Everything digital boils down to bandwidth –
- how much you have
- how much can you use
- how fast the data can move through it
Bandwidth comes in several forms. The network connection is the obvious one because we already use … Read the rest
Music & Sound Tech
The study of sound, music, and the technology used to create and distribute it.
Audio Quality & Music Love
…is now a channel on Disqus! If that’s one of your hangouts online have at it.
Vinyl Sales Continue To Grow
More vinyl albums were sold last year than any year since 1991. This is because of quality not irony.
The mainstream music world has moved to streaming, locking in low-quality expectations. Streamers don’t even talk about sound quality anymore because … Read the rest
Progress Being Made Towards High Definition Audio
Finally! The recording and music industry is discussing standards and practices for proper high-resolution audio, which will hopefully lay the groundwork for mass acceptance by consumers.
This is 20 years past due. Better late than never.
The various entities are … Read the rest
Fix Your Playback
Best Musical Enjoyment = Proper Playback.
Here’s how to fix your music making machines:
- Rate the quality and identify the weakest link in your signal chain
- Research the prices and ability to upgrade the weak links
- Purchase the most sensible
Technically Tripping Over Feet
One of the most contentious nerd debates online is about audio quality, and those that believe there are no differences in quality always point to AB tests as their primary justification.
This guy explains why this is fatally flawed, and … Read the rest
Why Apple Music (or Spotify) Doesn’t Matter Much
Triangulation Neil Leo Pono
1000k and Beyond
Control the terminology, control the message.
I am listening to Sam Cooke right now. It’s stunning. Through $24 computer speakers. You think I’m kidding? Try it yourself.
It’s a 3000k bitrate file. That’s sure helps.
It’s being played on the … Read the rest
Why Are Tech Sites Anti-Audio?
One thing I’ve noticed during my debating about audio quality is how the mainstream tech press – meaning the people who cover phones, TV’s, smart watches, laptops, etc. – always seem to have their head up their asses when it … Read the rest
Tidal Shows The Ghost In The MP3
This is a good start. Here’s Tidal trying to explain simply why MP3 sounds worse than CD quality. They want $20/month the stream CD-quality to you, so they will strongly market against lossy compression.
New Listening Test – A Proposal
It’s time for a better listening test. It’s time to use our understanding properly.
A proper listening test…
- needs to use all available sensory data from a modern smartwatch/ wearable CPU device
- needs to be portable and self-contained to allow
24 Bit Goodness
I’ve been picking up one 24bit release per month to enjoy on the PonoPlayer, and while they have been slow to be released (my theory on why is below), I do really enjoy the ones I have.
My current 24bit … Read the rest
Apple’s Upcoming Music Announcement
Will it have anything to do with sound quality? I doubt it.
Apple likes to roll out new products with slick presentations touting all of the improvements in the product, or how the new product improves upon an existing solution.… Read the rest
Remember WFNK Funk Supersite!
There have been several branding attempts on WFNK.com over the years, including the funk e-griot, the funk supersite, no fake afros, and the not-so-modest center of the online funk universe, whatever that means.
The point was … Read the rest
Life With PonoPlayer
I’ve been playing this thing daily for 5 months now. Here’s more thoughts on living with it (and some new pictures):
- The form/shape is still nearly perfect. The only thing it doesn’t like is working out with tight
Loudness Wars Research
I’ve really been exploring my music collection lately* and along with the playback quality of the PonoPlayer, I’ve learned some things about the hated concept of “loudness wars”:
- I can really hear it start up in the early 90’s
Recording Quality Rule Of Thumb
Allow me to speak some truth about the recording arts — the overall quality of music production has been going down since before I started. I’ve done nothing to reverse the trend ;-).
This is due to multiple factors not … Read the rest