Wouldn't attaching a DAC (Digital analog Convertor) to your CD player help the sound instead of taking a CD and trying to change it to different format?

Matt

mattz 

Wouldn't attaching a DAC (Digital analog Convertor) to your CD player help the sound instead of taking a CD and trying to change it to different format? Matt

Don't follow.

I'm just trying to hear if I can tell the difference between store-bought CD quality sound,
320 kbps and 192 kbps. I've never done this before so maybe you're seeing a mistake in
my thinking/efforts?

Made the CD to try already, for Sunday.

I could in theory, re-assemble my old computer, which never had a problem regarding
playing through the headphones...but there's no way I'm going to do that.

- Stephen

stephenszpak 

Don't follow. I'm just trying to hear if I can tell the difference between store-bought CD quality sound, 320 kbps and 192 kbps. I've never done this before so maybe you're seeing a mistake in my thinking/efforts? Made the CD to try already, for Sunday. I could in theory, re-assemble my old computer, which never had a problem regarding playing through the headphones...but there's no way I'm going to do that. - Stephen

I didn't think you are doing anything wrong, I just thought you are trying to get the best quality sound so I suggested a DAC that would connect to your CD player. Then you would connect your headset to it.

My MAC (that I play my CDs from) is connected to my amp, however between them I have the DAC that makes the sound of the CDs played and the internet radio a different experience in terms of sound. In fact, it is better that a high end CD player that I bought that is also connected to my amp. I do have a pair of hand made speakers though and that also helps the sound. This all DAC came around since I am also a real vinyl fan and I was enquiring If I could turn digital sound to analogue to achieve the same range of sound.

I am not an expert in this, but sometimes I can tell a big difference when the right equipment is used.

Pleasantly surprised that there are so many who have such interest in this.
I am looking forward to hear how others have hooked up their equipment.

mattz 

I didn't think you are doing anything wrong, I just thought you are trying to get the best quality sound so I suggested a DAC that would connect to your CD player.

Oh no, not trying to get the best quality sound.

Originally I assumed that no Mp3 file would compare to a WAV file. Not so
sure anymore. So I'm trying to determine for myself just what the cutoff might
be regarding kbps.

Another thing that matters in this is the music itself. Some music doesn't sound
right at a kbps of a given number, another song sounds fine. Here people have
said that it's the high frequencies, but elsewhere a while back I read it was the
low frequencies that Mp3 can't reproduce well (which doesn't make any sense).

If anyone has a clip of song that Mp3 has a problem with I'd should be able to
check it out, assuming my CD player works, etc. etc. etc.

Also, I've never had a superduper sound system from the standpoint of speakers.
I think I have decent headphones, though I'm sure there are better ones out there by now.

Sony MDR-XD400

Ok, problem solved, sort of!

I detached my speakers at the backpanel of the Dell and
plugged in my headphones. I can hear the music and sound as well.

Now I'll try to determine the sound quality matter.

(Might as well just edit this post.)

Took a generic rock song and reduced it from WAV to: mp3 320, 192, and
then to 160 kbps. They all sound the same.

gomi 

Before going the lossless way, check it for yourself. MP3 are much more standard and easier to carry around thant FLAC files. Install foobar ABX system, tacke a CD, extract a wav file with EAC, convert it to both FLAC and 320 kbps MP3, and try to find out the difference between the 2 files, on your best equipment. I'm pretty sure you won't be able to find any difference.

Thanks gomi and others for the advice. I'm convinced (at the moment) that you're right. I've tried one clip of a
song at different bit rates and can't tell the difference. Maybe there will be 5 or just 2 songs
per 100 that I could tell, but that's not likely.

For some reason I always used to believe that Mp3 was junk.

Just a guess, but I think some people have listened to a Mp3 and
realized, quite correctly, that the music didn't sound right. My thought on that is that the music
was poorly performed/mixed at the studio and the format was blamed.

Was at Amazon checking out what they have. They have the most tracks to my knowledge, 18,000,000
Mp3s at 256.

Various online music stores compared:

Comparison of online music stores - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it.

-John Lennon

I'm pretty sure I'm going to subscribe to a music service. I've been using Pandora
internet radio. With internet radio there are a number of limitations.

What I want is:

1) Play songs on my desktop only. Any song. Twice in a row if I want. (Internet radio
will not allow users to choose songs, or play a song twice in a row, to my knowledge.)
2) No purchasing of songs needed or desired at this point.
3) up to $10 per/month is fine

I thought about buying songs but I think a music service should be good for now.

There are a number of them out there. Seriously considering MOG after reading about
them a few hours ago.

https://mog.com/#!what

https://mog.com/#!get




This is their in depth video about using MOG. It is several minutes long and I've only
included it in case someone is also thinking about a music service.

MOG Overview (Video) / Welcome Center / Knowledge Base - MOG Support




==============================================================

This CNET link (below) talks about various services out there.




Which music service should you use?

November 18, 2011


Which music service should you use? | Crave - CNET
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So, if anyone wants to suggest or comment, that's fine.

- Stephen