Notices


Reply
Thread Tools
Posts: 23 | Thanked: 7 times | Joined on Aug 2007
#1
Just received Peter Gabriel's "Scratch My Back" 2CD edition. While I certainly can rip the music myself, from March 2 on, there will be a 24bit/48KHz download version that was included in the price. Can I play these high-res files back on the n900 without limitation, or will they be down-converted to 16bit anyway on playback? Using my Sennheiser HD600, I found FLAC files more "airy" than lossy-compressed files, and I'd like to explore the upper limit of what is possible on the n900.
 
Posts: 23 | Thanked: 7 times | Joined on Aug 2007
#2
Just downloaded the files and put them on the n900 - the quality is fantastic. Not sure about the downsampling to 16bit, but the n900 copes well with the material. Looking forward to better integration with the media player though.
 
ysss's Avatar
Posts: 4,384 | Thanked: 5,524 times | Joined on Jul 2007 @ ˙ǝɹǝɥʍou
#3
I really doubt they put 24bit/48khz dac inside the N900...

Btw, do you plug your HD600 directly to the N900 and gets enough power? I haven't tried it with my HD650...
__________________
Class .. : Power User
Humor .. : [#####-----] | Alignment: Pragmatist
Patience : [###-------] | Weapon(s): Galaxy Note + BB Bold Touch 9900
Agro ... : [###-------] | Relic(s) : iPhone 4S, Atrix, Milestone, N900, N800, N95, HTC G1, Treos, Zauri, BB 9000, BB 9700, etc

Follow the MeeGo Coding Competition!
 
Posts: 23 | Thanked: 7 times | Joined on Aug 2007
#4
Yeah, plugged it in directly. Volume is not earth shattering, but sufficient. Not very heavy on the bass, but nice soundstage and transparency.
 
ysss's Avatar
Posts: 4,384 | Thanked: 5,524 times | Joined on Jul 2007 @ ˙ǝɹǝɥʍou
#5
That's definitely underpowered then..

The 'biggest' cans I have that I'd plug into the N900 for tunes would be the ATH-ESW9.. anything larger would be pointless..
__________________
Class .. : Power User
Humor .. : [#####-----] | Alignment: Pragmatist
Patience : [###-------] | Weapon(s): Galaxy Note + BB Bold Touch 9900
Agro ... : [###-------] | Relic(s) : iPhone 4S, Atrix, Milestone, N900, N800, N95, HTC G1, Treos, Zauri, BB 9000, BB 9700, etc

Follow the MeeGo Coding Competition!
 
Posts: 427 | Thanked: 160 times | Joined on Nov 2009
#6
maybe, but theres no way in hell the n900's analog output circuitry has enough resolution for you to hear a difference with 24-bit.

stand alone dac, sure
phone 3.5 minijack, not worth your time
__________________
Please vote for the following bug:
Media player should play audio tracks continuously (gapless playback)
 
Posts: 23 | Thanked: 7 times | Joined on Aug 2007
#7
OK, I get it - this ain't no machine for audiophile ambitions.

I *did*, however, listen really carefully to the entire PG album in FLAC 24bit, and there was a noticeable difference to the version I made from the CD using the iTunes plus profile (AAC 256bit VBR). The FLAC 24bit version sounded more open to my ears, the highs were a little more defined (sharp attacks & the rasping layered over PG's voice), and I also felt that the positioning of the instruments and the impression of a room were more immediate.

I might compare it with the 16bit FLAC version tomorrow - perhaps 24bit is indeed overkill, but lossless could be a worthwhile step for some material.
 
Posts: 23 | Thanked: 7 times | Joined on Aug 2007
#8
Well, I enjoy the sound of the HD600 with the n900, but maybe I currently just don't have a decent benchmark. Perhaps I should pull my Rega Ear headphone amp from the shelf, connect the NAD 521 BEE CD player again and get a better reference point!
 
Posts: 427 | Thanked: 160 times | Joined on Nov 2009
#9
well now youre comparing 24?-bit audio to itunes 256kb mp3 (not even a top-shelf encoder)

24bit flac vs 16 bit flac
or
16-bit flac vs mp3

would yield more useful results
__________________
Please vote for the following bug:
Media player should play audio tracks continuously (gapless playback)
 
Posts: 196 | Thanked: 47 times | Joined on Mar 2010
#10
I've got a collection of cd's encoded to flac 24 bit, but i get unable to play message when i try to play them in media player.

16 bit flac files work fine.

Does anyone know what I may be doing wrong ? or perhaps the codec limits for flac decode?

ps re audiophile headphones and the n900, I'm currently testing an external battery powered headphone amp that is proving to be truly stunning so far. its an ebay dual amp, made by a guy called neco. So far, if you're seriousely into headphone quality listening I'd recommend one.
 
Reply


 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:36.