#DAC sound quality

[crazydiscostu]

Surfans F28 High Res Mp3 Portable Music Player

Could this be your new travel companion?

This is the Surfans F28 Hi-Res Music Player and today we’re putting it through its paces. How does its advanced ESS9018K2M DAC chips compare to similar players? We’ll explore the technical specifications, unique attributes, and overall performance. Product supplied for review purposes. F28 The device’s 3.5-inch IPS full touch screen and physical controls offer an intuitive and user-friendly…

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#2.5mm balanced output #3.5mm single-ended output #Affordable music player #Audio file format support #Audiophile music player #battery life #blog #crazydiscostu #DAC sound quality #Digital audio player #EQ customization #ESS Dual ES9018K2M DAC #ESS9018K2M DAC chips #Expandable memory #External hard drive function #geek #Hi-Res Music Player #High-resolution audio #Music player design #Music player on Amazon #Music player performance #Nerd #review #reviews #SD card support #Surfans F28 features #Surfans F28 price #Surfans F28 review #Surfans F28 specifications #Tech

[swallowedabug]

Pink Floyd : Echoes (The Best Of Pink Floyd) (2001)

Artwork by StormStudios

#keios #album art #another one by storm #he's done most of the covers for pink floyd #the references to the previous album covers in this one 👌 #i actually don't own any pink floyd albums except this compilation on cd.. i should fix that #i remember using happiest days of our lives/another brick on the wall as bass/subwoofer test tracks when i was buying my first 2.1 setup #the velodyne is still going strong - as are my main sonus faber speakers that i also bought back then (about 20 years ago) #but i don't own a dedicated cd player anymore #i just have this portable usb player that i use with my desktop setup #i have an external dac that's connected to my main av receiver and i use foobar with wasapi which has a great sound quality #i used to use the dac mostly with my headphone amp setup but i haven't really been listening with headphones any more #i could sell some of them but. i might get into them again so i won't lol #oh and i meant to say external usb player #i mean it IS portable in theory but i have it attached to a desktop so. not really ideal for lugging around lol

[afranciscomiradiezblr-blog]

Esta es la imagen y algunos datos (O no) la “Historia” la pones tú ¡La tuya! ¿Lo harás?…Rolling Stones.

"It's Sweet Virginia"-(DAC-042)-Scott Statdium, Charlottesville, Virginia, October 6, 2005-Sound Quality: Very Good Audience-Rolling Stones.

#It's Sweet Virginia-(DAC-042)-Scott Statdium Charlottesville Virginia October 6 2005-Sound Quality: Very Good Audience-Rolling Stones. #¿Historias cortas para no dormir y no tener pesadillas? ¡Caray que Tropa! #¿Recordando el futuro desde un pretérito imperfecto?

[girl4music]

So it turns out I didn't even need to buy a DAC/Amplifier for my MacBook Air M2. The headphone jack supports lossless listening and playing through high-impedance headphones. i just needed to change the MIDI settings to match the frequency of the tracks I have - which I don't ever go no lower than MP3 320kbps. And yeah, now my music collection sounds bloody incredible through my HD 600's.

I'm a happy music enthusiast now (Girl4Music, isn't my IM name for no reason, you know) I really only needed the DAC/Amplifier for my iPhone 15 Pro Max. Good thing too because this IFI DAC/Amp is tiny and I wouldn't listen through these headphones in public anyway because they leak sound like I don't know what. Sennheiser open back wired headphones are only ever meant for private listening. Unless I can figure out how to work this DAC thing on my iPhone, I guess I'm sticking with listening through my Bluetooth earphones - which unfortunately doesn't/won't ever support lossless listening.

I'm guessing anyway. I don't know if Apple will eventually invent its own audio codec that will support its Apple Music lossless feature through Bluetooth. I know that at the moment it doesn't with any of its headphone/earphone products. Including the high end ones. Not that I would ever use Apple's products for audio listening/playing 🤣

#sennheiser #hd 600 #high-impedance headphones #high res sound quality #macbook air m2 #once settings have been changed #ifi go link dac and amplifier #iPhone 15 pro max #not an audiophile #just a music enthusiast

[audio-luddite]

I was talking with a guy.

Hey if I am mentioning it here it was about audio.

The question was how to get started in serious audio (lets not call it audiophile yet). It is a remarkably simple and yet complex question. Spend lots of money?

So to start, the front end is the tricky bit. That is source and control. Source is what you are listening too. Control is selection of source, if you have more than one, and basic volume control. In most systems control is the preamplifier.

The back end is the speakers and power amplifier. Actually really simple. What fits in your home and how much can you afford. Easy to change if you want.

