High quality audio changes how you hear music!

[pichu]

Ok, so I recently got into listening to high quality music jsut 2 weeks ago! After listening to my Ultrasone 580's with Fiio e17 with FLAC and ALAC audio files, I CANNOT listen to youtube or any other crappy audio quality anymore! The first couple of days I could not  tell a difference. But now it's night and day! Youtube sounds muddy, high pitched and just wrong. Is it all in my head? ( pun not intended ) Am I being spoiled by high quality audio? Its just sad now that I see music in a different way and I dont think I could ever go back... I guess Im stuck where I am! Only direction now is to get even better equipment. lol , have you guys had the same expirience?

 

[anetode]

Youtube sounds muddy, high pitched and just wrong. Is it all in my head?

While Youtube is prone to muddy sound it is entirely possible that the high pitched aspect, as expressed in various peaks in frequency, is the result of your headphone. Ultrasones aren't known for having a smooth treble response.

Anyway congrats on crossing the threshold to hi fi! Lots of people on head-fi have had that moment. Mine was around 12 years ago with a Grado 125. It's the next step you have to worry about, eventually you'll get new headphones and hear a whole different experience which might appeal to you.

 

[NA Blur]

You will quickly learn what sounds good on a speaker system, what sounds good in a car, and what sounds good with myriad headphones.  I think of it as tuning my audio setup to the music.

 

[Xaborus]

Youtube audio is HEAVILY compressed. Not to mention most of the original sources of audio for the video were already compressed.
 
Double compression = Bad. Very, Very, Very BAD.
 

 

[roBernd]

indeed, but as a small tip, you are probably aware of:
-changing the video resolution on youtube, changes the SQ as well... still compressed, double compressed if you like, but 480p have higher bitrate mp3s compared to 360p.
This works even if there is no video and just a picture .etc.
 
But, you all were probably aware of that... just saying.

 

[mechgamer123]

Congrats on getting sucked in to high fidelity!
Even listening to the radio now in my car, I heard details I would have never heard before with a timbre I would have not though possible even though they're the same speakers as before I got into hifi.

 

[pichu]

yeah thanks though... lol i know ; P