Sound Quality Still Matters, Part II
Readers had varied reactions to my previous posting Sound Quality Still Matters though most agreed that audio data compression either adds a harsh "digital edge" to music, or it removes valuable information that lowers overall quality.
It's worth mentioning that there is a significant difference between "lossy" and "lossless" audio compression techniques. Lossy compression, used in MP3 music files, relies on psychoacoustics and data redundancy to reduce the size of a music file. Some sounds are considered imperceptible or irrelevant to the human ear and some sounds are considered redundant and thus are removed or not encoded when making an MP3 music file. This data reduction method can contribute to the harsh digital edge referred to by one reader. In addition, subtle musical cues that may be considered redundant or imperceptible and are thus removed, contribute to a clearly perceptible sound stage and a distinct sonic image, two of the most important aspects of good stereo sound.
Another reader points out correctly that audio compression methods such as FLAC and WMA are lossless, meaning that no data is removed when being encoded even though the file size is reduced. While true, I think the larger point in this discussion is that we all spend our hard-earned money on good stereo equipment to get the best possible sound experience. Recorded music is very complex and sounds best when reproduced as closely as possible to the original performance with little or no processing. I'm reminded of the expression 'a straight wire with gain', which refers to the ideal audio amplification system that adds or subtracts nothing and only increases the level or amplitude of the signal. A lofty but worthy goal. Thanks to all the readers who posted comments. Any more thoughts?
Comments
In a perfect world there would be no need for lossless file compression, and the other format listed would be more widely supported by hardware venders, I have never seen a cd player that supported anything other then MP3 or WMA, and the WMA one was very rare.
My taste in music has changed over the years, theses days I listen to more of the instrumental, smooth jazz type, which tends to lend itself to wanting to listen to in the best quality possible, ie, cd,or even LP if possible.. nowadays a record player is kind of a rarity. In the interest of being completly fair I would never play a recored more then needed, when I got a new record I would play it and recored it to cassettes and play the tape and save the record. Now days we rip a cd to the computer converting to p3 and playing it in our portable players, which is fine, except s I said before, its easy to forget what a cd supposed to sound like in the first place.
for more thoughts on my ideas you can read my blog; kenenthlawson.blogspot.com/