drive and one CD Burner. Newer computers (like mine) have only one drive (a combined DVD/CD Writer).

oliverstoned wrote: Cd players pollute a lot because it use "cut off power alimentation" (fact).

Fact? Where can I find even a definition of that phrase?

http://www.google.de/search?sourceid=navclient&hl=de& ;ie=UTF-8&rls=DVXA,DVXA:2005-17,DVXA:de&q=cut+off+po wer+alimentation