The first big issue is source. By that I mean hard copied media or virtual. The first is category is CDs and their ilk such as SACD etc, and of course Vinyl LPs. The second is streaming online.

The second one first. (interesting sentence that but perfectly correct)

Streaming is far from simple. It has the least initial cost for the media as it is just a subscription fee (forever). It has an enormous even overwhelming variety and quantity of content. It also is only permission to use the content, but you do not own it. You can have a huge "collection" but it is virtual. Also there is a controversy about payments to artists.

Often not said is that almost all the streaming services are at or below CD quality. CD quality is not considered truly great by the tribes. That is all I am going to say about that right now.

The hardware is not simple for high end streaming. In very general terms you need a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), a box to buffer or hold the downloaded files, and a computer to do the downloads and host the streaming service software. That is three boxes. In high end they are all expensive of course.

There are devices that do all three things, but they are not cheap. They also do not have the quality of the "best" systems.

Audiophiles like dedicated computers and streaming servers and DACs of eye watering expense.

In summary the streaming front end is very expensive. In my looking about for adding that to my system it is thousands of dollars. Conservatively about $5000 for my quality goal. Emphasis on that is only the front end.

Now to my thesis.

I say the least cost path to high end sound is with vinyl. WTF?! A high end capable Turntable starts at hundreds of dollars. Much more can be spent, but in today's local classified ads there are dozens under $500 and a few very good ones up to $1000. An older model refurbished unit is perfectly fine for the job. And I mean high end sound extraction. Brands such as Technics, Rega, Thorens, Micro Seki, Kenwood, Pioneer are good candidates.

A high end phonograph pickup or cartridge can be had for under $500 bucks. I have three all around $400 ish or less. I like Grado, and Audio Technica. There are more, but I don't have any of those. Moving coils need not apply. Those are euphonic, which is they add seductive sounds that are not in the source material.

That is the whole vinyl source hardware list. Under $1400 bucks or less and you are up and running. The only caveat is your control preamp needs to have a phono input which most old ones do.

In my case have a high end hybrid tube FET preamp that can be had for $2000 or less depending on the phase of the moon. You need that anyway. My opinion is the preamp is the major contributor to the overall performance of your system.

So that brings the full front end to less than $3400 for a high end system. If you take into account all my extra phono cartridges I still spent less than that. Just.

There is an intriguing option in a high end integrated amplifier from Technics (SU-G700) that is a preamp and DAC and very good class D amplifier with a phono input for about $2400 USD. Just add speakers and turntable and you are over the threshold to high end. It is rather spooky. If I had to start from scratch I would be tempted. Far less than an ARC suite. I could no longer claim I was a Luddite though.

Yes with vinyl you still have to buy LPs, unless you are an old fart like me and have hundreds, but it is actually rather fun. Compared to the initial cost of a high end streaming system the cost of an extensive LP library looks reasonable. I search for high quality boutique stuff usually, but I also find stuff in the racks. Garage sales anyone?

I have high end sound in my home. I dare say it is the best sounding system I have every heard. Vinyl is not a compromise. There is a lot to be said for getting up to flip a record every 20 minutes. Hell I have a watch that nags me to get up and move if I stay seated for more than an hour. (yes I am a geek) It's good for you Mr couch potato.

Obviously to play at this game money will be spent. You can start off modestly and build over time (decades in my case) or jump in. In the end you will have a sonic place to spend time appreciating art at the highest level.

Interesting that I really cannot afford to add high end streaming to my system. I don't need to.

#audiophile #high end audio #vinyl #turntables #audio technica #grado cartridges #least expensive high end system

[pretentiousbrownie]

hehee yippeeeeee more blank cassettes have arriveeeeeed :3

just a smol handful of type ii cassettes from the 80s and 90s

they’re not like the benchmark standard for tapes or anything (most people would say metal/type iv are instead, but compact cassettes are just inherently biased and have limited dynamic range anyway sooooo), but I prefer type ii for their incredible clarity in the upper registers and aggressive presence in the mids, with a distinctive smoothness across their frequency range that a lot of metal tapes or basic ferric type i tapes struggle with

the sony ux’s are especially bright and articulate - awesome precision with low noise, the tdk sa’s have this wildly lush midrange and defined upper range with incredible sound stage and equally super low noise, and the maxell xl ii is supposed to be a nice middle ground with a pleasantly warm lower-midrange to bring back some of that musical depth, and are renowned for their durability and staying power

I’ll be slapping on some oc playlists soon - recordings are done w/ my nakamichi tape deck through cd directly, lossless flac/alac on my mac, or some lossy and compressed music from spotify (like these oc mixtapes will be)

the mac has a digital line out to my discrete dac, which runs out to the nak for as close to perfect recordings as possible :)

