That’s what I mean…if the DSD256 sounds stunning, then the DSD64 shouldn’t sound so much worse. I think even from the CD one must get an impression of the general quality, transparency/clarity and tonality of the recording.
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I think this is down to the different amount of compression managed on each file.
If they were expanded back to AIFFs the “bit rate” might then be the same?0
I see such variations between flacs of the same sample rate often here, I’ll go look at some AIFFs 
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Good point about the FLACs. The variation in reported bitrate in JRiver may well be the compression since it can be variable. And all the PCM files I looked at were FLAC.
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Yep, looks like that is it.
File Format: AIFF
Bitrate: 2116kbps CBR
Sample Rate: 44.1 kHz
Sample Size: 24Bits
all the AIFFs I have that are 44.1 / 24 are 2116 kb/s Constant Bit Rate (which makes sense as PCM linear with no compression.
Flac files, OTOH, have Variable Bit Rate.
Edit - AAC streams from the BBC claim to be 320 kb/s CBR though, so I need to do some more reading, but after a nap I think
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Agree. I just checked my AIFF and WAV files. All have a constant bit rate for a given sample rate. It’s definitely the variable FLAC compression that’s showing up different bitrates. Of course, once converted from FLAC on-the-fly for playback, the resulting bitrate going to the DAC should then be constant, just as in the original WAV or AIFF file, correct?
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Agreed
I think you are on to something.
My ripped format of choice is AIFF, and I don’t recall seeing inconsistencies in bit rates with AIFF files. I think AIFF sounds as good as any uncompressed format and is the best choice in terms of compatibility flexibility AND meta data capability.
FWIW.
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I’m a few months back, but oh my goodness…thanks for all the contributions. It’s really helping me to be clear.
It shocks and surprises me to no end but I will not be making space for the HDTT version of Time Out in my library. I don’t want to hear it again, not even as punishment. I’m sad. It’s a first miss from them for me.
Instead I’d prefer to listen to Roger Waters new release.
That makes no sense at all. Except one is enjoyable and the other isn’t.
Until recently, rule number one was no Supertramp, no matter what.
That rule stands.
Rule number two was no Roger Waters. But, but, but……
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You have to give a little bit Al.
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No Supertramp?
Not even while driving home?
Or having breakfast?
Listening to Supertramp could even be dependable, oh clinical, oh intellectual, cynical
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That’s the crime of the century!!
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Bloody well right!
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Now all I need is that Jay’s Audio clown to do a two hour YouTube video extolling the virtues of Supertramp! The inventors of commercial jingles style rock.
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Next, you will be telling us all how much you detest “Survivor”.
Oh, the horrors!
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I’ll admit to sometimes enjoying the sounds of chewing gum commercial-styled music. There’s a reason advertisers use that stuff, no?
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Bob is continuing to reissue some of the great Mercury Living Presence recordings, but his source tapes seem to be the commercially released 7.5ips tapes. They sound good to my ear, but they sometimes lack the ultimate clarity that some of his 15ips jazz tape transfers deliver.
So, in the instant case (released this past week), we have a nice, clean, reasonably detailed transfer. I’m hearing very good instrumental sound (timbre), nice balance and detail, and the orchestra is presented with the usual Mercury felicities of scale and breadth. There is some murkiness and lack of definition in the percussion and in the orchestral crescendos. I’m guessing Bob has extracted everything this source tape has to give. And for what it does give, it is very, very nice indeed. I don’t have another digital reissue of this recording to compare to what I’m hearing here, but it does reflect the timbral balance of good analog unlike most digital transfers to CD. Generally, I very much like what I’m hearing and am delighted to have this now in my digital music library.
Original Mercury Living Presence cover:
Put me in the Never Tr. . . I mean Never Cheap Trick camp. NEVER.
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Even if I get off early from work and put on a brand new shirt…?
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I just realized that The Hi-Fi Collective is actually Supertramp played backwards.
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