High Rez vs. RBCD: Is There A Difference?

[MylesBAstor]

Yes, according to the author of this article.

18296.pdf

The overall conclusion is that the perceived fidelity of an audio recording and playback chain can be affected by operating beyond conventional resolution.

As Gus Skinas of Sony said:

"This is only the beginning... Now let's figure out why DSD is so much more "believable" than PCM at lower sample rates. Is it only about the sample rate? If the tests are designed to determine what is felt rather then what is heard, there will be a much bigger difference in the results. You don't have to be an audiophile or "golden ear" to feel the difference.:

[MylesBAstor]

Oh yes, how about this statement from the authors:

"Authors have noted that ABX tests have a high cognitive load [11], which might lead to false negatives (Type II errors)."

About time someone owned up to this issue. It's called the inverted U hypothesis. The more things we have to focus upon, the lower our perceptual ability. To put it in a real world analog, think about why football defenses blitz the QB. The more things the QB has to concentrate on, the bigger chance there is of him making a mistake.

[Analog21]

The other issue for is, being there is a difference, is it worth it? For example, most DSD files/albums available for purchase are available as a vinyl LP release as well. I would rather buy a record any day of the week (assuming you're also into analog). I guess if you have a hi-rez streaming process, as Tidal is proposing in the coming months, then this would make it more worth while. But from a strictly purchasing standpoint, I'm am ok with PCM files and ALAC, FLAC, or WAV files, which most of my collection is anyways. Most of the artists or albums I listen to will never be available in DSD, which is important for me to consider. Digital has always been a risky unstable endeavor since it there no 100% gold standard in the audio industry and among audio manufacturers. Nothing seems to be future proof, unless you're ok with PCM files. "Higher Higher Rez" files will probably replace "High Rez" files, and so on. Built in Tidal and other streaming options may also impact this. How to spread the money around is becoming harder and harder. I still have to add a second arm my VPI Avenger for mono down the road too. The audio world is changing very rapidly over the past year and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. Look at how many products VPI has recently come out with to compete in the industry. It is really hard to keep it.

[Analog21]

Now may need Hi-Rez Headphones for Hi-Rez audio now too? Does it ever end? http://www.whathifi.com/advice/what-...ampaign=buffer

[rbbert]

John Atkinson alluded to,the existence of this meta-analysis in Stereophile back in January (I think) after he heard it presented at the AES convention in Oct 2015. Note that there is no new research presented, this is a meta-analysis (Wikipedia for those who don't know what this is) of previously published information. For me the take home message is that if the quality of reproduced sound matters to you, then hi-res PCM or DSD is preferable to RBCD or lower bit-rate digital formats. As most of us have experienced in many sensory areas, once you have noticed a difference that matters to you, it will only become more noticeable (and probably annoying) with continued exposure. Coffee, anyone (Myles)?

[Alrainbow]

For pcm it's not always hi rez to be great I own some Redbook that is reference material.for me . Now typical hirez if real is better . So myles the real part should precede the question as to what is better . If pcm Redbook and same stuff hi rez pcm beats it . The sound is less shrill or a cleaner symbol . A voice that moves you more. Nw while dsd is different it may not be better to all . But the best digital I own is tape transfer to dsd . Next as my digital dac gets better pcm approaches dsd . It may not be there but it's not pcm anymore . A simple different from.pcm to dsd is pcm has bite meaning it snaps like a snare drum does . Where dsd is dynamic but remains Smooth like your best analog rigs do .
Gus skinus to me hts the nail perfectly . Now attention is true to me . But mood ,lights , drugs kidding all effect this greatly . I think a lot of money is spent on power cords that improves the mind maybe not the sound . My Regens make me feel thus way . Is it real ??? To my mind yes , tubed ,interconnects are far more conclusive though . I I've your posts myles really thought proviking . Please accept my posts as just my view and in no way do mean I kkw better than anyone here or elsewhere .

[mep]

I don't have a DAC that was designed to be killer for PCM. I have the Mytek Stereo 192 and there is simply no contest between DSD and PCM regardless of the PCM resolution.

[Alrainbow]

I owned your dac for years . It was not bad Pam but yes there is better . But with my 6K server it did sound good finally lol . I sold it a few months back