hmmm 96khz/24 bit

[The Pink Panther]

Giving this a try at the moment, just for kicks you know. I am an all digital kind a hifi person.

So I currently run
Spotify Premium for MP3 @ 320Kbps,
ITunes blahhh for Albums ripped in apple lossless format
Monkey Media for 96/24 bit recordings.

I am really happy with all aspects of the Spotify service. Sound quality is good.
iTunes however does not have a good user interface at all. It winds me and my computer up, slows it down ..... all in all iTunes = bad.

In fact currently use the local files section from Spotify to listen to my ripped CDs. I am considering re ripping all my CDs to FLAC format and playing through Monkey Media, which is excellent.

Any way the point of the post was to show my satisfaction at the 96/ 24 bit recordings I am having a listen too. What a fantastic sound, very limited amount of music available in this format. Would be great to have more available. I wish it was the future to have all recordings like this.

So to sum up

Spotify = Excellent
Monkey media = Excellent
96/24 bit = Excelent

iTunes = rubbish

[Tim]

iTunes however does not have a good user interface at all. It winds me and my computer up, slows it down ..... all in all iTunes = bad.
iTunes is the devil incarnate :steam: I think it's a conspiracy by Apple..... if you have a MAC, iTunes is fine, if you have a PC, it screws it!

[Jac Hawk]

Why not use dBpoweramp to convert your Apple lossless files into flac:eyebrows: you can also mess about with the bit rate and frequency on dBpoweramp, so you can upsample 16bit to 24bit. Simples:)

[slate]

iTunes is the devil incarnate :steam: I think it's a conspiracy by Apple..... if you have a MAC, iTunes is fine, if you have a PC, it screws it!

Same with Safari... luckily there are so many better browser alternatives.

But taking people that buy their gadgets hostage with iTunes... it does not make sense

[The Pink Panther]

Why not use dBpoweramp to convert your Apple lossless files into flac:eyebrows: you can also mess about with the bit rate and frequency on dBpoweramp, so you can upsample 16bit to 24bit. Simples:)

I can do this ? hmm is it a free download and is it easy to do?

[Jac Hawk]

You can download a trial version i think http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

[Stratmangler]

I wouldn't get too tied up over 24/96 = quality+

Many 24/96 files sound better because of the mastering being better.
I have some albums in both 16/44.1 and 24/96 and are taken from the same master; I find it very difficult to distinguish between the two bit depths and sample rates.

Then there are recordings where the mastering for 24/96 is just soooo different and superior sounding it's untrue.
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss' "Raising Sand" falls into this category. The 24/96 version is the one to have.

[Tim]

I can do this ? hmm is it a free download and is it easy to do?
Converting file formats is normally pretty simple. I learnt a long time ago that having a master library in a lossless format was the only way forward. You can easily convert to pretty much anything you want after that. Never used dBpoweramp, but I don't think it's free - http://www.dbpoweramp.com/cd-ripper.htm

People swear by it, so it must be good. The only reason I have never used it, is I use EAC mostly for ripping and I paid for East CD-DA Extractor a long time ago, which will also easily convert file formats as well a rip whatever you want. That's all I need and with my entire collection ripped to FLAC, I can do whatever I want with it :)

http://www.poikosoft.com/

[Stratmangler]

dbPoweramp is available on a time limited trial basis, and it gives you just about all the functionality of the pay for version.

[Jac Hawk]

And it's the bom diggy apparently

[jantheman]

Not directly related to your original question...but....have a look at J River Media Centre. Trial is for 30 days. I found it to be better than Monkey Tunes especially if you set it up using the WASAPI Event Style plugin. Not sure if that would be available on your NC10, depends on your OS....If its XP you wont get it but you can try it anyway and use the Kernel Streaming plugin.
Dont know why but I can easily tell the difference between media players on a PC but on a Mac they all sound the same.

[The Pink Panther]

Many thanks to all for the help, It does seem pointless to re rip all CDs so convert I shall try.

I might have a quick look at J river as well.

This forum is so helpful . thanks again

PP

[jantheman]

On a side note, I know J River will do file conversion and I'm pretty sure Media Monkey will as well......

[magiccarpetride]

I have some albums in both 16/44.1 and 24/96 and are taken from the same master; I find it very difficult to distinguish between the two bit depths and sample rates.

Have you tried the Beatles 2009 remasters in 24-bit? Noticeable difference when compared to the 2009 16-bit remasters. Now, I'm not sure if the mastering was different for the two formats, but in the end, the 24-bit version is way superior.

[Stratmangler]

Have you tried the Beatles 2009 remasters in 24-bit? Noticeable difference when compared to the 2009 16-bit remasters. Now, I'm not sure if the mastering was different for the two formats, but in the end, the 24-bit version is way superior.

Yes, and I agree with you, The Beatles 24bit remasters do sound better.
Most other examples I've heard though have little or no difference if they've come from the same mastering session.

[Jac Hawk]

Have you tried the Beatles 2009 remasters in 24-bit? Noticeable difference when compared to the 2009 16-bit remasters. Now, I'm not sure if the mastering was different for the two formats, but in the end, the 24-bit version is way superior.

In those days there was no such thing as digital mastering, so if the 24bit version was from the original tapes, you will hear a difference, but in my oppinion you have to be listening to tell, i guess what i'm saying is that 24bit is better but it's not like night and day

[magiccarpetride]

In those days there was no such thing as digital mastering, so if the 24bit version was from the original tapes, you will hear a difference, but in my oppinion you have to be listening to tell, i guess what i'm saying is that 24bit is better but it's not like night and day

I hear ya. In a way, nothing is like night and day (heck, a lot of people have difficulties hearing a difference between lossless and 128 kbps mp3).

[Jac Hawk]

I hear ya. In a way, nothing is like night and day (heck, a lot of people have difficulties hearing a difference between lossless and 128 kbps mp3).

the best way i can describe 24bit over 16bit, is that it's more involved, less sterile, more natural, it's not something you can easily put your finger on, and most people when just casualy listening won't really hear the difference, put it another way it's like 2 bottles of wine from the same label, but one is a better year than the other.

[Lee Henley]

iTunes is the devil incarnate :steam: I think it's a conspiracy by Apple..... if you have a MAC, iTunes is fine, if you have a PC, it screws it!

There's a great cure for that

GET A MAC!

There so good Ive got 2, Ive also got 2 PC's but there in the loft no longer in use

[Tim]

GET A MAC!
:no:

Not whilst I'm still drawing breath.......... I wouldn't have one if you gave it too me, it'd go straight on eBay.

[Jac Hawk]

:no:

Not whilst I'm still drawing breath.......... I wouldn't have one if you gave it too me, it'd go straight on eBay.

+1