Apple in Talks to Improve Sound Quality of Music Downloads

Barence writes "Apple and music labels are reportedly in discussions to raise the audio quality of of the songs they sell to 24-bit. The move could see digital downloads that surpass CD quality, which is recorded at 16 bits at a sample rate of 44.1kHz. It would also provide Apple and the music labels with an opportunity to 'upgrade' people's music collections, raising extra revenue in the process. The big question is whether anyone would even notice the difference between 16-bit and 24-bit files on a portable player, especially with the low-quality earbuds supplied by Apple and other manufacturers. Labels such as Linn Records already sell 'studio master' versions of albums in 24-bit FLAC format, but these are targeted at high-end audio buffs with equipment of a high enough caliber to accentuate the improvement in quality."

Comments

Damn

[ShavedOrangutan]

Looks like I'll have to bootleg my music collection all over again.

Re:Damn

[ShavedOrangutan]

Thanks! Don't forget to buy some DVDs and a few copies of Windows XP.

Re:In other words

[Locke2005]

How can I appreciate the awesome response of my Monster Cable speaker wires if I'm not playing 24-bit FLAC audio files over them?

I heard

[Konster]

Audiophiles listen to stereos. The rest of us listen to music. :)

Re:I heard

[shawb]

Q: How many audiophiles does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A: Only a PHILISTINE would appreciate the punchline with the ATROCIOUS acoustics in here.

Sweet!

[KiwiCanuck]

128kbit/s at 24-bit! Now excuse me while I crank it to 11.

Re:Hoopla

[vlm]

Maximum practical dynamic range of CD: 90dB
Maximum practical dynamic range of 24-bit audio: around 140dB
Dynamic range required for full range live music playback, according to Ampex: 118dB average
Maximum practical dynamic range of high quality studio analog tape: 80dB
Maximum practical dynamic range of studio analog tape in the '60s: ~70dB

Maximum dynamic range of post loudness war recordings: 3 dB

Re:In other words

[multipartmixed]

You will still experience better sound quality with a 16-bit CD than with 24-bit FLAC files.

This is because CDs are recorded and played back with lasers, meaning they are essentially an analog medium, because light is analog.

FLAC files, on the other end, are made of bits - sharp little bastions of absolute certainty, having a value of either or one, with nothing in between.

So, in essence, while CDs are recorded in analog bits, whereas FLAC files are recorded with digital, electronic bits. This means that CDs will sound better, because each bit is closer to the original recording; and, remember, that the whole is even more than the sum of it's bits!

PS: Make sure you orient your Monster Cable wires in the appropriate direction to maximize electron flow! There should be an arrow on the insulation pointing toward the speakers.