I do *not* record w/ dolby nr or dbx nr as most good type ii and type iv tapes don't usually need it on a high quality and well-calibrated deck

oooo! side note! cassettes can be hi-fi! (not audiophile) if recorded with quality sources and played back on quality hardware! they’re a neat balance of cd-like ease and record-like warmth, but with the obvious biases based on the type of tape used!!

they’ll never win awards for pure technical prowess, but if I could sit you down in front of my two towering bookshelf speakers, class a monoblock amp, vacuum tube preamp, and nakamichi tape deck to listen to your favorite music, I think you’d very much enjoy the tonal loveliness of analog

someone did ask me why I've been doing this again - like yes, tapes are having a v smol renaissance, but why go through all this trouble? and honestly, it's just a slower and more purposeful way to engage with music I enjoy - it creates a greater sense of occasion around the whole thing, so it forces me to be present with that and that only, plus the end results are physical things I can hold on to and/or give to friends :3

fun is fun, and i love fun music, so it’s a fun way to listen to fun music :3

plus, y’know, i have a retro 80s car, so playing back good music on the tape deck is also super handy ;)-

#PretentiousBrownie

[murdoc]

i treated myself to two pairs of headphones (over ear & buds) that were relatively cheap for the sound quality they produce... it feels like the first time ive ever listened to music.

(putting under readmore because its literally a novel. i just need to talk about this rn)

i tried the earbuds first and was blown away by the quality. it sounded clearer than any headphones i had before! then i tried the over the ear ones, and at first i was a lil disappointed (i was listening on my phone using the aux to usb dongle), but figured maybe the computer would make them sound a bit better bcz the dongle makes some stuff sound a lil quieter on my phone.. still sounded okay but not great.

out of the purest curiosity, because the person i took advice from mentioned the dongle has a dac in it (which is needed for some headphones but i didnt think this one was included?), i plugged the dongle into my computer and was IMMEDIATELY BLOWN AWAY

i used a song ive heard a million times and know back and forth to test it... it nearly brought me to tears hearing it w these headphones. it feels like you can pick apart the layers of instruments and vocals.

each song that plays i keep exclaiming "IT SOUNDS LIKE (X INSTRUMENT)!!!!!" like a giant fool LMAO. you can hear them so clear im left sounding stupid.

i truly didnt know you could make instruments in digital formats sound exactly like youd hear them in person. like visualize how a classic piano key sounds. the depth it has, where you can hear the inner workings of the piano moving about to make that very sound... THATS WHAT I CAN HEAR IN THIS! im sure for some people this is nothing, but i have truly never had good proper headphones like these. i started off my search almost getting sucked into the convenience of bluetooth ones and im so glad i didnt and i did a bit of research from people who actually know better & are passionate about this stuff

i also keep needing to pause my music because ill get to a new part of a song and get overwhelmed by how beautiful it sounds.

THIS IS SO LONG AND IS LITERALLY JUST ABOUT FUCKING HEADPHONES LMAOO. ITS JUST THAT GOOD!!!!!

#diary #saved from the talons of bluetooth headphone convenience #im more for wired headphones now than i ever have been #though i did buy an adapter for the buds thats bluetooth but thats exclusively for working so they dont snag on anything lol #(also to clarify i got these before the strike they just took a bit to ship)

[punisheddonjuan]

My IEMs gave out the other week. No great loss, I liked them quite a bit but they were $30. I mostly bought them as an experiment to see if I could tolerate wearing them, I have a bad history with earphones. A pair of Apple iPod earbuds netted me a four day stint in the hospital back in 2007 with a staph infection in both ear canals that got so bad they were nearly swollen shut (and even after I was discharged I was on IV antibiotics for a week at home). So I've been understandably squeamish about earphones since. That said, wearing heavy closed back headphones with a ten foot long cord to the grocery store is not super convenient, and I just need that sound isolation if I've got a migraine. So I bought a pair of cheap, well reviewed IEMs to dip my toes in, I really liked them, my partner even bought a pair.

So when they died the other week I decided to upgrade a tier and bought a pair of 7hz Sonus IEMs with the small amount of Christmas money I received this year. These things are fantastic, it's honestly insane that a dual driver IEM is under $100 (those are Canadian dollars I think they're around $60 USD). Very good on the technical merits, and they're tuned so well that it's the first time I haven't been tempted to fiddle with the EQ right out of the box to compensate for some lack in the sound characteristics. Very good bass, smooth mids, articulate treble, almost no sibilance at the frequencies you'd expect to find it (around 4khz to 6khz), nice sound stage too. You don't feel "inside your head" so much with them.

They even come with a nice carrying case.

