Hi SY;
If that's the case (rare pre-emphasis) then that is not the issue. To be honest, most (OK, all) of my flac files come from dubious sources. Some sound great, others seem to be completely tinny. It seems that when I watch a downloaded movie from similar 'file sharing' sites (honest officer, I just found this hard drive in the street!), the bass control has to be reduced by 6 or more db and the treble increased by almost the same.
Any idea what I'm doing wrong? It was mentioned that my flac files could be vinyl rips but wouldn't a phono preamp certainly have the RIAA curve built in. I feel strongly that my files are not from vinyl, but could it have something to do with who made the flac file?
If that's the case (rare pre-emphasis) then that is not the issue. To be honest, most (OK, all) of my flac files come from dubious sources. Some sound great, others seem to be completely tinny. It seems that when I watch a downloaded movie from similar 'file sharing' sites (honest officer, I just found this hard drive in the street!), the bass control has to be reduced by 6 or more db and the treble increased by almost the same.
Any idea what I'm doing wrong? It was mentioned that my flac files could be vinyl rips but wouldn't a phono preamp certainly have the RIAA curve built in. I feel strongly that my files are not from vinyl, but could it have something to do with who made the flac file?
It's a long shot but have you checked your speaker polarity? No insult intended 🙂
Can you post your REW loopback test?
Can you post your REW loopback test?
No offense taken, with my questions I deserve it!
I will have to recal my sound card and save it as a jpg, but regarding this or the speaker phasing, the sound is great with some flac files, horrible with others, card and speakers are common to both, unchanged, I would think.
I will have to recal my sound card and save it as a jpg, but regarding this or the speaker phasing, the sound is great with some flac files, horrible with others, card and speakers are common to both, unchanged, I would think.
Peter, please don't feel embarressed by any lack of knowledge. Each of us is born totally ignorant. Some of us have gone through the process of learning this subject. Much of life involves being humble enough to admit that, just possibly, there is something more we might learn from others. A few here seem to have forgotten that. You show such humility, and the courage to seek out the knowledge of others. You set an admirable example for eveyone.
Hey Peter, a lot of good advice in this thread. I'll add my 2 cents.
I've been using computer music players since about 1999. Foobar, Winamp, Music Match, BeOS players, iTunes, VLC, Windows Media and others. Hands down the best I've used is JRiver Media player. Once I started using it in 2009, I never looked back.
It is very easy to get bit perfect playback out of JRiver and a lot of other players, I've tested it. I like JRiver for its great user interface, remote control and excellent library tools. I have over 46 thousand tracks in my library. Keeping all that neat and organized is a chore, but JRiver makes it less painful. My files are about evenly split between MP3 and FLAC (loseless) along with some WM, WAV, OGG and APE formats.
I do not, however, use bit perfect playback. I do EQ and delays inside JRiver, it has all I need. I also use it for volume control. All DSP is done at 64 bits, then output to 24 bits to my DAC.
That's almost a dollar's worth, but sums up my experience nicely. It isn't hard to do extremely good computer audio, if you use the right tools. The right tools are not hard to find.
I've been using computer music players since about 1999. Foobar, Winamp, Music Match, BeOS players, iTunes, VLC, Windows Media and others. Hands down the best I've used is JRiver Media player. Once I started using it in 2009, I never looked back.
It is very easy to get bit perfect playback out of JRiver and a lot of other players, I've tested it. I like JRiver for its great user interface, remote control and excellent library tools. I have over 46 thousand tracks in my library. Keeping all that neat and organized is a chore, but JRiver makes it less painful. My files are about evenly split between MP3 and FLAC (loseless) along with some WM, WAV, OGG and APE formats.
I do not, however, use bit perfect playback. I do EQ and delays inside JRiver, it has all I need. I also use it for volume control. All DSP is done at 64 bits, then output to 24 bits to my DAC.
That's almost a dollar's worth, but sums up my experience nicely. It isn't hard to do extremely good computer audio, if you use the right tools. The right tools are not hard to find.
"So when you play a CD through your computer, or use CD ripping software to get the audio content, you're probably getting the pre-emphasized audio data. Since it has not been de-emphasized, it will probably sound too "bright" and/or hissy (although your audio equipment or your damaged ears may keep you from noticing). Therefore you may want to do de-emphasis processing yourself."
Just had to paste this from Vladimire's link. Thanks, this seems to explain a lot, if this is what's happening.
