Noticing Lossless quality.

[da3dsoul]

Ok, so I've noticed there seems to be an obsession with lossless quality recently, especially in anime genre.  What I don't get is why spend the 3GB of space for that pretty FLAC tag?  I have downloaded multiple versions of many different things, low quality of either sd or hd encodes, high quality of both, and all kinds encodes for music.  I honestly can't tell the difference between 320kbps Lame MP3 and FLAC whether it's through a large theater system, or simply in my Razer Electra's.  The difference I notice is capability of holding 6 times as much mp3.  I understand some people want to burn their lossless download to Bluray or audio CD, but even still, physical media is a pain to begin with, and the only reason I would bother is for the extras that are hard to find elsewhere.  Lossless video can be very noticeable, if the "lossy" encode is poorly done, I've reencoded things for compatibility, and thus made a compressed "lossy" encode that I could carry with me, and even at the high quality 1750kbps ABR Encode I couldn't tell the difference, but still saved a good 10 percent of the space required.  So if you have a good usage for your Lossless downloads whether personal or general (for instance you bought an expensive new toy and flac just plays better), I would like to hear it.

[megido-rev.M]

I can barely focus my attention reading that paragraph.

Anyway, if anything, lossless stuff is 'richer' in the right conditions.
I still go for lossy stuff all the time, though in the case of music I prefer lossless anyway.

[FlyinPenguin]

3gb is nothing, especially given how little 1tb drives cost.

I always go for the lossless if it is available.

[Southrop]

Uh just so you know, none of the videos we have uploaded are lossless videos. A lossless video would easily be a couple of gigabytes in size for a couple of minutes.

[vuzedome]

I think the main focus here would be audio.
Your Razor Electra, spec wise, isn't good enough for music. Try a closed back headphone from Audio-Technica or Sennheiser, to name the popular ones, and then you can properly compare.
As for the usual commercial HT setups, they're shit, same story, need decent audiohpile grade for real comparison before coming to a conclusion.

I'm not saying that lossless is better, but decent test equipment is requirement before making assumptions.

[bunalz]

Yes, that lovely Sennheiser.

From my limited experience, Razor, Steelseries and the likes are not that great for serious music listening (since they're mostly geared towards gaming experience, obviously). As stated before, to be able to explicitly "feel" the difference in quality, the hardware need to be top-notched as well. It's the same concept as caching i.e. the "bottleneck" concept.

For starters, listen to different variety of music and try out a few stereo headphones (apparently, headsets have a lower listening quality). Then, try the 7.1 ones. You has to realise the difference in terms of the music's richness (how you can tell apart how many instruments are there, or which types are used, etc). If you don't, then there's no point in opting for that lossless choice.

[kitamesume]

I think the main focus here would be audio.
Your Razor Electra, spec wise, isn't good enough for music. Try a closed back headphone from Audio-Technica or Sennheiser, to name the popular ones, and then you can properly compare.
As for the usual commercial HT setups, they're shit, same story, need decent audiohpile grade for real comparison before coming to a conclusion.

I'm not saying that lossless is better, but decent test equipment is requirement before making assumptions.

+1
usually the difference is how "clean" the record becomes, likely MP3s or most lossy format gets muffled even with sufficient bitrate(specially on the high frequency side).
think covering your mouth with a cloth, the more lossy the format is the thicker the cloth becomes.

Asus DX + Superlux HD668B worked for me, enough to hear the difference at least, although i'm thinking this is the upperlimit of how much i could hear since i wasn't able to up the quality by upgrading from an ALC889(onboard) with a reasonable difference, made me think it wasn't worth it for one reason of Asus's buggy drivers .

Superlux HD668B:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/superlux-hd-668-b/reviews
Superlux HD668B manufacturer website

[xShadow]

I'm using a pretty meh setup (Sennheiser 280's and onboard audio), but I can generally tell a difference between MP3 and flac. It's not exactly glaringly obvious (depending on the song), but I can tell that there is a difference. Some instruments that I don't notice before, etc etc.


Thing is I don't use my 280's much because they get itchy on my ears fast. Wonder if I need to clean the pads or something (they're not dirty in any obvious way, which makes it annoying..).

[bloody000]

I collect FLAC albums out of OCD and for archiving. I prefer DTS or AC3 in videos because I'm using the Cyberlink audio decoder which has this awesome Dolby Headphone effect.

Foobar ABX test results say I can't reliably tell them apart.

Beyer DT990 on Xonar ST

[kitamesume]

Foobar ABX test results say I can't reliably tell them apart.

Beyer DT990 on Xonar ST

wait, with MP3 vs FLAC, or FLAC vs AC3/DTS?
MP3 vs FLAC has quite some obvious differences between them.

