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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2020 20:26:10 GMT
Do not download these files if you do not already own the music. And now some bigger files: Tracy Chapman - Fast Car1Tracy Chapman - Fast Car2I will be deleting these files at some point soon, so have a listen while you can. They are relatively large at around 430Mb. Both are 192KHz, 32 bit files. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 30, 2020 20:45:27 GMT
Give me chance, it's gone a bit mental here so I'll try them tomorrow |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2020 21:08:57 GMT
They will be up over the weekend.
If people outside this forum cannot see the links then I will leave them longer.
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Post by macca on Sept 30, 2020 21:12:16 GMT
Yes, just had a few listens. I would say #1 sounds better. I also did some swapping quickly between them. #2 seems to have a bit of hash in the sound that is not there in #1 At high volume it was almost a relief to swap back to #1 My headphones are not much better than the ones they give you on the plane though. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 30, 2020 22:37:02 GMT
Ok,
Dire straits track: No2
Tracey Chapman: No1
Listened via headphones on my phone which sounded better than my laptop.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2020 6:47:06 GMT
Try the Tracy Chapman on the PecanPi. I will be interested on the feedback.
I will let you all know wbich track is which at the end of the weekend.
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 1, 2020 7:06:31 GMT
Try the Tracy Chapman on the PecanPi. I will be interested on the feedback. I will let you all know wbich track is which at the end of the weekend. Yep, will do |
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Post by stevew on Oct 1, 2020 9:26:04 GMT
Try the Tracy Chapman on the PecanPi. I will be interested on the feedback. I will let you all know wbich track is which at the end of the weekend. Many thanks for taking the trouble over this.. very interesting. I have the files on my phone, which at the moment means that I can only Bluetooth from phone to Allo USbridge and into Pecan. Need to get them onto my NAS and then play though Audirvava as normal. However even with this limitation it’s fairly obvious that Fastcar2 is much better. Bass improved and spatial information seems more defined. |
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Post by stevew on Oct 1, 2020 9:34:31 GMT
Try the Tracy Chapman on the PecanPi. I will be interested on the feedback. I will let you all know wbich track is which at the end of the weekend. Many thanks for taking the trouble over this.. very interesting. I have the files on my phone, which at the moment means that I can only Bluetooth from phone to Allo USbridge and into Pecan. Need to get them onto my NAS and then play though Audirvava as normal. However even with this limitation it’s fairly obvious that Fastcar2 is much better. Bass improved and spatial information seems more defined. Much harder to hear differences on the Dire Straits files. File1 sounds a little ‘flatter’ possibly. Need to get these off Bluetooth and onto the NAS |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2020 11:39:03 GMT
There is less going on in the Dire Straits clips. It was done purely to see if Houdini affects the impact of drums etc.
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Post by stevew on Oct 1, 2020 14:01:26 GMT
Interesting!
Got the files on my NAS and with a bit of pratting about got Audirvana to play them.
Definitely prefer the sound of Fast Car 2. Less shouty. Vocals sound a little further back and bit more timbre to them and in ‘balance’ with the rest of the instruments.
But is Fast Car 2 with the Houdini or not?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2020 19:23:15 GMT
 A bolt through cartridge fitted on a Houdini for threaded cartridges. It can be done, but is a tad fiddly, and obviously care needs to be taken not to break anything.... Just thought I would post this in case anybody was wondering. And yes, I am listening to vinyl right now.... Sounding pretty damn good. Does it sound like a cartridge upgrade? Not sure. If someone could give me an ART-9, I will tell you if a PTG/ii and Houdini is equal or better than an ART-9 on it's own. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 1, 2020 19:38:39 GMT
The files have been downloaded and i will listen to them via the PecanPi tomorrow when the kids are at school
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2020 20:31:36 GMT
If anybody else wants to listen to the files, you better Do it quickly.
I will be deleting them tomorrow evening.
The test files have already been deleted, as they started to appear on other forums.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 1:43:47 GMT
Files have been disabled.
I am looking at how I can get these files to be available, without infringing any copyright issues, and without the ability to download them.
It may have to be the compressed audio of YouTube.
Does anybody have any ideas about how to enable people to stream files, without the download option being available?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 15:34:14 GMT
Fast Car - V1
Giving up on this - it is blocked again....
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Post by macca on Oct 2, 2020 16:23:20 GMT
Do you have any old Classical LPs? They might be out of copywrite or not as heavily scrutinised as this mainstream stuff.
Personally the first comparison was enough for me, If I was still using vinyl I'd be handing over the £300 for one.
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 2, 2020 16:28:43 GMT
Do you have any old Classical LPs? They might be out of copywrite or not as heavily scrutinised as this mainstream stuff. Personally the first comparison was enough for me, If I was still using vinyl I'd be handing over the £300 for one. Hang on? Has it been revealed which was which? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 16:30:44 GMT
I may have done, by PM.
You tell me which Fast Car track you prefer, and I will tell you if you need to spend £300.