I've got them paired with a $10 USB-C headphone amp/DAC with my phone (RIP headphone jacks, I will never buy fucking wireless headphones, fuck that bullshit) and I'm streaming my music collection from my home server through PlexAmp, and it's all fantastic.

I used to carry around an expensive and heavy stand alone DAP (iBasso DX150) with all my music loaded on microSD cards and this new set-up is such an upgrade in convenience (and battery life) and is on par vis-a-vis audio quality despite being half the cost. I miss some of the features from Neutron Music Player which I was using with my DX150 (parametric EQ, stereo-to-binaural DSP) but on the other hand I'm not switching out microSD cards, my entire 5600 album collection is just available on the fly, and it's one less thing to carry.

So yeah, a strong recommendation for the 7hz Sonus for anyone looking for a very affordable, excellent sounding pair of IEMs. I guarantee that these will net you a better experience than a pair of Airpods at a third the cost (death to all wireless headphones).

#Music #IEMs

[ano-kya]

Thought id share what iems ive been using for music (holy shit im terrible at taking photos LMAO)

<- left is the Linsoul TANGZU x HBB Wu Heyday iems, i only use these at my computer with the peace equalizer

-> Right are the Moondrop Aria Snow Edition iems which i use for everyday purpose when im out and i use them with the wavelet equalizer

(i dont have a dac T_T)

for my eq i usually set them at harman neutral before making it more of a mild v shape eq; i like to give more treble than bass as per my personal preference

I prefer the heyday iems much more for music listening due to the sound quality

the arias are still decent, however they are wearing down on the looks side with the silver paint but that doesnt really change the sound so ┐(︶▽︶)┌

#uhhhh yeag #ano-recs

[alantea87]

Two weeks in with a Nokia flip phone and no social media...

And I'm feeling better. Honestly, though. I do not miss social media. Especially the control it had over my emotions, lol. However, I do deeply miss memes. Memes were my oxygen. And I do miss the casual interactions with old and new friends on Insta. Facebook has been permanently deleted and my Instagram has been deactivated - not sure what next. But I am indeed enjoying my low-tech life using a Nokia flip.

New toy (pictured: Sennheiser HD599, affordable audiophile open-back wired headphones)...

How am I filling my time? MUSIC. Like the good old days. Like, listening to music in lossless with a wired head set kind of old days. These HD599s are a cult fave in the audiophile community for their accurate audio presentation, wide soundstage and resolution. Got them for £157, RRP £199. Basically it's like listening to your fave artists in the studio with them, as long as you feed them a decent source (I'm using Apple Music, lossless + hi ress lossless). Technically I'm not using a proper DAC, just Apple's lighting to 3.5mm adapter (a secret DAC by Apple) for my iPad Pro to drive these HD599s. The sound is out of this world. I'm hearing things in tracks I've not heard before. My current fave artist for about two years now is Zach Bryan (alt-country, americana - https://www.zachbryan.com/music). He's the only artist who can currently make me cry and that says alot.

Note-taking with pen and paper...

I have now resorted to my mini Muji notebook and pen jot down to dos, shopping lists and ideas. My Nokia doesn't have a note taking app, but it does have a simple calendar that I really like. My handwriting is awful, though. Over ten years of smartphone use would do that to a person.

My current EDC (every day carry) is as follows...

a) Nokia 2660 Flip, b) iPad, AirPods Pro 2, c) Muji notepad + gel pen, d) Kindle, e) on gym days... Apple Watch SE (for music)

SMS...

You'd think texting is horrendous on a feature phone, but suprisingly I would say it's very doable. Especially if predictive text is available, which it is on the Nokie 2660 Flip. Fine, you can't type quickly but the tactility of the keypad is lovely. It really feels like you're putting in more effort in your messages than a touch screen.

Less 'digital blur'...

I know such a term is used in the photo-editing world, but now I use it to describe my experience when I am presented with too much choice on streaming services or other digital media. Everything is blurring into one digital blob. With the exception of music streaming (I love the choice and I go through phases of liking certain genres/artists), I really do miss CDs and Blu-rays. I've now reconnected my 10 year old Blu-ray player to my 1080p projector to tap back into my Blu-ray collection. Thankfully, it's a good time to get back into them, as you can buy preowned Blu-rays for a couple quid on eBay including postage. You can't beat the picture quality and bitrate. Not to mention actually owning a physical copy no streaming service can take away from you, lol.

Less noise...

