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So you’re insinuating that only men can be audiophiles?

For someone squawking about “toxic masculinity”, that’s awfully sexist of you.....

Pot, meet kettle.
You clearly didn’t read my note correctly.

No, I made no inference about true capabilities. Instead, I’m stating as a fact that the only people who have bragged to me about being able to hear lossless audio are men (I am also a man) even though the data does not support this.

In fact, the data has clearly shown that women can hear better at higher frequencies (men at lower), but that many environmental factors cause men to have worse hearing (we tend to listen to music more loudly and also work in professions that are prone to more hearing loss). In spite of this, the data also shows that despite claims to the contrary, very very few people of either gender can differentiate between high quality lossy and lossless audio, which is exactly what I stated in my previous post.
 
96kbps mp3s, smartphone speakers, YouTube, and TikTok have proven that music is much more culture and ideas than anything else and that it doesn’t need to meet anything but the most minimal levels of technical and auditory quality as long as it feels relevant to the listener and invokes a strong emotional response.

Apple can put out $2000 AirPods Max Fidelity Pro and pair it with a $70/month lossless-only streaming service, the vast majority of people would not enjoy music anymore even if Apple handed them the gear and subscription for free.
Wouldn't go that far with the "96kbps mp3" – people really believing that their Homepods and AirPod Max Pros sound better with lossless vs 256 AAC or 24-bit instead of 16-bit are real audiophile placebo victims though.
 
I'd love to buy another set of AirPods but not until we can swap the battery out. My last pair starting dying about 3 months after the warranty expired. I'm not spending that much on an item that gets disposed of in such a short period. My Macbook is still running after 7 years as will my iPhone.
Apple should keep AirPods 2 forever and sell it for $99. It will be the best selling AirPods and we will never have to worry about battery life anymore.
 
I thought I read Apple is announcing the iPod HiFi… say what now?
ipod-hi-fi-hero21497462844736.jpg
Sounds like a good time to release a new HomePod. I still can’t believe it was discontinued.
 
In spite of this, the data also shows that despite claims to the contrary, very very few people of either gender can differentiate between high quality lossy and lossless audio, which is exactly what I stated in my previous post.
Please cite your source of this data or provide a link. Thanks.
 
Please cite your source of this data or provide a link. Thanks.
There were already shared so many links to that in this thread, just look a few posts back. Real blind tests always showed that people can't distinguish 256 MP3/AAC to lossless - it's just when they are trying out at home, knowing which source they are currently playing, that they tell themselves: "Wow, this sounds SO much clearer and better and more open on my brillant $600 AirPods Maxs than compressed music!" Placebo effect at its best.
 
A quick Google search will bring up a long list, or you can take a test yourself:

No doubt most people cannot discern the difference between 2 different bit rate 16-bit music files played through a computer's built-in DAC, or even low end outboard DAC, in a quick double-blind ABX test. Particularly with desktop mini monitors or low end loudspeakers
 
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No doubt most people cannot discern the difference between 2 different bit rate 16-bit music files played through a computer's built-in DAC, or even low end outboard DAC, in a quick double-blind ABX test. Particularly with desktop mini monitors or low end loudspeakers
Running USB or optical out to an external DAC/headphone amp or powered studio monitors won’t significantly change the results. Controlled blind tests have been done over and over again for decades, yet people continue to believe their faulty perceptions.
 
I want to make a point. I am not sure if i always hear a difference between lossless and compressed music, maybe i don’t most of the time, as hearing doesn’t get better with age (am 41).

But i experienced whenever i used trials for hifi on Amazon or Deezer, that i could listen for much longer time without feeling stressed. It made much for fun to listen to an album.

I think that whether you hear a difference or not, listening to compressed music is more stressful for the brain.

Lke whn redng ths or like when reading this. Which do you prefer for a longer period, the cmprssd or the uncompressed text?

It’s the same for all senses. The high quality picture is more pleasant to watch than the stretched jpeg. The fresh soup tastes better than the instant soup, even they might taste very alike.

And it makes me wonder that we seem to live in a time where people in forums defend the lower quality product against the higher quality product. What have we become that we feel great about wasting our money on cheap low quality?
 
I want to make a point. I am not sure if i always hear a difference between lossless and compressed music, maybe i don’t most of the time, as hearing doesn’t get better with age (am 41).

But i experienced whenever i used trials for hifi on Amazon or Deezer, that i could listen for much longer time without feeling stressed. It made much for fun to listen to an album.

I think that whether you hear a difference or not, listening to compressed music is more stressful for the brain.

Lke whn redng ths or like when reading this. Which do you prefer for a longer period, the cmprssd or the uncompressed text?

It’s the same for all senses. The high quality picture is more pleasant to watch than the stretched jpeg. The fresh soup tastes better than the instant soup, even they might taste very alike.

And it makes me wonder that we seem to live in a time where people in forums defend the lower quality product against the higher quality product. What have we become that we feel great about wasting our money on cheap low quality?
What I think people are arguing against are audio companies making fraudulent claims about products that have been scientifically demonstrated to provide no benefit to the consumer. The audio industry is rife with these types of predatory products. If a person enjoys their $1,000 headphone cable, go right ahead, but you must agree that it’s unethical for companies to make unverifiable claims to take advantage of people.
 
