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pwnasaurus
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Registered: 07/16/08
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: s240779]
#19081378 - 11/03/13 04:56 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: All We Perceive]
#19081428 - 11/03/13 05:06 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I think it also depends on your sensitivity OP.
To be honest, I've found that despite my love sound, I'm pretty insensitive to subtle changes in audio. For example, I can't tell the difference between something ripped at 320kbs, and playing a CD directly.
I also can't readily discern between say, "regular" dolby digital and say, DTS-HD sound.
The amount of difference you perceive depends in part, on you and your experience with audio.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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s240779

Registered: 12/07/10
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: badchad]
#19081437 - 11/03/13 05:09 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: I also can't readily discern between say, "regular" dolby digital and say, DTS-HD sound.
I don't think you're supposed to add "between." I think it should read like this:
I also can't readily discern "regular" dolby digital from DTS-HD sound.
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pwnasaurus
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: badchad]
#19081455 - 11/03/13 05:11 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: I think it also depends on your sensitivity OP.
To be honest, I've found that despite my love sound, I'm pretty insensitive to subtle changes in audio. For example, I can't tell the difference between something ripped at 320kbs, and playing a CD directly.
I also can't readily discern between say, "regular" dolby digital and say, DTS-HD sound.
The amount of difference you perceive depends in part, on you and your experience with audio.
99% of people cannot discern the difference between lossless and 320kbps MP3. Anyone with a remotely discerning ear can tell the difference between a laptop sound card and an external sound card with a nice pair of cans. The ATH-M50s fall into that category.
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: badchad]
#19081465 - 11/03/13 05:14 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Through my MOTU Microbook II > Tannoy Reveal 6 I can hear a huge difference in depth between V0 and m4a.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081469 - 11/03/13 05:15 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said: Anyone with a remotely discerning ear can tell the difference between a laptop sound card and an external sound card with a nice pair of cans. The ATH-M50s fall into that category.
Maybe a dumb question, but in the era of digital audio, why is that so? Isn't the digital media just transferring 1's and 0's?
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
Edited by badchad (11/03/13 05:16 PM)
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akira_akuma
Φύσις κρύπτεσθαι ὕψιστος φιλεῖ


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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081476 - 11/03/13 05:16 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
Quote:
badchad said: I think it also depends on your sensitivity OP.
To be honest, I've found that despite my love sound, I'm pretty insensitive to subtle changes in audio. For example, I can't tell the difference between something ripped at 320kbs, and playing a CD directly.
I also can't readily discern between say, "regular" dolby digital and say, DTS-HD sound.
The amount of difference you perceive depends in part, on you and your experience with audio.
99% of people cannot discern the difference between lossless and 320kbps MP3.
really?
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pwnasaurus
Stranger



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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: Middleman]
#19081482 - 11/03/13 05:17 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Rev. Morton said: Through my MOTU Microbook II > Tannoy Reveal 6 I can hear a huge difference in depth between V0 and m4a.
Maybe you are part of the 1%. Have you blind-tested yourself on ~20 files?
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: akira_akuma]
#19081489 - 11/03/13 05:18 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
akira_akuma said:
really? 
I post on audiophile forums where people claim they can tell a difference among types of HDMI cables. Unfortunately, beyond anecdotal claims, there ain't a whole lot to support those assertions.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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pwnasaurus
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: badchad]
#19081496 - 11/03/13 05:20 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
badchad said: I post on audiophile forums where people claim they can tell a difference among types of HDMI cables. Unfortunately, beyond anecdotal claims, there ain't a whole lot to support those assertions.
A blind test is a pretty damned easy way to tell. Until I see some actual research that supports it I won't believe it.
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081502 - 11/03/13 05:21 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah, I went to engineering school, and I need the gear to hear it. I's no big difference.
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pwnasaurus
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: Middleman]
#19081517 - 11/03/13 05:23 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I didn't quite follow that post.
How is having gone to engineering school relevant?
By "I need the gear to hear it" did you mean you need a high-end audio setup like the one you mentioned in your previous post? (MOTU Microbook II > Tannoy Reveal 6)
By "it's no big difference" did you mean the difference between mp3 and lossless is pretty minimal?
Not trying to nitpick, I'm curious and I don't want to make assumptions.
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081535 - 11/03/13 05:27 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I learned in school how to 'train' my ears to hear differences in phase, etc. Audio files are only as good as the converters, amp, and speakers they are played through. Through low-end stuff there is not much audible difference between formats.
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pwnasaurus
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: Middleman]
#19081549 - 11/03/13 05:30 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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So would you say there is or isn't a big difference on perfect gear between mp3 and lossless?
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081564 - 11/03/13 05:33 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I just said that through nice gear there is a difference, even V0. Sorry for the confusion, I meant to wirte, without it there is no big difference.
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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,373
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081623 - 11/03/13 05:45 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
pwnasaurus said:
Quote:
badchad said: I post on audiophile forums where people claim they can tell a difference among types of HDMI cables. Unfortunately, beyond anecdotal claims, there ain't a whole lot to support those assertions.
A blind test is a pretty damned easy way to tell. Until I see some actual research that supports it I won't believe it.
I agree. Every now and then, I'll splurge on expensive gear just for kicks, but I try to save my cash for things I can really tell a difference on.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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All We Perceive
Sea Cucumber



Registered: 09/24/07
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: badchad]
#19081771 - 11/03/13 06:11 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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Yeah, my dad has a really, really nice system and you can definitely tell the difference easily on it between v/0 and flac. On my speakers, much less so. I can tell though with my cans. I download flac mostly as an investment for when I have much nicer audio components.
--------------------
"plus they atually think jambands are good or sumthing, so they clearly know absolutely nothing about music, clearly lol" -Bassfreak
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pwnasaurus
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: All We Perceive]
#19081801 - 11/03/13 06:16 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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I have ATH-M50s and a Scarlett 8i6 and I can tell absolutely no difference 99% of the time. Have you blind-tested yourself?
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All We Perceive
Sea Cucumber



Registered: 09/24/07
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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: pwnasaurus]
#19081910 - 11/03/13 06:35 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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No. Maybe I should although I like having my music in CD quality. It's like a collector thing.
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"plus they atually think jambands are good or sumthing, so they clearly know absolutely nothing about music, clearly lol" -Bassfreak
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Soulidarity
With Your Halo Slippin . . .



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Re: is getting an external sound card worth it? [Re: All We Perceive]
#19082005 - 11/03/13 06:54 PM (10 years, 3 months ago) |
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If your looking to improve sound quality, an amp/dac is the best solution. Sound cards are like a half upgrade. It's like buying diet coke, not the full product
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  R.I.P. WoodRuss67, Todcasil, TheMerryIguana, The Rompus, Lord Senate. [/url]
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