Can even a Novice hear differences in Sound Qualit


Just wanted to relate an experience I recently had with a friend of mine. Those that have read my Threads before, have heard me wax enthusiastically about a DIANA KRALL-The Look of Love-DVD Audio Disk. The Recording has a Multi-Channel Surround Sound version Recorded in 24-bit/96 kHz. The Disk is being played through a Pioneer DV-58AV Universal Player, connected to a SpaceTechLab A-102 Vacuum Tube Headphone Amp, Driving a pair of Grado RS-1 Headphones. Only having 2-Channel capability, the Pioneer can Downmix the Multi-Channel version to two. A 65 year old friend of mind, not an Audiophile with limited hearing, was given a chance to listen to this Recording. His jaw had dropped to the floor. After listening for five minutes, he took the Headphones off and said "why don't they make all of them sound as good"? This Man was unimpressed with the multiple 2-Channel SACD/2-Channel Hi-Rez DVD-Audio Disks that he has heard on this Pioneer. The only thing that I can say is "out of the mouth of Babes...."! Sorry to keep harping on the point, but I believe that this is the only solution to the lack of Harmonic Content on all 2-Channel Digital Recordings, no matter the sampling rate. I also believe that it is the only solution to closing the gap of Harmonic Content between Analog and Digital, minus the ticks and pops. It would be a damn shame to lose it!
pettyofficer
hi pettyoficer:

i mentioned several labels in my last post which i believe exemplify excellent recording quality. depending upon your taste(s), you can find examples of high quality recordings.

there are small labels which produce decent-sounding redbook cds.
Point well taken, Mrtennis. Didn't mean to sound like all 100% of Digital Recordings are horrible. It is just that when you listen to this Diana Krall Multi-channel DVD-Audio in downmix mode, it will hit you like a brick wall, "So this is what has been missing from Digital for 30 years, even the 2-channel SACD/DVAudio"! Has anyone even tried this Disk, on a separate Universal Player, in Surround Sound or Downmix Mode? Friend of mine tried this Disk with the Pioneer going thru his Stereo System and Speakers(Downmix mode). Said that Diana Kralls voice sounded too forward and bloated. Don't quite get the same effect with RS-1's. He had to concede, however, that this Digital Downmix Recording has the most Harmonic Content of any Digital Recording that he has ever heard! The Harmonics seem to trail off into infinity, the Soundstage is twice as large than any Digital Recording than I have ever heard, even 2-Channel SACD! It kind of took me by surprise, it almost sounded like listening to a Record! You don't get that with any other Digital Recording that I am familiar with!
Small Labels certainly do a better job than the Mass Produced Recording Industry Labels. The problem is that it is the Big guys who own all of the Original Master Analog Recordings. If there is a certain Pop Music Artist that you like to listen to, it is the Huge Recording Industry that usually owns the rights to it. That is the main reason why you won't find most Popular Music being released on Audiophile Recordings. Someone is putting the big squeeze on! It is certainly not to benefit us!
Everyone has been harping on a plan. IMO it is nothing more than Red Meat for the so-called intellectual Nay-saying Dogs to feed on! They shoot Audiophiles, don't they? Here is the Plan, Bon-Apetite Adolph!
1. Try to establish if Downmixes of Multi-Channel SACD
or High Rez. DVD-Audio have the greater potential
for Sound Quality. Everyone could sample, everyone
could vote untill a concensus is formed.
2. Try to contact Recording Engineer that developed the
Format for everyones favorite type of Downmix. Share
Details of how this recording was made with other
Audiogon members. Inquire about any plans for future
similar Recordings.
3. Contact Manufacturing Company that released this
Recording. Send a petition showing interest in this
Company making more of the same type of Recordings,
utilizing this same format.

The bottom line, is that the Idea for the Original Recording Format was not only sold by a clever Recording Technician, it was also already bought by a Recording Company. They are just waiting to see if there is actually a Market Response. I am sure that part of the reason for the lack of decent Sound Quality, is that no-one even bothers to ask for it. It is sort of like the prettiest girl at the Prom who never gets asked out on a date, everyone thinks that they are not good enough for her. It is your choice to be one of those Idiots, I am asking you not to. You know, if everyone believes that they have no say in Sound Quality, then the illusion becomes reality. Everyone believes that they are not good enough. The door opens wide for the opportunity for one lucky Son-of-a-_____, to actually ask the Girl out. The rest of us Idiots are left wondering, what the Hell does she see in him? Lousy Sound Quality in the next Format doesn't have to be a self-fullfilling Prophecy! That is, unless, you prefer self-mutilation. It doesn't have to be that way! Who is going to be the first one, with enough courage, to step across the dance floor to ask the Girl out?
No-one! Then the Girl never gets asked out, and we all become part of the Idiots suffering under a self imposed Illusion! An opportunity for better Sound Quality, quickly slips away, because no-one will grasp it in time! This is the Audiophiles Plan for better Recorded Sound Quality, delude yourself into believing that a lesser Format will have adequate Sound Quality! And the next lesser Format after that, same thing? Why bother calling yourself an Audiophile, why not just call yourself a Beggarphile! I don't want to be an Audiophile anymore, because I don't want to be a self imposed Loser anymore! Audiophile- someone who spends an inordinate amount of money on Audio Gear, while looking for the cheapest, and lowest quality Format to play on it! An Oxymoron-heavy on the Moron! Someone who desperately seeks lower quality Formats, while obsessively chases ever Higher Quality Audio Gear to play it on! An Enigma, a Contradiction, a fool who enjoys and embraces futile attempts to improve on ever lower Quality Formats! I have decided, that these words will no longer pertain to me!
Yes, but that alone doesn't mean that they care enough or can afford to drop 10s of thousands of dollars into a SOTA audio system.

Lets be real, this stuff is a luxury, not a commodity. You have to be able to hear, then care, then pay.

Nice rant on behalf of audio buffs though!