Windows 8 Will Have Built-in Dolby Digital Plus Support

This may be all fine and dandy, but where is the media encoded with Dolby??? :think: Is it in streamed movies? I purchase a lot of mp3 albums online from E-music and Amazon and have yet to find Dolby encoding. I always have to use a third-party plug-in, such as DFX, to get a better dynamic range and increased presence. At present, though, DFX does not work with any Metro app. :(


John
 

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It's impossible to give a file a greater dynamic range or increased quality than it already has by any method at all, including transcoding to another format.

Think of it along the same line as people that think it's doing something good by taking a 128 kbps .mp3 file and re-encoding to 320 kbps.

For certain, you can lessen dynamic range by applying brick-wall type limiting and dynamic compression. There really is no point whatsoever to make an mp3 into a DD file, unless you just happen to like the format itself because of compatibility or other reasons.
 

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Hi GMan,

I agree with you that you cannot actually change the dynamic range, etc. within the file itself due to the limitations of compression. I probably should have said that DFX changes the apparent dynamic range and presence to the ear. This is much the same as any "equalizer" software found in any player. Playing any mp3 file with no embellishments is very flat to my ears.

I suppose all this doesn't really matter to the majority of people who listen to music through earbuds (ugh) or listen to miniscule speakers in tablets and phones. Oh well.... :zip:


Yes, I'm an audio afficianado. :)

John
 

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You'd probably like Winamp, it's eq, and You Wa Shock! plugin.

Sounds fantastic to me through my 24/192 firewire interface into a 1970s Sony amplifier feeding AKG K701 reference headphones.

Anyhow, anything trying to make an existing file into "better" quality is only a gimmick or mind trickery. For a real appreciable difference in quality, you can purchase 24 bit 192 KHz lossless files from HD Tracks, made from studio masters.
 

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You'd probably like Winamp, it's eq, and You Wa Shock! plugin.

Sounds fantastic to me through my 24/192 firewire interface into a 1970s Sony amplifier feeding AKG K701 reference headphones.

Anyhow, anything trying to make an existing file into "better" quality is only a gimmick or mind trickery. For a real appreciable difference in quality, you can purchase 24 bit 192 KHz lossless files from HD Tracks, made from studio masters.

Holy Crap!!! Ohhh...To have again an amplifier from the 70's, Sony...Onkyo...or Harmon Cardon...<sigh> Does yours still have a vacuum tube or two in it, or is it completely "transistorized"? I used to sell those back in the 70's in a high-end audio store. I'm drooling over your set up! :p I haven't had studio quality headphones in years.

I have used Winamp in the past, but didn't like its interface. In the future when I go to third-party software with Win 8, I will either go with Media Monkey, but more likely JRiver Media Center.

Thanks for the heads up on the lossless tracks!!!!

John
 

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    4 GB DDR2 335 Mhz
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    Onboard Realtek HD
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Thanks for the heads up on the lossless tracks!!!!

Sure thing, you're welcome! :)

In the Sony, there are no tubes thankfully. Although I'm capable of some things, I have never serviced the amp in my entire life for any reason whatsoever. Talk about "they don't make 'em like they used ta!" - I mean, I use this thing for hours every day since I was born. I've even used it as amplification for my guitar and brought it around places. Actually, I have my guitar gear going into the firewire interface and I mix that with music and it goes to the Sony right now. It feeds stereo speakers and a Marshall 4x12 I rewired for stereo. It has main out pair and auxiliary out pair that both can be used at the same time, along with headphones too!

Here's a pic of it:

DCP_0019.jpg


I never measured the signal to noise ratio or anything like that, but is awesomely quiet. Even at extreme volume settings with headphones or speakers, and no music actually playing, you can't hear any discernible noise or hiss.

Thumbs up to Sony on this one, heh. :)

Awesome how you used to sell them!
 
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