Octave Radio Stream Quality

Octave Records
1

Hi guys. Loving Octave Radio buyt just wondering why it only streams at MP3 192 quality ? This is the same on sonos or using the simaudio moon mind app through the 680D. Is it my kit or is the quality limited fior some other reason?

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Welcome! you might want to check out some of Paul’s videos on the sound quality of the streaming of Octave radio. Here’s one you can start with, but there’s a few others too.

-Rob

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MP3 files are not 192 quality.

The highest quality MP3 has a bitrate of 320kbps, whereas a 24-bit/192kHz file has a data rate of 9216kbps. Music CDs are 1411kbps.

Also, MP3 files suffer significant compression that discards substantial data. Lossless (FLAC, eg ‘192 quality’) is always better, as MP3 is a lossy format (loss of details due to compression technics).

Humans have a hearing range from about 20 Hz — 20kHz (20,000 Hz). Different types of MP3s have different frequency cut-offs. MP3s also tend to have a “shelf” at 16 kHz (you’ll see it in the spectrals). MP3 320kbps (CBR) has a frequency cut-off at 20.5 kHz.

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I think @rickerr63 was referring to the stream quality of Octave radio which is sent as MP3 192kbps. Paul goes into some details on a few videos of how he believes it may sound superior to higher bitrate streams due to the quality of his recordings, etc.

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True

Sounds good with such a low bit rate because it of its premium recording process, beginning with DSD recording and care taken thereafter.

Streaming is not same thing as internet radio.

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Thanks all. I will look at Paul’s videos, but Radio Paradise streams at CD bitrate and sounds brilliant…just sayin’.

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I used to have my own internet radio station. I didn’t have to pay for bandwidth. For people who do it can get very expensive. For Internet Radio a 192 stream is very nice quality. Listen before you comment on it. It sounds fine and the provider can stream to many and not have to pay a lot for the bandwidth. For free you can enjoy it or your money back. Want better, Qobuz can help you out. I hope they can do it for a long, long time!

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