Converting WAV to FLAC which FLAC Level is sufficient

[sergeauckland]

Please don't loose too much sleep over this. I have a DAC which detects the accuracy of incoming data using a specially constructed test signal. I attached the DAC to a low-powered computer via three repeating 5m USB extensions. No errors, not one bit. Nichts. Nowt. Zilch.

I doubt errors are an issue with the typical 1m link between computer and DAC unless you use a really kooky specialist audiofool USB cable that strays so far from the USB spec. as to achieve a remarkable sound.

And even when there may be an audible error, it manifests itself as a tiny click, possibly a short mute. It does NOT, nor can it, make a difference to audio quality in terms of frequency response or distortion, or those beloved audiophile terms such as musicality, dynamic impact, space between instruments, inky blacks etc etc etc. It either works, or it doesn't.

S.

 

[maty]

I have never believed that the ODAC was responsible until I read about USB 1.1, which made me doubt. After testing with WiFi it is clearly not. Two very different systems but sharing the same source, the PC.

I do not know if I commented before but with Linux (optimized but without success) I have never achieved the same sound quality that I have with my very optimized Windows The difference in quality was great, almost certainly it would have been unable to differentiate not only WAV vs FLAC from Linux. This ties me to Windows from a lot of years.

 

[maty]

Does anyone have a logical explanation about why the MP3 at 48 kHz sounds much better than 44 kHz?
The difference is very noticeable, it misplaces you.

 

[SIY]

Does anyone have a logical explanation about why the MP3 at 48 kHz sounds much better than 44 kHz?

Cite needed for that assertion.

 

[maty]

It is what I appreciated yesterday in my main system. If you send me an email I provide you a link to the files. https://nauscopio.wordpress.com/about/

 

[SIY]

OK, so no actual testing of that assertion. Worthless.

 

[sergeauckland]

Does anyone have a logical explanation about why the MP3 at 48 kHz sounds much better than 44 kHz?
The difference is very noticeable, it misplaces you.

I can think of good reasons why MP3 at 44.1k should be slightly better than 48k, and better still at 32k sampling, especially at low bit rates.

S

 

[maty]

OK, so no actual testing of that assertion. Worthless.

And yet you do not do your own test or ask me for the files

 

[SIY]

I didn't make the assertion. You did.

 

[maty]

I can think of good reasons why MP3 at 44.1k should be slightly better than 48k, and better still at 32k sampling, especially at low bit rates.

S

With FLAC, which is the format that I listen to at home, SoX 24/48 sounds better than SoX 24/44, from the same audio, 24/96 or 24/192, WAV or FLAC. In my two systems.

 

[pkane]

And yet you do not do your own test or ask me for the files

You might get more responses if you actually had an example that was on-topic for this thread. What does MP3 have to do with FLAC vs WAV?

 

[maty]

In yesterday's test I forgot to create the WAV. Now the first system is busy. Anyway, it is very easy to prove what I discovered yesterday and that surprised me so much.

 

[maty]

If someone is really interested I can do the following test as soon as possible, in both systems.

Aqualung, vinyl rip 24/192 FLAC -> SoX 24/96 WAV. Then:

1. SoX 24/96 FLAC 8

2. SoX 24/96 FLAC 4

3. SoX 24/96 FLAC 0

4. SoX 24/96 WAV

 

[RayDunzl]

I can do the following test

Test?

How?

 

[maty]

By ear. It would be stupid to fool myself! And the files could be shared.

 

[graz_lag]

... I do not know if I commented before but with Linux (optimized but without success) I have never achieved the same sound quality that I have with my very optimized Windows The difference in quality was great, almost certainly it would have been unable to differentiate not only WAV vs FLAC from Linux ...

Linux - more than Windows, is definitely the right way to set up an audiophile computer.
I do not know what you mean for "optimized but without success" - but I can tell you that a well optimized Linux computer does not leave any chance of competition to a Windows based one. (Both with the same hardware specs.)

 

[maty]

I have been unable to achieve the same sound quality, I must be useless. I could say the opposite, but it would be fooling, starting with myself, stupidity. If I have not been able, I do not have to lie or hide it. I am willing to try again. A new thread would be better. I love learning new things and looking for excellence in the topics that interest me a lot.

 

[simbloke]

I'm completely lost. I have no idea what this thread is about anymore

 

[Blumlein 88]

I'm completely lost. I have no idea what this thread is about anymore

That makes two of us at least.

 

[Old Listener]

And yet you do not do your own test or ask me for the files

When you make an assertion, it is up to you to provide evidence to support it. "I heard it" isn't sufficient evidence.