tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post620234460482366717..comments2024-03-18T22:54:30.699-07:00Comments on <em>Archimago's Musings</em>: INTERNET BLIND TEST: Is high Harmonic Distortion in music audible? (plus Pet Shop Boys' newest, HRA needs HDR)Archimagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-57605469421659689692022-10-07T13:37:01.760-07:002022-10-07T13:37:01.760-07:00I too have been working for some years on the stud...I too have been working for some years on the study of harmonic distortions and the effects on perception. Here are a couple of posts about my studies that I think you might find useful:<br /><br /> 1. Injecting harmonic distortions into a digital signal is not equivalent to the same distortions injected downstream from an analog amplifier. This post explains why: <br /><br />https://Pinox67https://www.blogger.com/profile/17371806522373528779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-15683197990330061542022-10-07T12:32:46.032-07:002022-10-07T12:32:46.032-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Pinox67https://www.blogger.com/profile/17371806522373528779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-60809576281398023142020-03-21T10:02:13.689-07:002020-03-21T10:02:13.689-07:00"If we hear a change, it's there"
M..."If we hear a change, it's there"<br /><br />More than once have I reached for a 1dB boost at 12k, satisfied with the small change I heard ..... only later to realize that my EQ channel strip was OFF.<br /><br />"If "scientific" methods can't explain why, the fault is not with our ears, but with the "scientific" methods."<br /><br />The scientific John Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642239691210008441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-48470946218417572502020-03-07T16:53:13.889-08:002020-03-07T16:53:13.889-08:00This article " this article in Audioholics pu...This article " this article in Audioholics published recently " is a bunch of crap.<br /><br />We're talking about listening to a hifi system either in the safest of environments imaginable: Our home, or alternatively at the hifi store, where we ought to feel just as safe. The mechanisms mentioned in the article, such a the brain filter is hardly active in such environments, except Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-1241822808030636812020-03-01T06:58:26.999-08:002020-03-01T06:58:26.999-08:00does anybody know what happened to foobar2000 ABX ...does anybody know what happened to foobar2000 ABX Comparator foo_ABX component?<br />Its not anymore on foobar's websiteDipolaudiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10741776789850117270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-53871709600848504192020-02-12T09:33:03.016-08:002020-02-12T09:33:03.016-08:00It's an interesting conversation: dynamic ran...It's an interesting conversation: dynamic range, linearity, and noise. <br /><br />When you look at combined signal path performance (mic > pre > adc > daw > dac > amp), today's high quality numbers (rarely achieved) are around:<br /><br />DR: 120dB or 20 bits<br />Linearity: same<br />Noise Floor: 10uVrms (broadband / unweighted)<br /><br />If we combine the "best ofJohn Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642239691210008441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-69897964875617044232020-02-11T22:40:22.466-08:002020-02-11T22:40:22.466-08:00Thanks for the historical background John,
With hi...Thanks for the historical background <em>John</em>,<br />With hi-res recording and playback since the 90's and certainly with the "1st coming" of 24-bit back in late 90's and early 2000's with SACD and DVD-A, studios readily have better than 140dB range to play with.<br /><br />Tragically, at the same time since the mid-90's into the 2000's, we've retreated back Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-43096581712129176742020-02-11T22:34:11.203-08:002020-02-11T22:34:11.203-08:00Thanks for the note Dipolaudio.
For folks doing AB...Thanks for the note <em>Dipolaudio</em>.<br /><strong>For folks doing ABX listening, please feel free to copy and paste the results into the response box - the last item on the responses!</strong><br />Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-51539027542867073012020-02-10T14:26:27.584-08:002020-02-10T14:26:27.584-08:00Then I suggest you add an edit to the main article...Then I suggest you add an edit to the main article asking people who have a computer to also submit Foobar ABX logs. Then you will have both a large sample of responses for the informal blind test, as well as true ABX tests that will have a higher degree of scientific accuracy, which could help corroborate the informal test findings.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14918823338469326910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-82508749547565975582020-02-09T09:55:44.629-08:002020-02-09T09:55:44.629-08:00@Archimago said, "Thankfully the professiona...@Archimago said, "Thankfully the professionals in the video world of Ultra High Definition actually understand the importance of High Dynamic Range contrasts and larger color gamut so that images "pop" with extended brightness, are capable of fantastic deep blacks, and have smooth gradations (rather than just pixel resolution). Unfortunately, it seems the audio intelligentsia John Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05642239691210008441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-45210594650733104112020-02-09T09:00:18.709-08:002020-02-09T09:00:18.709-08:00yes foobar wit ABX plugin seems the only tool for ...yes foobar wit ABX plugin seems the only tool for ABX comparison. <br />There was once an Mac software but I cant find it anymore. Sombebody knows about it.<br /><br />Anyway in foobar-ABX you can compare at once only two files.<br />So for the 4 files you can do as follows.<br /><br />Compare: <br />A-B, A-C, A-D<br />Then B-C, B-D<br />Then C-D<br /><br />With this each files against each otherDipolaudiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10741776789850117270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-76705107790451646362020-02-08T09:13:47.850-08:002020-02-08T09:13:47.850-08:00Thanks for note.
