[JaZZ]

A sonic superiority of sampling rates higher than 48 kHz is absolutely justifiable – without postulating audibility of ultrasonics. It has to do with how DACs process data and the involved low-pass filtering. It's about accuracy in the audible range.

 

[Mr Trev]

 
Yuuuuuuup, I'm glad somebody agrees

The fact is that if you look at what different sample-rates actually DO, it should become immediately obvious that any sample-rate above 48KHz simply CAN'T make an audible difference, not for the ears of Homo Sapiens anyways   Funny thing though:  My friend back in West Virginia has some of his music in 24/192, and when he plays certain of those tracks on studio monitors or even on open headphones, his dog (it's a bulldog) starts flipping its ****, running all over the place barking and going crazy.  We're pretty sure it's due to ultrasonic (super high-frequency) harmonics in the music that we as humans can't hear but which dogs can   Sample rates of 48Khz wouldn't make dogs flip-out because they can only produce frequencies up to 24Khz.

Easy enough to trial. Just downsample and see if the dog still flips out. If so, then it's because the music is really bad

 

 

[goodyfresh]

  Easy enough to trial. Just downsample and see if the dog still flips out. If so, then it's because the music is really bad

 

That's the thign.  We didn't evne have to try downsampling.  Since he had identically mastered, but CD-Quality rather than Hi-Res (i.e. ripped from CD) copies of some of those same songs, and those never made the dog flip-out   Hahahahaha.  So it really was ultrasonic frequencies.  Which is kind of hilarious.

  A sonic superiority of sampling rates higher than 48 kHz is absolutely justifiable – without postulating audibility of ultrasonics. It has to do with how DACs process data and the involved low-pass filtering. It's about accuracy in the audible range.

But is it actually audible?  Every test ever done in actual controlled settings (meaning, of course, blind testing) has indicated that no, it is not, in fact, EVER audible.  In fact, 99.99% (if not 100%) of the time, the difference between 320kbs MP3 and Hi-Res FLAC isnt' audible, either.  Some of the most hardcore audiophiles in the world who claim time and again that they can TOTALLY tell the difference, have been tested under double-blind conditions and found to be completely unable to consistently identify high-quality Mp3 vs. Hi-Res FLAC or WAV versions of the same exact well-mastered version of a track.  Some of these tests have included folks who are able to pass tests similar to the Golden Ear Challenge, and even THEY can't consistently identify which version of a track is 320kbs MP3 and which version is Hi-Res Lossless.

I hereby challenge you to tell me any valid reason why "sonic superiority" makes any difference whatsoever when the differences involved are not actually audible to human ears/brains.

If you research the subject more, you'll find that the reason for higher sample rates is to have extra "room" within the recording for various audio processing methods and effects within the studio, not for anything actually audible.

 

[Brooko]

  If you research the subject more, you'll find that the reason for higher sample rates is to have extra "room" within the recording for various audio processing methods and effects within the studio, not for anything actually audible.

 
Actually you're confusing bit-rate with sampling.  The reason studios choose to use 24bit is to give them more dynamic headroom for mastering.  For playback, 16 bit is sufficient.
 
Gregorio's post on it is quite good - http://www.head-fi.org/t/415361/24bit-vs-16bit-the-myth-exploded

 

[Otakupath]

Is it just me or does this happen to you guys too? Either when I on nor off, I will hear this clicked sound on my X3II. Should I be worry about it or just part of the system itself?

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Is it just me or does this happen to you guys too? Either when I on nor off, I will hear this clicked sound on my X3II. Should I be worry about it or just part of the system itself?

It's part of the system... Hardware relay to disconnect the amp from the headphone out when powering on and off, so you hear a click from the player instead of a big clack from your headphones

 

[Otakupath]

It's part of the system... Hardware relay to disconnect the amp from the headphone out when powering on and off, so you hear a click from the player instead of a big clack from your headphones

Alright, thanks for the clarification

 

[goodyfresh]

   
Actually you're confusing bit-rate with sampling.  The reason studios choose to use 24bit is to give them more dynamic headroom for mastering.  For playback, 16 bit is sufficient.
 
Gregorio's post on it is quite good - http://www.head-fi.org/t/415361/24bit-vs-16bit-the-myth-exploded

You're right, I was confusing the benefits of bit-rate in teh studio with teh benefits of sample-rate, thanks for that man!
 
So what was the benefit, again, of higher sample-rates?

 

[Brooko]

 
You're right, I was confusing the benefits of bit-rate in teh studio with teh benefits of sample-rate, thanks for that man!
 
So what was the benefit, again, of higher sample-rates?

 
I'll let Jazz or Joe (or anyone else that knows what they're actually talking about) answer that one.
 
I've blind tested myself on numerous occasions redbook vs 24/48 vs 24/96, vs 24/192 vs DSD.  If taken from the same master - and transcoded, then abx'd, I personally can't tell the difference. So no matter what I buy, I archive the original, and then resample and dither everything to 16/44.1 for playback.  This may be considered to be very "un-audiophile" of me, but then I've always claimed to be a music lover rather than an audiophile.  And to me - as long as the mastering is good, then it's good 

 

[Brooko]

I thought this was an interesting read though : http://www.trustmeimascientist.com/2013/02/04/the-science-of-sample-rates-when-higher-is-better-and-when-it-isnt/

 

[goodyfresh]

Thanks man!

 

[H20Fidelity]

For those who like using X3II as a line out device I've found some perfect stands for the unit. These are sold for smartphones though cradle X3II perfectly. They're light, can slide around easily and great for proping up your X3II when used as a line out. You can even adjust the screen timeout on X3II so it displays the album art for a longer duration while you listen.
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/390990851773?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=660354250513&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

[goodyfresh]

  For those who like using X3II as a line out device I've found some perfect stands for the unit. These are sold for smartphones though cradle X3II perfectly. They're light, can slide around easily and great for proping up your X3II when used as a line out. You can even adjust the screen timeout on X3II so it displays the album art for a longer duration while you listen.
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/390990851773?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=660354250513&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Oooooh, nice!  What brand line-out cable are you using from your X3ii there in that pic, and what kind of equipment do you have it feeding into?

btw this pic just reminds me again how much I love the look and build of Fiio's DAP's.  That shiny aluminum and the cool textured finish on the buttons, just looks so awesome

 

[H20Fidelity]

 
Oooooh, nice!  What brand line-out cable are you using from your X3ii there in that pic, and what kind of equipment do you have it feeding into?

btw this pic just reminds me again how much I love the look and build of Fiio's DAP's.  That shiny aluminum and the cool textured finish on the buttons, just looks so awesome

 
This brand. 3.5mm to RCA: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1m-Stereo-Audio-Cable-3-5mm-AUX-Jack-to-2RCA-Red-White-RCA-Cord-Lead-/330943524782?hash=item4d0dc56fae
 
My X3II is feeding a Matrix M-Stage desktop amp.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/475618/matrix-m-stage-amp-review-simple-cheap-and-excellent

 

[goodyfresh]

   
This brand. 3.5mm to RCA: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1m-Stereo-Audio-Cable-3-5mm-AUX-Jack-to-2RCA-Red-White-RCA-Cord-Lead-/330943524782?hash=item4d0dc56fae
 
My X3II is feeding a Matrix M-Stage desktop amp.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/475618/matrix-m-stage-amp-review-simple-cheap-and-excellent

Very nice!  And what headphones are you driving from that?