Hey sterling1,
This thread is now so old and so long, pretty much any topic related to player SQ has already been discussed, dissected and jacked around to the point of nausea. Try searching backwards and you’ll find lengthy discussions on why different players, and different OSs, may sound different with a bit-perfect bitstream.
Quote:
The science of it suggests that no matter the player, you when you play the same file at the same volume you'll get the same sound. This has been my experience…
I have to agree with Naim.F.C on this. I’m not sure what “science” you’re referring to, but audio software engineers will tell you that:
a) there are many ways to implement any particular function, and each has its advantages and disadvantages from a processor/hardware efficiency and audible impact perspective.
Anecdote: A kid fresh out of college thinks that Matlab has all the answers. After all, it “knows” how to form a parametric filter, so that should work just fine…until the newbie finds that their code sounds like ass.
b) by running DSP or, for that matter, changing the bitstream in any way, you alter the sound. Sure, you can make it subjectively “better,“ but the bitstream is no longer what the artist/producer/label created. We each have opinions, but just because you or I cannot discern a particular aspect of audio, it doesn’t mean it’s invalid. It just means
you can’t hear it!
So far, I can not distinguish 16/44 from higher resolution files i.e. 24/96 and 24/192.
I’m glad you mention that as it implies either:
a) your auditory mechanism is not able to convey the information (no insult intended, just stating fact)
b) your system & room is not resolving enough (again, no insult intended, just stating fact)
c) you have not yet trained your hearing to discern the differences
Can’t do much about item (a) (a gross generalization) but, for (b); you can throw money at the problem. Item (c) is the real goodie in that you can train your ear/brain to be more perceptive!
Want to learn more about the sciences of software engineering, psychoacoustics, audio engineering and physics? This ain’t the place! That said, there’s plenty of certified, objective information available on the interwebs if you’re careful about validating the source…Wanna visit your local libraries?
One last thing: until you’ve actually sat down at a (unfortunately very costly) collection of highly resolving systems and performed listening tests along with other trained listeners, individually changing one variable while keeping everything else the same, can you unequivocally state
your opinion and expect no push back. A first step might be to hit some audiophile shows with your reference audio in hand and hear what some of those hi rez systems sound like.