[Tatsujin]

I could swear I posted in this thread a while ago ...

Foobar ABX test results say I can't reliably tell them apart.

Beyer DT990 on Xonar ST

wait, with MP3 vs FLAC, or FLAC vs AC3/DTS?
MP3 vs FLAC has quite some obvious differences between them.

^ This.

I collect FLAC albums out of OCD and for archiving. I prefer DTS or AC3 in videos because I'm using the Cyberlink audio decoder which has this awesome Dolby Headphone effect.

Foobar ABX test results say I can't reliably tell them apart.

Beyer DT990 on Xonar ST

^ And this one.

You still need hardware parts to start hearing the difference. Speakers, wires, sound card and lastly format you're playing. Obviously they all have to support what you're looking into and you don't need expensive parts either (for hardware).

@ Kita - Xonar ST? This one?

[kitamesume]

xonar DX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

i planned on getting the DGX instead before i got the DX but because of DX's reputation and it's highly over-rated "bang for buck" i got suckered by it, heh.

all in all, its still a good purchase, since there was a noticeable performance, although unreasonably expensive for such a tiny difference between my onboard ALC889.
the only complains i have on ASUS is it's retarded drivers, no offense. currently using modded drivers from a forum i found a few months ago that i've now forgotten.

[Tatsujin]

xonar DX - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132006

i planned on getting the DGX instead before i got the DX but because of DX's reputation and it's highly over-rated "bang for buck" i got suckered by it, heh.

all in all, its still a good purchase, since there was a noticeable performance, although unreasonably expensive for such a tiny difference between my onboard ALC889.
the only complains i have on ASUS is it's retarded drivers, no offense. currently using modded drivers from a forum i found a few months ago that i've now forgotten.

I read about their terrible driver services. Their most up-to-date ones are either from modded versions or straight from their official website.

Question - you'd still need a 7.1 audio card for a headset with 7.1?

[kitamesume]

it depends on the headset:

headset that connects via USB doesn't even need a sound-card at all, they have their own integrated sound-card in it, garbage while at it.

i rarely see true 5.2/7.2 (notice x.2, its because both left and right have their own subwoofers), ones that has their own jack to go up each channel outputs.

---

note though, i don't know if theres a headset that goes by digital toslink/coax and has a built in DAC instead, it may have a more decent sound quality than a USB based one.


edit: also, a good stereo headphone with a "real" Dolby would beat a half-assed 5.2/7.2 any time.

[vuzedome]

Oh and if I may add something very important:
Please take care of your ears and keep them clean. 

[mgz]

gonna take this opportunity to beat a dead horse and say. Fuck your shitty razer headset that you were coerced into buying because you are a lemmings. Why not go get some dre beats they must be great for music.

Now that that is out of the way, spending 100-150$ on a set of sennheisers or ATs and make sure you have a decent sound card and you will hear an immense difference.

Saying that you cant hear the difference on your shitty razer headset or on a home theater system is also pretty useless.

A theater system like your shitty razer headset isnt designed for music especially if it is specifically one of them pieces of shit like bose makes designed entirely for home theater purposes.

Sadly enough as far as hearing shit that quantifies the need to high quality audio is most easily demonstrated through a nice 150-200$ set of headphones or more expensive if youve money to waste. As that nice 200$ set of headphones from a company like sennheiser or their competition will blow the doors off of most home stereos that you spend less then like 2 grand on. The sound may not be as immersive and sometimes will lack some of the richness that can come with that feeling but you often will get incredible clarity and sounds that you just wouldnt hear otherwise. Its almost depressing.

[kitamesume]

^ check these links, this headphone goes for under $80 and they were designed for pure accurate reproduction (flat and no flavor), the reason why its cheap is because it was entirely plastic which does feel cheap but still decent and you aren't paying for a name *cough*apple and sennheisers*cough*

Superlux HD668B:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/superlux-hd-668-b/reviews
Superlux HD668B manufacturer website

[lapa321]

Uh just so you know, none of the videos we have uploaded are lossless videos. A lossless video would easily be a couple of gigabytes in size for a couple of minutes.

I'd like to see someone upload a huffyuv 

[metro.]

Lossless for most people is a collecting thing. The money you need to sink into a setup, audio wise, is more then your average pirate is willing to spend.

[vuzedome]

Lossless for most people is a collecting thing. The money you need to sink into a setup, audio wise, is more then your average pirate is willing to spend.

Oh really now? 

Hence why the second hand market is a treasure trove to many. Can't pay the grands? Look for used, check it out, pay less than half. Saw a 5 months used Xonar Essence STX go for USD 115 not too long ago.