As I've deleted WhatsApp (the Nokia 2660 isn't compatible with WhatsApp, only the US version of it aka 2680 Flip), I've not been in any group chats for over two weeks and it's been bliss. Yes, that also includes my family ones. I do not miss them. The total lack of noifications on my Nokia (apart from calls, SMS and calendar events) has contributed to lower levels of general anxiety and distractions. I am now able to fully concentrate during a TV show or even when listening to an album. I am fully present and immersed. Even my conversations with real people have improved greatly; I am more patient and empathetic. Mainly because I am not half-scrolling on my phone anymore. Gosh, smartphones have really killed off real human connection.

Do I miss my iPhone...?

I think if you can have a healthy relationship with a smarthphone (not using social media, no doom scrolling etc), I think they pose as a vital tool in the modern world. But as I do not have that level of self control, my Nokia was the intervention I needed. Two weeks in I don't actually miss it. I miss how it was a tool to allow me to self-soothe (not in a healthy way). So breaking up with my smartphone was probably for the best. It's made me get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Awkward silences, quiet stares into space, being one with your thoughts. Just like the good old days.

Where is my iPhone?

It's tucked away in my drawer, fully charged with £5 loaded onto a seperate sim inserted in it to be used PAYG. It is only to be used in emergencies or when I am travelling to new distant lands e.g. South London, lol. Literally it just has Google Maps, Uber and email. Not even music. I don't want to see my iPhone as an entertainment device (I am not against digital entertainment, but I am against small smartphone devices that hijack your attention all day/night).

Am I bored?

Yes and no. Yes, because I loved the short-form media that exists on Instagram (spending sometimes hours per evening consuming it). And keeping up with my favourite meme accounts, musicians and rugby teams on there, too. But no, because I've just gone back to classic ways on keeping oneself entertained... music and movies.

Who am I texting?

Literally, just three close friends I've known for over 15 years. No body else.

Will I keep using my Nokia 2660 Flip?

Yes, for the time being. I think I found a compromise with using smart tech. Just not using a smartphone has been crucial to this compromise, as it has literally improved my mental health in only two weeks. All this extra time and energy has allowed me to focus on therapy (I have an amazing therapist I speak to weekly) and addressing key life challanges I have been avoiding for so long.

-

More posts to come,

Love, Alan. x

#nokia2660 #dumbphone #featurephone #nokia #sennheiser #HD599

[hifilounge]

Bel Canto Now Available at HiFi Lounge, Now This Was A Real Surprise!

Hi Everyone,

So it has been a while since we have bought on any new brands, I actually made a decision a few months ago to refine our offerings and go back to just focusing on the brands we really love, HFL is now in its 12th year and we have tried a lot of different kit and brands over that time so it is really refreshing to know exactly what brands we want to support and offer our customers but you have always got to keep your eyes, and ears, open as something may come along that really excites which really has been the case with Bel Canto.

So in all honestly this one has been a real surprise, now I will listen to anything as that is a great way to learn what is out there so when I was asked the other day if I would like to listen to some Bel Canto kit I thought why not, what's the harm but with my current thinking of focusing on the brands we have I had no intention of bringing them into the HFL fold, then I heard the £8900 All In One E1X integrated and I was sold instantly.

Bel Canto E1X With our demo YG Cairn Speakers

Like most people into HiFi I am sure the name Bel Canto is one that is known, I had heard the name before but knew nothing about them, but the only thing that matters to me is sound quality and you know when something is right and the E1X really delivered instantly, yes there is a lot of tech inside its sleek box, it is basically an integrated amp with a high quality streamer and phono stage built in but for me the sound quality was so open and natural I was instantly hooked, there was so much space and air it instantly reminded me of some of the valve amps we have here that have that ethereal spacious sound, you can also alter the treble and bass and it is Roon compatible, it really is a hell of an all in one.

Bel Canto Black EX With the Rega Naia and DeVore Fidelity

Then we tried the next level up, the Black EX Integrated, basically a £17k version of the E1X, this sounded amazing, much more than it’s size hinted to what was possible, such a natural and big sound. I have been looking for a Solid State brand that would work well with the DeVore speakers that we love so much at HFL so the next thing to try was to put the Black EX on our DeVore O/Baby's and 0/96’s and as I hoped It was a great combination, a real alternative to the 300B valve amps that makes them sing normally, I love its simplicity, you can have one of these boxes, a turntable and a pair of speakers and you are good to go with a system that will sound amazing.

Bel Canto Black Control DAC with Wilson Audio and D'Agostino

Next we tried £45k 2 Box Black Control DAC plugged in direct to our D’Agostino Momentum Stereo power amp which was driving our Wilson Audio Alexia V speakers, this is basically a streaming DAC/PRE but what I really love is that like the rest of the Bel Canto range is it actually has analogue inputs and a very high quality phono stage built in so and again you can build a really highend system without loads of boxes, again we got that amazing open sound but just more of it, certainly shone in this system.

