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Is old music worth converting to flac?

post #1 of 10
6/5/11 at 12:52pm
Thread Starter 

I have some old music on CDs. You can hear distortion in the highs and well, it just sounds old. You know what I mean? I'm wondering if ripping these CDs to FLAC will have any benefit over 320 kbps? 

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post #2 of 10
6/5/11 at 7:20pm

Do a blind test

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post #3 of 10
6/5/11 at 8:41pm

Yeah seriously try to convert to both formats and listen. It's not like it costs money or much sweat.

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post #4 of 10
6/5/11 at 9:55pm
Strange, because old CDs are generally better than new ones. The Loudness War ruins a lot of modern recordings.

Are you sure the distortion isn't from your gear? Which CDs are these?

Don't fall into the "old equals bad" trap. That's a marketing ploy. There's plenty of old stuff that's better than new equivalents.
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post #5 of 10
6/5/11 at 9:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

Strange, because old CDs are generally better than new ones. The Loudness War ruins a lot of modern recordings.

Are you sure the distortion isn't from your gear? Which CDs are these?

Don't fall into the "old equals bad" trap. That's a marketing ploy. There's plenty of old stuff that's better than new equivalents.


+1 I always go for the earliest version of an album I can find.  They are usually cheaper than the newer remasters and sound a heck of a lot better too. 

 

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post #6 of 10
6/6/11 at 7:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by XaNE View Post

Do a blind test


 

Ok, the truth is I don't have these cds. I want to know if it's worth buying these old cds to rip to flac? I can't do a blind test bc I don't have the lossless format.

 

 

 

Quote:
 

 

 

Yeah seriously try to convert to both formats and listen. It's not like it costs money or much sweat.

 
 

 

 

 

See above.

 

 

 

Quote:
 

 

 

Strange, because old CDs are generally better than new ones. The Loudness War ruins a lot of modern recordings.

Are you sure the distortion isn't from your gear? Which CDs are these?

Don't fall into the "old equals bad" trap. That's a marketing ploy. There's plenty of old stuff that's better than new equivalents.

 
 

 

 

 

 

I'm sure this distortion is not from my gear. I'm using a Macbook Pro 17'' w/ Apogee One and Shure SRH-840. Ok, maybe distortion is not the correct word. I honestly can't explain it. These are Indian (Asian Indian) CDs. Here is an example you guys know of.....All Along The Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix. It sounds old like that. Or even Bob Dillan's work. Are they worth re-ripping to lossless? 

 

 

 

Quote:
 

 

 

+1 I always go for the earliest version of an album I can find.  They are usually cheaper than the newer remasters and sound a heck of a lot better too. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Well that is purely an opinion. I just go by what my ears tell me. I don't have these CDs so I can't do a blind test. So, I'm looking for a more scientific answer to this question. Thanks!!


Edited by KB24 - 6/6/11 at 7:45am
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post #7 of 10
6/6/11 at 7:36am
Thread Starter 

I don't mind if it sounds old. I appreciate it. I just wanna know if I am going to get anything more from ripping into lossless vs. 320 VBR?

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post #8 of 10
6/6/11 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

Strange, because old CDs are generally better than new ones. The Loudness War ruins a lot of modern recordings.
 

 

Depends on what's deemed 'old'. Early 20s jazz or way back to 1988.  

 

 

Rambusanna, go to your local library. If it's worth a crap it will have popular recordings like Hendrix and Dylan. If it's not worth a crap move. 

 


Edited by blessingx - 6/6/11 at 7:53am
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post #9 of 10
6/6/11 at 8:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by blessingx View Post



 

Depends on what's deemed 'old'. Early 20s jazz or way back to 1988.  

 

 

Rambusanna, go to your local library. If it's worth a crap it will have popular recordings like Hendrix and Dylan. If it's not worth a crap move. 

 


 

Yeah my public library sucks. I have Jimi Hendrix Greatest Hits and Bob Dylan's Masterpieces in lossless. I've also heard the vinyl rips of these albums and my ears/gear can't tell the difference. Can anyone here with better gear tell the difference in these old albums? The Indian CDs I was talking about are from the early 90s. I know that's not very old but India was not so technologically advanced just 20 years ago. Now they are up to par.


Edited by KB24 - 6/6/11 at 8:07am
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post #10 of 10
6/6/11 at 9:20am

Even Dylan spanned great technical progress (though only so much you can do with that voice). The recent mono reissues are pretty interesting, but can I tell the difference in them between high bitrate lossy and lossy. Unlikely. 

 

Keep in mind most libraries have inter-library loan systems. Maybe the next town has better stock. ;)

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