Apologies if this has been asked before. I have been reading so much about this and have basically come full circle and still have no idea as to an answer. There may not be an answer and may be down to personal preference, but even so, I'm going to ask!
I have been listening to some FLAC 16/44.1 files on a Samsung S8 with either Bose SoundSport or Bose QC23 II.
I have recently picked up my first 'proper' rig; AK SR15 with the AK Diana IEMs. So far I have listened to some HiFi & Masters streaming/ Downloads from Tidal. I actually do enjoy the sound from the S8 and Bose headphones, however the sound from the AK setup blew me away. A massive leap in sound quality (to my ears). I then tried some of the FLAC files from the S8, on the AK setup and the sound was awful, both in comparison to the S8/ Bose setup and the AK Tidal setup. Which then got me thinking and researching:
The SR15 can handle up to 24/192. Anything higher, will be downsampled to 24/192. Or it can handle DSD64, with DSD 128 being downsampled accordingly.
My question(s) are:
1. Which is better; FLAC 24/192 or DSD64?
2. Would FLAC 24/192 be a better sound (technically) than a 32bit downsampled to 24bit? Similarly, would a DSD64 be a better option than a downsampled DSD128? Do you lose quality in the downsampling process?
3. How does MQA files fit into this equation? Are they better/ worse/ different that FLAC or DSD?
I appreciate I may have to do a pepsi challenge and if I cannot tell the difference then go for lower end of the spectrum (which could be MP3 320!). That said, there is a thought process, that I should buy the best quality for the player I own, but I guess I am conscious of being swept along by the marketing of the higher quality formats.
Any help/ advice in this will be most appreciated.
Many thanks
Jon
I have been listening to some FLAC 16/44.1 files on a Samsung S8 with either Bose SoundSport or Bose QC23 II.
I have recently picked up my first 'proper' rig; AK SR15 with the AK Diana IEMs. So far I have listened to some HiFi & Masters streaming/ Downloads from Tidal. I actually do enjoy the sound from the S8 and Bose headphones, however the sound from the AK setup blew me away. A massive leap in sound quality (to my ears). I then tried some of the FLAC files from the S8, on the AK setup and the sound was awful, both in comparison to the S8/ Bose setup and the AK Tidal setup. Which then got me thinking and researching:
The SR15 can handle up to 24/192. Anything higher, will be downsampled to 24/192. Or it can handle DSD64, with DSD 128 being downsampled accordingly.
My question(s) are:
1. Which is better; FLAC 24/192 or DSD64?
2. Would FLAC 24/192 be a better sound (technically) than a 32bit downsampled to 24bit? Similarly, would a DSD64 be a better option than a downsampled DSD128? Do you lose quality in the downsampling process?
3. How does MQA files fit into this equation? Are they better/ worse/ different that FLAC or DSD?
I appreciate I may have to do a pepsi challenge and if I cannot tell the difference then go for lower end of the spectrum (which could be MP3 320!). That said, there is a thought process, that I should buy the best quality for the player I own, but I guess I am conscious of being swept along by the marketing of the higher quality formats.
Any help/ advice in this will be most appreciated.
Many thanks
Jon