Obviously Bel Canto do a whole range of kit so I look forward to exploring some more of their range, I particularly like the idea of the Pre/Power version of the all in ones, but from what I have heard so far I really believe that they will be a great addition to or portfolio as they offer something totally different to what we already offer and sound amazing, I am confident our customers will love it as much as I do.

So at the moment we have all 3 of the above products on demo so please feel free to come in for a listen anytime and please find a link below to Bel Canto on our website - 

All the best,

Paul.

#Bel Canto

[christophersenbekker94]

Role of Resistors in Modern Electronics

It's easy to fall prey to the temptation of cutting-edge devices and amazing improvements within the fast-paced, dynamic world of up to date electronics. Extra resources|Find more info , a little yet important element that's essential to the operation of each electrical gadget we rely on, is hidden beneath the slick surfaces and high-tech interfaces. Resistors are the unseen heroes that silently alter the panorama of our interconnected lives, but they're typically ignored by their flashier digital equivalents. These understated parts may not grab the highlight, but they are the unsung heroes in command of guaranteeing stability, accuracy, and security in the complicated community of circuits that powers our gadgets, appliances, and even life-supporting techniques. The Basics: What Are Resistors and How Do They Work? At its core, a resistor is an electrical component designed to impede the move of electrical present in a circuit. Think of it as a traffic controller for electrons, strategically managing their movement to prevent circuits from changing into overloaded or malfunctioning. This resistance is measured in ohms (Ω), and it is this resistance worth that determines how effectively a resistor regulates the flow of present. Resistors obtain their resistance by changing electrical power into heat energy—a course of generally known as electrical dissipation. This managed transformation of energy ensures that the present remains regular, preventing overheating and potential injury to related elements.

Precision and Control: Why Resistors Matter In an era the place precision is paramount, resistors step as a lot as the plate by offering accurate control over present and voltage ranges. This degree of precision is essential for applications ranging from easy LED dimming in household lighting to the complicated calculations required for medical imaging units. Imagine your smartphone's battery charging circuit. Without the precise resistance offered by resistors, the charging process might become erratic, leading to potential battery harm and even security hazards. Resistors make positive that the flow of energy is meticulously controlled, extending the lifespan of your gadget and safeguarding in opposition to the risk of overcharging. Resistors in the Digital Age: Bridging the Analog-Digital Divide While the digital age might seem dominated by binary code and intricate microprocessors, the role of analog circuits and elements remains vital. Resistors act as very important bridges between the analog and digital realms, enabling seamless interactions between the 2. In audio tools, resistors work harmoniously with capacitors and inductors to shape the frequency response of amplifiers and speakers, delivering the wealthy sound high quality we have come to count on. In the realm of digital-to-analog converters (DACs), resistors be positive that the translated digital indicators keep accuracy, leading to faithful sound reproduction and easy visual shows. Adaptability and Innovation: The Future of Resistors As electronics continue to evolve and new technologies emerge, the function of resistors remains as relevant as ever. Miniaturization, vitality effectivity, and enhanced efficiency are driving the development of novel resistor materials and configurations. Surface-mount resistors, for instance, have become commonplace within the electronics trade, permitting for compact designs and environment friendly heat dissipation. Furthermore, developments in nanotechnology are paving the way for resistors with even smaller dimensions, enabling the creation of microscopic units that push the boundaries of what's potential in electronics. While resistors may not grab the highlight in the world of modern electronics, their function can't be underestimated. They are the regular hand that guides the flow of electric present, ensuring that our gadgets function reliably, effectively, and with the precision demanded by the digital age. So, the subsequent time you pick up your smartphone, regulate the volume on your audio system, or marvel on the clarity of a high-definition display, take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes—the resistors—that make all of it potential. In a world of ever-evolving technology, these unassuming parts continue to play an essential function in powering our present and shaping our future..

#resistor

[edwinkjayesh]

Music Player in 2023... Why Sony?

The convenience of Bluetooth streaming is great but it is constrained by how much data it can pump through its signal. Though portable music players are preferably used with wired headphones for maximal performance, wired cans have seemingly enjoyed a recent renaissance too.

Smartphones are great for convenience but they’re not necessarily great for sound. As they’re multi-taskers, able to perform a range of functions, that also means they are a product that’s a jack of all trades but master of a few. Support for higher quality music has become better in the portable space with what Qualcomm is doing with its Snapdragon Sound platform and Sony’s innovations with LDAC, but in terms of outright quality for music, you won’t find better than a portable player.