I have not considered listening to the laptop line out because the REW sound card cal test showed a severe roll off below 60 Hz. My system is 3 way electronically crossed over, so a headphone jack is not readily available.
I have however gone to some effort to build an accurate line array system. The mid-range line array is 84" tall with 16 5-1/4" drivers.
Just had to paste this from Vladimire's link. Thanks, this seems to explain a lot, if this is what's happening.
I have not considered listening to the laptop line out because the REW sound card cal test showed a severe roll off below 60 Hz. My system is 3 way electronically crossed over, so a headphone jack is not readily available.
I have however gone to some effort to build an accurate line array system. The mid-range line array is 84" tall with 16 5-1/4" drivers.
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Those are some fancy speakers. The reason I suggested using headphones or computer line out is to find out whether it is still tinny, which would suggest a problem with the file, or is OK, which would mean the DAC is the problem.
The headphone jack I meant would be on the DAC.
The headphone jack I meant would be on the DAC.
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If you still trace it to the file, go to Media Player Classic - Home Cinema (MPC-HC) Portable | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives and see what happens when you play your file in that program.
Between your server (the laptop) and the point in your chain that does the D/A conversion there will most certainly be a clock created to govern the D/A process. How this is made in your particular chain I can't say because I don't know it and there are a number of different strategies to do this. But it is most probable close to where you get out your line level analog signal. To complicate things there might be clocks steering other clocks downstream.
If you have a standalone DAC, what interface is it using to take in the digital stream?
Info on clock strategies (CD oriented):
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diginterf2_e.html
USB based systems:
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diginterf2_e.html
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AFAIK there are not a lot of pre-emphais CDs. But here are a couple of lists, just in case.
Pre-emphasis (release list) - cdHistory
Pre emphasis list? | Steve Hoffman Music Forums
Pre-emphasis (release list) - cdHistory
Pre emphasis list? | Steve Hoffman Music Forums
Thanks again everyone;
I have learned a few things here already! But at the moment, I'm left with even more questions. This is probably normal, I'm am just a the very start of the learning curve.
I went back and listened to some Aerosmith that I have downloaded. It was not as bad as I remembered. I am still very reluctant to change my software at the moment because I have so much work yet to do on the analogue side of my system.
As I mentioned I am using a Creative Soundblaster external sound card, as a 'DAC'.
It was $120 and has a S/N ratio of 114 db. I have discovered that they do not spec the THD, so it probably is horrible! Can you suggest an entry level DAC, Hopefully below $400 or $500?
I am still unclear as to how VLC player would affect the bit stream, if I leave the filters unchecked, volume at 100% and other input in the 'mixer' left at zero.
And to cloud the issue, frankly why am I finding (downloaded) movies so bass heavy compared to flac file music albums?
Thanks again for your patience with me
I have learned a few things here already! But at the moment, I'm left with even more questions. This is probably normal, I'm am just a the very start of the learning curve.
I went back and listened to some Aerosmith that I have downloaded. It was not as bad as I remembered. I am still very reluctant to change my software at the moment because I have so much work yet to do on the analogue side of my system.
As I mentioned I am using a Creative Soundblaster external sound card, as a 'DAC'.
It was $120 and has a S/N ratio of 114 db. I have discovered that they do not spec the THD, so it probably is horrible! Can you suggest an entry level DAC, Hopefully below $400 or $500?
I am still unclear as to how VLC player would affect the bit stream, if I leave the filters unchecked, volume at 100% and other input in the 'mixer' left at zero.
And to cloud the issue, frankly why am I finding (downloaded) movies so bass heavy compared to flac file music albums?
Thanks again for your patience with me
PS;
I am using my 2 channel system for movie playback, and at this point, not thinking about installing a centre or surround channels.
I am using my 2 channel system for movie playback, and at this point, not thinking about installing a centre or surround channels.
Actually, it's probably pretty good, well below anything you can actually hear. A designer would have to make a real effort to get poor distortion performance.
A more expensive card might give you better measurements and more audiophile cred, but not any significantly different sound. The faith-based may disagree, but ears-only level-matched listening tests to support the condescension will not be forthcoming...😀 Spend that $400 on music, it's a better investment.
Thanks SY
I had a strong suspicion that I was barking up the wrong tree with the sound card, at the moment anyway... I am still mystified by the radical difference in frequency response between files.
I had a strong suspicion that I was barking up the wrong tree with the sound card, at the moment anyway... I am still mystified by the radical difference in frequency response between files.
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