After which, I will tell you my thoughts on it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 16:38:04 GMT
Do you have any old Classical LPs? They might be out of copywrite or not as heavily scrutinised as this mainstream stuff. Personally the first comparison was enough for me, If I was still using vinyl I'd be handing over the £300 for one. No, no classical on LP. I will have to try something a bit less mainstream, perhaps a smaller record label, such as a copy of my Buenaventura’s Vista Social Club? Not sure it is original though. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 2, 2020 16:54:10 GMT
I may have done, by PM. You tell me which Fast Car track you prefer, and I will tell you if you need to spend £300. After which, I will tell you my thoughts on it. Ah, ok....I'll stick with my first pick....can't get the Pi to pick up the server so I've given up lol TC version 1 |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 17:10:26 GMT
Keep your cash.
What made you pick track 1? I am really interested in the reasons why.
Houdini was Test 1, and Fast Car 2.
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 2, 2020 17:22:52 GMT
Keep your cash. What made you pick track 1? I am really interested in the reasons why. Houdini was Test 1, and Fast Car 2. Oh, how Interesting! TC Track 2 had what sounded to me like it had a bit of excessive reverb in the mix. Almost like there was a little loss of focus or stability. It wasn't necessarily mushy but sounded softer and the vocals particularly stood out as quite constrained in comparison. They were a bit back in the mix too. I found that a bit hard to describe tbh....I'll listen again and try again lol Bass felt more solid on TC1 and the attack and decay was cleaner and tighter. Vocals sounded more forward. Better focus and impact. I could analyze it further but seems the headphones did a better job than I thought lol |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 17:35:35 GMT
Keep your cash. What made you pick track 1? I am really interested in the reasons why. Houdini was Test 1, and Fast Car 2. Oh, how Interesting! TC Track 2 had what sounded to me like it had a bit of excessive reverb in the mix. Almost like there was a little loss of focus or stability. It wasn't necessarily mushy but sounded softer and the vocals particularly stood out as quite constrained in comparison. They were a bit back in the mix too. I found that a bit hard to describe tbh....I'll listen again and try again lol Bass felt more solid on TC1 and the attack and decay was cleaner and tighter. Vocals sounded more forward. Better focus and impact. I could analyze it further but seems the headphones did a better job than I thought lol You are one of the few people to prefer the sound without the Houdini. You still need to listen to it on a proper system, and not a mobile feeding cheap headphones though. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 17:46:32 GMT
I have to ask if you have the files the right way around?
For me Fast Car 1 seems to me missing the mid range. The vocals seem way behind the rest of the song. It just sounds broken to me after hearing the version with the Houdini fitted.
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 2, 2020 17:46:36 GMT
Oh, how Interesting! TC Track 2 had what sounded to me like it had a bit of excessive reverb in the mix. Almost like there was a little loss of focus or stability. It wasn't necessarily mushy but sounded softer and the vocals particularly stood out as quite constrained in comparison. They were a bit back in the mix too. I found that a bit hard to describe tbh....I'll listen again and try again lol Bass felt more solid on TC1 and the attack and decay was cleaner and tighter. Vocals sounded more forward. Better focus and impact. I could analyze it further but seems the headphones did a better job than I thought lol You are one of the few people to prefer the sound without the Houdini. You still need to listen to it on a proper system, and not a mobile feeding cheap headphones though. Well, they weren't cheap, I'm just not a fan of headphones in general so my "crap" is more aimed at headphones being crap lol I'll have a listen on the Pi when I can get it to latch on to the server, but I would suggest that will only highlight what I heard even further. It's like I've always said, K.... There is no "one way" to nirvana, only your way. If you (anyone) prefer the sound with the Houdini, then they should get one. If something improves your enjoyment level, it can't be wrong.....for that individual. That's why reviews and experimental processes like this must happen. The opportunity to read the thoughts of those people whose path is closely aligned to your own can save you thousands. It's about filtering out the opinions of those who don't share your idea of "good sound" that's the key to navigating all the info. I have been saying the same thing to jimbo for years about be valves. It's all about what the listener wants from their system. Will you be keeping your Houdini? |
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Post by stevew on Oct 2, 2020 17:54:44 GMT
Well having listened to the ‘full fat’ versions of the files through my usual system I wouldn’t blame Kevin for keeping it.
The difference between the two files is pronounced.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 17:55:03 GMT
Fair comment. I interpreted your headphone comment as them not being very good = cheap.
For me there is a massive difference in the tracks, like you are describing, but for me it is the other way round, hence posing the question.
I just want to be sure we are talking about the same thing.
I realise that it is not "one size fits all" but for me, I struggle to listen to TC1 after hearing TC2.
As for me keeping the Houdini, I am listening to vinyl this weekend when I get a chance. Sunday afternoon, I will remove the Houdini and see what happens.
If I instantly dislike the sound when the Houdini is off, it will stay. If I don't, it will go back. It is £300, so it has to be good...
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 2, 2020 18:05:13 GMT
TC1 for me.....just listened again.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2020 18:08:05 GMT
Just in case you want to check, I have give you access to the files on the Google Drive.
I am really interested in the difference we "hear" between the 2 versions.
TC2 for me sounds better balanced, has a better dynamic range and certainly sounds more musical. TC1 is like a "diet" version of TC2.
Still, these are just digital files.
For me, the proof in the pudding will be playing a track, removing the Houdini, and having another listen.
If I reach for my tools while the track is playing without the Houdini, Houdini stays and Arthur keeps £300.
If Houdini goes back, I look forward to me £5 box of smarties.
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