Sony’s announcement of a new and not too expensive Walkman is a sign that portable music players still have a function and a purpose, as well as reminding some they still exist. Most would assume that portable music players have (or are) going the way of the Dodo, slowly passing their way out of relevance. However, we’re still seeing specialists such as Astell & Kern launch new players every year, and just recently FiiO announced the M11S. While Apple killed off the iPod, the rest of the portable player market isn’t interested in joining the scrap heap just yet.

The NW-A306 has a battery life of up to 36 hours of continuous playback, a 3.6-inch display, and because it runs on Android, you can install your favorite streaming apps if you must, although that defeats the point of having all your music with you. You'll still need a computer to load your music onto the device, just like with the iPhone's Music app, but that somehow seems less annoying with a walkman than with a phone. It also has audiophile-level playback at up to 96KHz (more than double the sample rate of a CD), although that's probably not a difference you can hear.

But it's not all upside. For a start, you'll have to carry two devices if you still want to carry your phone. And it's possible that you kind of let your music library slip when streaming came along. I bought a used iPod a while back, and when I loaded up all my songs, there was no music from the last half-decade or so because I'd been streaming it all.

The convenience of Bluetooth streaming is great but it is constrained by how much data it can pump through its signal. Though portable music players are preferably used with wired headphones for maximal performance, wired cans have seemingly enjoyed a recent renaissance too.

In a wider sense, of this seems to have converged around a greater want for higher quality music on the go. We have for decades limited ourselves in this area as MP3 streaming and downloads were a step in the wrong direction, one that’s taken a long time to reverse. In people’s minds, the quality of what they’re listening doesn’t matter as much as having access to it. We have access to more music than we can fathom at the moment, the area that we need to beef up is the quality we listen at.

From DACs to headphone amplifiers and higher quality streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz (we still wait for Spotify Hi-Fi to make its entrance), the issue of ‘quality’ is one of the frontiers that the music and audio industry is pushing towards. All these devices have the potential to make music sound better, so while my smartphone will still be my device of choice given how much it (rightly or wrongly) rules my day-to-day activities, when it comes to listening to music in its highest quality, I’ll be tuning in with my portable player to get the best experience possible.

On My View Point...

You may think that, there’s only a need of an audio enhancing software or a high end headphones. But on all every aspects, from nostalgic design, high end specs possible and even quality - Sony have managed to make it all happen in a capsule. And that’s it. For music lovers, this will be dream gadget for sure and so happy to see this upgrade on this formfactor which was really unexpected. And looking forward to have a glance of one of these in real. And that’s been it - Edwin K Jayesh

#technology #tech #tech news #New Tech #sony #sony walkman #walkman #audioplayer #audiomack #audio post #mp3player #mp3 #player #techblog #blog #news #hotnewartist #technology news

[afranciscomiradiezblr-blog]

Esta es la imagen y algunos datos (O no) la “Historia” la pones tú ¡La tuya! ¿Lo harás?…Rolling Stones.

"Going To California"-(DAC- 044)-Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, California, November 6, 2005-Sound Quality: Very Good to Excellent Audience. Really nice recording-Rolling Stones.

#Going To California-(DAC- 044)-Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles California November 6 2005-Sound Quality: Very Good to Excellent Audience. Really #¿Historias cortas para no dormir y no tener pesadillas? ¡Caray que Tropa! #¿Recordando el futuro desde un pretérito imperfecto?

[power-chords]

Sorry if people have asked this before, but what noise canceling headphones do you use/recommend? I’m in the market for a new pair and would love some suggestions

No worries! I mean, my audio engineer husband will sneer at me, but I love the Bose QC-35 IIs and I upgrade them every few years or so. Will probably graduate to the newer model, the QC45s I think, when my current pair wears out. I use and abuse them heavily.

If I'm listening to music at home, it's a totally different setup with an amp and a DAC and powered open-back headphones and HQ music files. But if I'm listening to music while I'm commuting, I'm not going to be that precious about it. I just need GOOD audio quality and the ability to shut out extraneous bullshit noise.

The Bose have an EQ curve that my husband doesn't like, where it colors the sound a little warmer and deeper, more bass-heavy. That is what I prefer. If you want a more "treble-y" pair of cans I would probably check out the Sony option as well. They're often rated higher in music magazines than the Bose, but I remain loyal to the Bose. They are what sound best to my ears.

[33bowls]

An open letter to Tidal Streaming

I am both an artist ( 33 Bowls ) with material on Tidal and a satisfied, so far, customer. I know what my music sounded like and sounds like, and can state unequivocally that MQA is closer to the real thing than even hi-res HD PCM; the nuances, the textures, the relaxed ease of listening, the details, the space, the timing, the soul of the music are present with MQA in ways that, as good as HD PCM can sound, are simply not quite there with HD PCM (erroneously referred to as HD FLAC, more on that later). Compared to MQA, PCM (including “HD” high bit rate PCM) also has a glare, zing, edge that on some systems can sound brighter and therefore be mis-interpreted as better --- when in fact that is an artifact of PCM sampling that MQA uniquely ameliorates. When you listen to a good MQA demo at a salon, studio or show, you will understand why major players in the music biz have enthusiastically embraced MQA, with 20 Million tracks to date mastered in MQA.

