[sephka]

Recently I have noticed my 963SA is giving me odd audio clicks during playback. It only appears to occur during the playback of WMA burned to CD-Rs as standard audio CDs (WAV.) Also, it's interesting to note that the clicks occur randomly, and not at set points during a song. If anyone can assist, or in the best case scenario, run a quick test with a single-song CD-R, burned from a (192) WMA file, that would be much appreciated. I just am worried my 963SA is busted: if it's only a WMA-issue or a burner or cd-r issue, then it will be easier to take care of.

 

[blessingx]

How do the WAVs sound on your computer? If the WMAs have been converted to WAV (or do you mean CDA?), I don't see how 963SA could respond differently to WAVs or CDAs from WMAs, than WAVs or CDAs from MP3s, redbooks, etc.

 

[williamgoody]

If the wav's are created from WMA's or MP3's, then what's happening is that a file is being created form a compressed file. So when it's "expanded" again, there's some lost data that isn't compensated for, due to the compression. So it's possible there may be playback differences from those and redbood wav's that haven't been compressed in the first place.

I'm sure there are others that can explain it more eloquently that I can.

 

[blessingx]

There certainly would be differences in WAVs or CDAs (both on graphs and in listening) between those made from compressed and uncompressed source files, but why would clicks be introduced? Are you saying the clicks appear where there is missing data? If so that's not how I understand psychoacoustic compression to work and doesn’t jive with any of my experiences (compressing or expanding WMAs, MP3s, AACs, etc.).

Sephka, it really sounds like a conversion or CDR record problem, not a playback one. How do the CDs sound on other players? Are you converting them to WAV and then CDA, or as a single process? If you have the WAVs, how do they sound before recording them to CDR? WMA (especially before WM9) has had problems and I stay away from it (though WMA lossless has some use). Even with those problems they should convert fine. This is all assuming the files don't have DRM on them and aren't screwing up the conversion.

 

[sephka]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx Sephka, it really sounds like a conversion or CDR record problem, not a playback one. How do the CDs sound on other players? Are you converting them to WAV and then CDA, or as a single process? If you have the WAVs, how do they sound before recording them to CDR? WMA (especially before WM9) has had problems and I stay away from it (though WMA lossless has some use). Even with those problems they should convert fine. This is all assuming the files don't have DRM on them and aren't screwing up the conversion.

The CDs strangely do not make any clicking noises on other players. I just used Nero to create an "audio CD" by dragging and dropping the appropriate WMA files into Nero. The files also did not have DRM.

 

[williamgoody]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx There certainly would be differences in WAVs or CDAs (both on graphs and in listening) between those made from compressed and uncompressed source files, but why would clicks be introduced? Are you saying the clicks appear where there is missing data? If so that's not how I understand psychoacoustic compression to work and doesn’t jive with any of my experiences (compressing or expanding WMAs, MP3s, AACs, etc.).

I'm not to sure about the technicaliities, I'm just bringing up an option. There could be pops and clicks because of "gaps" in data as well, perhaps.

These may or may not be being picked up by the Phillips, due to the unsampling feature.

Just an idea.

 

[blessingx]

I'm not familiar with Nero (used Roxio and have since move on to OSX), but maybe try a two step process of WMA to WAV, then WAV to burn to CDA (CD format)... or a different program (WMP or one of the conversion progs on the web). Maybe there are data errors in the conversion the two step process (or another prog) may avoid. Maybe again there are problems in the WMAs themselves as there have been many problems reported (especially with older WMP files). It’s almost like the data errors collect over time until they can’t be handled anymore by the 963SA and then it has to readjust. All theory. Hopefully (or not) someone can replicate. Is it all your WMA files of just some? Which WMP was used? Good luck. It still sounds like the files and not your player if you're not have problems with other MP3-CDA, etc. CDs.

 

[sephka]

Quote:

Originally posted by blessingx Is it all your WMA files of just some? Which WMP was used? Good luck. It still sounds like the files and not your player if you're not have problems with other MP3-CDA, etc. CDs.

Hmm, in general, is it better to convert to WAV and then burn, rather than just drag and drop the WMA/MP3 files into the program? Anyways, after some testing, it's only some CD-Rs from a WMA source that have the clicks. WMP 9 was used.

 

[blessingx]

Maybe. The clicks aren't audible in the source files so they seem to be subtle data errors of some sort. The Philips is reading CDA files. It obviously doesn't even know what the source file format was. So it's not responsible for any WMA reading or conversion. If the same thing isn't happening with other CDA files or MP3 to CDA conversions, then it seems likely its data errors in the files themselves (that maybe the 963SA can't ignore as easily as other players the way some CDP's ignore scratches better than others... or as williamgoody suggested during the upsampling the errors may be more pronounced, a possible difference with your other players). If you try a two step or other conversion process (prog) maybe the errors won't show up (if they were introduced during the expansion/conversion process and aren't in the original WMA files themselves). Again all theory.