Running USB or optical out to an external DAC/headphone amp or powered studio monitors won’t significantly change the results. Controlled blind tests have been done over and over again for decades, yet people continue to believe their faulty perceptions.
Agree as far as my experience is concerned that playing 16-bit files through powered studio monitors and most headphones is a poor way to discern low level detail in recordings.
So, in this thread we have people who are not interested in the technology Apple will be offering in their upcoming HiFi streaming service for one of two general reasons. Both of which make sense. /thread
 
I’m glad Apple is moving to 16/44.1 RBCD (if this is actually the case), I just don’t believe it will make for a measurably improved experience over 256 AAC for a large majority of people.
 
A quick Google search will bring up a long list, or you can take a test yourself:

Exactly. It took me 25 seconds of Googling and I found 4 statistically significant studies that found that the ability to distinguish between the two is anywhere from 0% to 0.2% of the entire population. Fire it into Google and take your pick.
 
So I'm lucky in that the original earpods and the original airpods fit my ears very well, if not perfectly. The hard tips stay in my ears, don't make my head hurt, and don't cause skin irritation. I have one airpod set and 2 or 3 earpods. The earpods are great if I need guaranteed clarity during a phone call.

I tried the Airpod Pros, and no way. No matter which silicone tips I used, they kept falling out of my ears or giving me an ear ache/head ache. That's actually been a problem for me regardless of manufacturer. If it has a silicone tip set, none of them work. The right one always falls out and the left one hurts my ear.

So I'm looking forward to seeing, hearing, and feeling a new version of the airpods with the original hard tip shape. Hmmm, that sounded better in my head before I typed it. Oh well!
 
So I'm slightly "relit" when it comes to audio quality (kHz and Bitrate) on iphone12 Pro or X, or 11Pro, or even Airplay 2, and yes ATV HD. It must be possible to have at least 24/92, at least! Imho there is a clear differencewhen compared to standard MP3 or AAC. Apple has been sitting on this tech and Qobuz and Tidal suck your wallet dry with their overpriced subscription fees which are ridiculous especially when you consider the lack of titles that are available there. Apple, please fix this and give us sweet audiophile quality that is now available. Anyhow, if anyone is interested in probably the best minute digital amp, look up the fx audio D802C on amazon for $150, which also has BT. To top it off, for a stereo loudspeaker, (yes, ONE speaker!)you might be interested in checking out the Stereolith Monitor 232 Audiophile. The loudspeaker is a sensation, is extremely fast and has superb bandwidth at 8 Ohms, and will last a lifetime, though there are other great speaker systems out there, this one can easily compete with considerably more expensive speaker systems. If only Apple could get up to speed In order for us to enjoy good quality music and relaxed ear muscles.
 


Citing sources within the music industry, Hits Double Daily reports that Apple is preparing to launch a new HiFi Apple Music tier in the "coming weeks," which will come alongside the release of the rumored third-generation AirPods.

General-Music-and-AirPod-3-Feature.jpg

According to the report, the new tier, which will offer high-fidelity music streaming, will cost the same $9.99 monthly subscription as the current individual tier. Spotify, Apple Music's most fierce competitor, has announced that later in 2021, Spotify users will be able to "upgrade their sound quality to Spotify HiFi and listen to their favorite songs the way artists intended."

The report says that an announcement of the new Apple Musc tier and the launch of the third-generation AirPods will take place in the "coming weeks." Apple plans to hold its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, and while no hardware was announced at the conference last year, hardware announcements are possible at the software-focused event.

The third-generation AirPods are expected to feature a design that's similar to the design language of the AirPods Pro but lack certain "Pro" features such as Active Noise Cancelation. If the rumor is to be accurate, the new AirPods release comes on the backdrop of a report signaling that Apple is cutting back on AirPods production due to decreasing sales.

Article Link: Rumor: Apple to Announce Third-Generation AirPods and HiFi Apple Music Tier in 'Coming Weeks'

THIS … Uh-Oh?!

I was already bothered about the design of the AirPods 3 looking far too similar to the AirPods Pro.
- worried an AppleCare+ warranty claim/replacement would net me a lesser performing model.
- worried 1 feature I’d want like Hi-Fi Lossless codec support would be missing in future FW updates for the AirPods Pro, and yet of course could miss Spatial Sound support, negating me to switch to the newer model?

Amazing news. I was waiting for this. I hope it'll be FLAC quality.
It potentially could be FLAC or Apple’s own Lossless codec since Apple has had that since iTunes store debuted. Apple no doubt believes their codec is superior.

>> without wired 3.5mm dual-channel support Port on iPhones … Sony has nothing to worry about in their Xperia 1 mII/III lineup.
 
Running USB or optical out to an external DAC/headphone amp or powered studio monitors won’t significantly change the results. Controlled blind tests have been done over and over again for decades, yet people continue to believe their faulty perceptions.
Yep. I think there was actually an empirical trial where those with high-end equipment preferred lossy sound lmfao
 
Yep. I think there was actually an empirical trial where those with high-end equipment preferred lossy sound lmfao
Yup. Archimago’s blind test comparing 320 MP3 to lossless found only a small number who showed any consistent preference, and most of those who did actually preferred the MP3. These were almost all self-proclaimed audiophiles with high end equipment. It just goes to illustrate that we’re past needing to worry about bitrates and codecs. Far more important are the transducers (headphones and speakers), room treatments, and especially the quality of the mixing and mastering in the original recording.
 
I hope they also release a new case with find my capabilities. It’s a little silly that you can’t “find my” AirPods if they are in the case.
 
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