It is understandable but not commendable for Tidal’s new management to hedge their bets on MQA. However, such a backtrack away from the customer base that Tidal built their reputation upon is not necessarily the brightest business strategy. Is Tidal management counting on very short term memory of the existing customer base when backtracking away from the millions of MQA mastered and remastered tracks described by Tidal as this?

“Master. Authenticated files from mastering process. Studio quality. Unrivaled clarity and depth.”

Going after a minority of customers from a smaller competitor while alienating existing customers will “bite you in the butt” eventually. Don’t alienate your existing customer base. All it will take is one streaming competitor, larger or smaller, hosting the millions of MQA tracks that already exist. It would behoove Tidal to pay attention to actual current long term Tidal customers who are the customer base and word of mouth that Tidal has built the business upon, and ignore haters and trolls who are not actually current Tidal customers.

Adding more customer choices, in this case, formats, is usually a good thing, however, excluding an existing customers’ preference as a default option is just plain short sighted.

See, if instead of being swayed by a small but shrill group of sock puppet trolls, haters, and shills, if you actually listen to a good MQA demo at a salon, studio or show, you will understand why major players in the music biz have enthusiastically embraced MQA as evidenced by 20 Million tracks to date mastered in MQA.

Unlike the hodge poge of so called “hi-res” HD PCM and DSD formats vying for attention as incremental improvement at an exponential cost of bandwidth and file size; with no standardized conjugate reconstruction filters, that all to varying degrees have inherent audible time smear aka temporal blur from gibbs phenomena pre and post ringing on transients; while providing no authentication --- no other format or process can do what MQA does: elegantly, efficiently and accurately reproducing all of the music end to end; being backwards compatible with existing equipment and infrastructure, and being able to clean up existing digital masters.

As to the misnomer of “specialized decoder” --- not needed. As MQA is backwards compatible, MQA files can play back with improved fidelity on legacy 1fs 44.1/48 DACs and decoders with no USB driver issues. So called hi-res HD PCM “FLAC” files are not plug and play, and do actually need specialized drivers, hardware and software. For instance, Tidal Desktop with MQA software decoding, aka first unfold enabled, feeding an R2R DAC can sound quite nice. Such an option as default needs to remain in future updates of Tidal Desktop, Android and Apple apps.

It’s ludicrous that this needs to be explained again: FLAC is a container, not the contents. When streaming bit perfect PCM material, whether CD quality 44.1/16, or so called hi-res HD PCM, or authenticated MQA, bit perfect lossless bit packing that FLAC uses was invented by the same Bob Stuart who also happens to be a co-developer of MQA. So, he wrote the book on that. He knows what he is doing. More here:

https://www.tumblr.com/33bowls/714450718525947904/mqa-faq

https://www.aes.org/journal/online/JAES_V67/5/

In summary: the internet is full of obnoxious sock puppets, trolls, haters, shills. You should know better than to listen to or be swayed by them. There are good reasons why top recording engineers, producers, mastering engineers prefer MQA as closer to the source than other formats and processes. Take good care of MQA, as MQA has taken good care of you, and will continue to do so, if you are up for it.

Update: 

It appears that at least some of the tracks that Tidal is now claiming are HD PCM “Tidal max” are likely up-sampled MQA 44.1k or 48k folded tracks. One label states that their streamed tracks, directly or via aggregator, are all MQA, and that none have been resubmitted as 96k or 192k HD PCM. Unlike MQA’s inclusion of embedded proof of provenance coded and buried in the dither, to indicate that the bitstream is bit for bit perfect from the studio, the flac container has no such provision for authentication. So, HD PCM “Tidal max” files could be upsampled versions of folded MQA sources, and there is no way to prove or disprove that assertion, except to perform real time FFTs of the files. And, there is more to MQA than just sample rate: correct conjugate filtering with minimal time smear or dispersion on transients also known as de-blurring is a perceptually significant feature of MQA, which is ruined when an MQA file is up-sampled rather than unfolded. Max, as HD or high bit rate PCM delivered via FLAC container as a “preferred” default is a step backwards compared to the excellent sonics of MQA, also delivered via FLAC container.

What say, Tidal?

What are the sources of your streamed files?

#MQA #Tidal #music #listen #flac #max