🚀 go-pugleaf

Harry Lavo wrote:
> 
> "Howard Ferstler" <ferstle@attglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:42D46E83.2CB01F1@attglobal.net...

> > Harry, I really do not know what you are trying to sell.
> >
> > The only advantage SACD and DVD-A have over the CD is
> > surround sound. Ironically, Dolby Digital and DTS can do the
> > "subjective" job in that area as well as the so-called
> > high-resolution formats. In addition, a good, home-based DSP
> > synthesizing device can take a two-channel CD and often make
> > it sound subjectively BETTER than the remastered SACD or
> > DVD-A version, which, if we are talking about older original
> > releases, are often taken from two-channel masters and given
> > the DSP treatment by the recording engineers prior to
> > producing the new version. Note that this refers to
> > concert-hall realism with classical material and not pop
> > recordings that often have instruments all around the
> > listener with SACD and DVD-A versions. Obviously, no amount
> > of home-based DSP work with the two-channel versions can
> > duplicate that. But who here with any musical taste cares?
> >
> > In any case, the dynamic range and extended bandwidth
> > "advantages" of SACD and DVD-A are meaningless
> > embellishments to an existing digital technology that needs
> > no such thing to make music sound more dynamic or
> > transparent.
> >
> > Phoniness has finally taken over audio.

> Nice little rant, Howard.  Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the
> topic Arny and I were discussing.

Close enough, actually. It has plenty to do with you,
however.

That you con people into getting into an excitable twist
over the so-called superior sound of any kind of player (CD
or DVD, or whatever), particularly if we are talking about
per-channel sound quality (rather than surround-sound
abilities) shows that phoniness has indeed taken over audio.

Sure, some players hold up better than others, but even then
price does not necessarily determine which player will last
and which will not. However, in terms of actual sound
quality I will opine that a good Best-Buy or Circuit City
offered DVD player costing $100 bucks will sound as
subjectively good playing CD recordings as the very best
exotic player you come up with. Yes, your player might have
a measurable edge, but the ears will not pick up on that
advantage.

Yeah, I realize that selling people on high-end and
high-priced sound is important to you. It isn't important to
me, however.

Howard Ferstler