Yeah, different headphones will ...Thanks for note.<br /><br />Yeah, different headphones will definitely give you significantly different results. The better ones should allow you to listen deeper and hopefully also identify the presence of distortions depending on the transducer's resolution.<br /><br />Make sure to submit your overall impressions!Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-90186320721717354662020-02-08T09:11:17.255-08:002020-02-08T09:11:17.255-08:00Hey b,
One reason is that not everyone uses foobar...Hey <em>b</em>,<br />One reason is that not everyone uses foobar and for folks with main systems not connected to a general computer, this would be rather cumbersome and limiting. I've always been happy when people submit their ABX log!<br />Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-80942614625387797122020-02-07T15:00:00.620-08:002020-02-07T15:00:00.620-08:00Perhaps smoothed over is the wrong way to put it. ...Perhaps smoothed over is the wrong way to put it. The frequency response is different so some sounds are louder than others. the AKG might be a more neutral response that's not highlighting the tape hiss area as sharply. Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604031707692480910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-89247481909788547942020-02-07T14:17:03.560-08:002020-02-07T14:17:03.560-08:00should read *limitations*)should read *limitations*)StevenShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08457350132948312910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-48982138443991978252020-02-07T12:19:03.182-08:002020-02-07T12:19:03.182-08:00So far I cannot hear a difference in these recordi...So far I cannot hear a difference in these recordings, but I got a new pair of headphones today, the AKG K275s, and I was comparing them to the old MDR-V6 from Sony, and I noticed that with the Horse song from Jennifer Warnes in the test files that each of them have an obvious hiss or static sound (tape hiss?) in the background, whereas with the AKG headphones I did not notice it. It's barelyMatthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604031707692480910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-6035946693141343852020-02-06T15:47:10.876-08:002020-02-06T15:47:10.876-08:00"Don't be pulling out your audio editor t..."Don't be pulling out your audio editor to peek at the files before you actually listen and submit your results! If you do pull out that audio editor, perhaps refrain from posting pictures of FFTs and the like, and avoid discussions of results so you don't influence others... That would be much appreciated!"<br /><br />Why not just ask people to use the ABX Comparator in Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14918823338469326910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-22376716635380995032020-02-06T14:39:28.849-08:002020-02-06T14:39:28.849-08:00"imitations of the time like early ADCs used&..."imitations of the time like early ADCs used" -- I think this is perhaps too critical. I'm not sure your or I could tell the difference, blind, between those early ADCs and later ones, or if such difference would really be the cause of what you hear. If sound of those 80s CDs is subpar I'd put my bet at least equally on 1) use of a source other than original master tapes in StevenShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08457350132948312910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-12076645553186299682020-02-05T00:44:05.341-08:002020-02-05T00:44:05.341-08:00It has sense. Thanks for the answer.It has sense. Thanks for the answer.Gedeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725719615000752730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-11441346402347974652020-02-04T17:39:26.971-08:002020-02-04T17:39:26.971-08:00Hi Gedeon,
The reason I kept the same amount of di...Hi <em>Gedeon</em>,<br />The reason I kept the same amount of distortion linked to the same suffix is because I do not want to stress listeners out too much. Imagine total randomization of 4 songs with 4 separate distortion levels especially when listeners are "forced" to give me a choice when the music is not a genre they enjoy listening to ;-).<br /><br />This way, I encourage more Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-36311429878373182562020-02-04T17:32:23.139-08:002020-02-04T17:32:23.139-08:00Thanks Giraffe,
Missed that one all these years! I...Thanks <em>Giraffe</em>,<br />Missed that one all these years! I see it was posted back in 2011. Will have to give it a try ;-).<br />Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-5489647266958306862020-02-03T02:04:11.377-08:002020-02-03T02:04:11.377-08:00Why don't you randomize more the samples ?
J...Why don't you randomize more the samples ? <br /><br />Just forgive my ignorance, I don't fully understand why the suffix letters imply the same distorsión for all the selected tracks. If I could perceive in one of them differences between two, I'd just be seriously influenced when listening the other ones. Anyway thanks a lot for this test !!! I'll take my time.Gedeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02725719615000752730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-11971688125377461402020-02-02T05:28:27.356-08:002020-02-02T05:28:27.356-08:00Arch, I'm looking forward to another test sess...Arch, I'm looking forward to another test session. Whilst researching how to put together an excellent system demo CD I came across this: https://harmanhowtolisten.blogspot.com/ which ties in nicely to your listening test and I thought (if you haven't mentioned it before) your readers might enjoy it too. First practice test in and I'm at only 70%...Giraffehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04391613140895834062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-50769738806446596782020-01-29T17:21:07.577-08:002020-01-29T17:21:07.577-08:00Hey Joe,
Hope you get the computer fixed soon... Y...Hey <em>Joe</em>,<br />Hope you get the computer fixed soon... Ya still have 3 months for the test ;-).<br /><br />Now as for power and amplifier, indeed it's hard to wrap one's head around what is advertised without more details and "standard" levels of expressing the ratings. Can't speak to that specific ELAC integrated amp, but I do like what Hypex has done with their Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-11404918498342007102020-01-29T08:51:14.795-08:002020-01-29T08:51:14.795-08:00Very interesting test. My computer recently died s...Very interesting test. My computer recently died so I'm not sure I'll be able to take part in the survey, but I am very interested in the results. As I look for a smaller solution to possibly replace my current receiver, I have noticed how manufacturers are cheating on the listed power output. One example is the ELAC EA101EQ-G integrated amplifier. I'm very intrigued by this amp as itJoethePophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05131188466458926859noreply@blogger.com