[gLer]

I could tell the differences but they were tiny. Felt like the high res had slightly better textures around instruments and they seemed to have “more room to breathe” compared to the regular lossy codec.

I know many people who've spent north of $1000 on a cable upgrade for a similarly 'small' gain in quality. And yet we're still debating whether or not it's worth spending an extra $5 a month on lossless streaming, or loading our DAPs with Flacs rather MP3s. I just can't wrap my head around it.

 

[aaf evo]

I know many people who've spent north of $1000 on a cable upgrade for a similarly 'small' gain in quality. And yet we're still debating whether or not it's worth spending an extra $5 a month on lossless streaming, or loading our DAPs with Flacs rather MP3s. I just can't wrap my head around it.

For me it’s not a case of “it’s not worth it” but more so I think Spotify UI is far better and it’ll get high res soon.

I am like you, whether the difference is small or not I want the maximum I can get, just not at the cost of switching to what I consider an inferior streaming platform in terms of functionality.

 

[snapandslide]

For me it’s not a case of “it’s not worth it” but more so I think Spotify UI is far better and it’ll get high res soon.

I am like you, whether the difference is small or not I want the maximum I can get, just not at the cost of switching to what I consider an inferior streaming platform in terms of functionality.

I'm using Qobuz - mainly for the artists getting paid more. But given we spend so much time and money on other components in the chain its also worth it for me to pay the extra little even if not perceived in a lot of cases.

 

[gLer]

For me it’s not a case of “it’s not worth it” but more so I think Spotify UI is far better and it’ll get high res soon.

I am like you, whether the difference is small or not I want the maximum I can get, just not at the cost of switching to what I consider an inferior streaming platform in terms of functionality.

For sure yes. I think the streaming platform debate is slightly different to the overall lossy vs lossless debate. I can definitely see the value in your sticking with Spotify, for example, in spite of the 'perceived quality loss' at this stage in the game (and soon to be rectified). As opposed to someone saying I'm not going to bother loading my DAP with flacs because I can't tell the difference anyway.

 

[mvvRAZ]

Personally I want the best possible quality, as long as I can afford it and it doesn't impact anyone that depends on me negatively.

We spend so much time fine tuning our gear choices, eeking out the last few percentage points of performance, investing irrational amounts of money on copper wires, and then what, knowingly listen to music files with half the information missing because we don't trust our ears to hear the difference?

And it's not like 10 years ago when data was a premium and bandwidth was in short supply. We'll stream hi-def movies without any issues but balk at streaming lossless music because the file size is a little bigger?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with listening to MP3s and Bluetooth all day long. But personally I wouldn't bother investing a fraction of what I have on the best possible audio gear if that's the diet I'm going to feed it.

I don’t disagree with what you’re saying and it does make sense after all, but the way it is in my head is something like:

75% transducer
15% amplifier
5% DAC
3% cable
2% files

I am still getting that 98% regardless if I use MP3 or FLAC or DSD or whatever - and my ears tell me I can’t really hear the difference and especially not in my use case. I wouldn’t really agree that owning any of the gear without any component doesn’t make sense - you’re still going to get the bulk of the performance even driving an IEM out of your iPhone playing Spotify

 

[Mehran]

I don’t disagree with what you’re saying and it does make sense after all, but the way it is in my head is something like:

75% transducer
15% amplifier
5% DAC
3% cable
2% files

I am still getting that 98% regardless if I use MP3 or FLAC or DSD or whatever - and my ears tell me I can’t really hear the difference and especially not in my use case. I wouldn’t really agree that owning any of the gear without any component doesn’t make sense - you’re still going to get the bulk of the performance even driving an IEM out of your iPhone playing Spotify

In my case for enjoying music:

95% state of being and mind
5% the rest

 

[mvvRAZ]

In my case for enjoying music:

95% state of being and mind
5% the rest

You must be one of those mythical HeadFiers with money in their bank accounts

 

[Mehran]

You must be one of those mythical HeadFiers with money in their bank accounts

Not really, is just out of boredom now.
Music can move a person in a very deep way. If I get too hung up on sonic performance and SQ I've realised it getting harder and harder to get to that state for me.

 

[aaf evo]

I don’t disagree with what you’re saying and it does make sense after all, but the way it is in my head is something like:

75% transducer
15% amplifier
5% DAC
3% cable
2% files

I am still getting that 98% regardless if I use MP3 or FLAC or DSD or whatever - and my ears tell me I can’t really hear the difference and especially not in my use case. I wouldn’t really agree that owning any of the gear without any component doesn’t make sense - you’re still going to get the bulk of the performance even driving an IEM out of your iPhone playing Spotify

This is pretty much in line with how I am. But I use Spotify regardless of what source I’m using so if I can get the high res on it then why not.

 

[InvisibleInk]

I know many people who've spent north of $1000 on a cable upgrade for a similarly 'small' gain in quality. And yet we're still debating whether or not it's worth spending an extra $5 a month on lossless streaming, or loading our DAPs with Flacs rather MP3s. I just can't wrap my head around it.

Two wrongs don’t make a right.

 

[gLer]

75% transducer
15% amplifier
5% DAC
3% cable
2% files

Very similar for me, but:

70% transducer
15% amp
5% DAC
5% cable
3% tips
2% files

The above doesn't apply to all IEMs though, as I find some IEMs are less susceptible to cable/tip rolling.

 

[mvvRAZ]

Very similar for me, but:

70% transducer
15% amp
5% DAC
5% cable
3% tips
2% files

The above doesn't apply to all IEMs though, as I find some IEMs are less susceptible to cable/tip rolling.

Oh the tips are a good one, forgot to add that

 

[firesign]

Very similar for me, but:

70% transducer
15% amp
5% DAC
5% cable
3% tips
2% files

The above doesn't apply to all IEMs though, as I find some IEMs are less susceptible to cable/tip rolling.

In my case I could never say something like this.
5% cable, 3% tips?

In my case the difference in sound between a Spiral Dot and a Final E with any IEM is about 1000 times greater than what I notice with a cable rolling.

 

[redrol]

For me:
1. Mental State
2. Track mastering quality/recording
3. Drivers
4. Amplifier

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

This is pretty much in line with how I am. But I use Spotify regardless of what source I’m using so if I can get the high res on it then why not.

Spotify + Orpheus = Head scratcher.

I just opened up Spotify for the first time in over 6 months. I can't wait until they get lossless. I will probably do a lot of my listening there when they do it as I love their music discovery features.