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#1
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The Loudness War
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#2
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Heh, guess they couldn't take a master recording of Mariah Carey for their demo...
Even on youtube the difference in meter jump was substantial between the two tracks...
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Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia |
#3
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The loudness war is a serious problem for us high-end audio aficionados. Hopefully this trend will reverse itself as awareness grows.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#4
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It's really a shame, just as the gear evolved to truly let you experience high fidelity sound, the music industry started to do the opposite with the recordings. If it wasn't for some carefully mastered audiophile grade recordings and some of the older music recorded well, I don't think high end audio would have had any future at all. Who want's to listen to a revealing system playing dynamic range compressed/ear scorching music? At best I can only "tolerate" many of the dynamic range compressed recordings but the "enjoyment" is not there....
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#5
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If you want to hear how this kind of compression can absolutely destroy what could have been a great recording, this CD, Don Henley - Building The Perfect Beast, is a classic example. There are some well written songs here, but the production makes them practically unlistenable. This is not just ear fatigue, this is audio torture.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#6
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Quote:
Maybe we should start a thread on the most un-listenable cd's... |
#7
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My favorite band Rush has also suffered this fate. Recordings before 1985 which were ADD are definitely not as detailed but buttery smooth, no harshness. The DDD recordings that followed became increasingly over compressed. I used to just refer to it as another "Harsh" sounding digital recording. On crappy equipment you really don't hear it as much.
Their last two albums are nearly unbearable in this respect. It is a shame as the music itself, especially the latest album is in my opinion spectacular. Of course on an I-pod, who cares. Why in the world do the engineers do this? Are they not aware? Do none of them listen to above average equipment? What gives? Are they saving $ by doing it this way??? I have been trying every trick I can think of to fix it on my end and I have come to the conclusion I can't.
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MX-136, C2300, MC602s(2), MC207, MCD500, MS750, MR88, Pioneer Elite BR, JL Gothams (2), GR research LS6s and LS-9s soon, Wireworld Cables, Dedicated 20amp circuits, Lots of Cerwin Vegas and Onkyo gear. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
#8
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2112.......Once the peaks have be squashed, and the low levels have been increased, then mastered, it is over. You can not recreated the original dynamics. The damage is permanent.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A |
#9
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Quote:
Did I mis-remember or misinterpret that??
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MX-136, C2300, MC602s(2), MC207, MCD500, MS750, MR88, Pioneer Elite BR, JL Gothams (2), GR research LS6s and LS-9s soon, Wireworld Cables, Dedicated 20amp circuits, Lots of Cerwin Vegas and Onkyo gear. [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
#10
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Quote:
I have Bruce Springsteen's Magic on vinyl and it's so compressed that the needles in my 501's view meters appear to be stuck. The opposite of compression is expansion. My C34V has a compressor/expander but expansion, alas, it introduces problems of its own (i.e. a "pumping" effect.) IMO dynamic compression is a worst offender than digital compression (i.e. MP3). Alberto |
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