Brickwalled Music - The Loudness Wars - When Does It End?

[Audiophilehi]

So I'm literally on my last nerve with the increasing audio levels and dynamic range compression in recorded music. Obviously not all recordings are Brickwalled but there are plenty. Some with DR levels of under 8. My ears bleed when I attempt listening.


I've dusted off my CD's that were released in the 1980's and darn if they don't sound much better than their remasters. I suspect that with trying to get as many CD's released when they first were introduced they were flat transfers from whatever generation tapes they were using.


Best of the bunch seems to have been released in W. Germany. Ahh those Target CD's look so pretty as well.


So my question if anyone is listening is:


When does the "LOUDNESS WAR" End?


End of rant.

[Mike]

So my question if anyone is listening is:


When does the "LOUDNESS WAR" End?
.

When you listen to vinyl it's a lot better IMO. Tidal is working on a "normalization" mode, not sure if they've implemented it or not.

[Audiophilehi]

When you listen to vinyl it's a lot better IMO. Tidal is working on a "normalization" mode, not sure if they've implemented it or not.

l

Vinyl is a lot better. I regularly listen to my vinyl. Much better listening experience IMHO.

What is "normalization" mode? I wouldn't think that Tidal would be remastering the music they stream. I would assume Tidal uses what's currently available. I could me wrong.

[Phishphan]

When you listen to vinyl it's a lot better IMO. Tidal is working on a "normalization" mode, not sure if they've implemented it or not.

If the vinyl is pressed from a crappy source, it’s still going to sound crappy. It’s all about the source material and how it’s produced/mastered and has less to do with lossless digital vs vinyl.


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[Mike]

l

Vinyl is a lot better. I regularly listen to my vinyl. Much better listening experience IMHO.

What is "normalization" mode? I wouldn't think that Tidal would be remastering the music they stream. I would assume Tidal uses what's currently available. I could me wrong.

http://www.meterplugs.com/blog/2016/...alization.html


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[Hounddog]

Agree with the comments re the importance of the master, but overall, I have much better results with vinyl. That doesn't undermine the importance of the master, and maybe there's just something about my collection that creates this odd result, but there it is.


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[Audiophilehi]

http://www.meterplugs.com/blog/2016/...alization.html


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Thanks Mike!

[DSkip]

Honest opinion? Loudness will never go away. However, pushing it until you get a clipped signal is beginning to get under control. At RMAF, I actually played some pop music like Justin Bieber and Liam Payne for a private party and they were quite impressed with the overall quality of the recording. It doesn't sound live, but it does sound like a performance.

With the continuing growth of the headphone market, more consumers are demanding better sound quality in all genres of music. We are seeing a shift here and a different shift in hi-fi as well that should bring us to a great place in the next decade or so. YMMV.

[Audiophilehi]

Honest opinion? Loudness will never go away.

I just don't understand why not? What are the advantages? Is it because if it's load it must sound better?

[DSkip]

Yes. Especially when listening to the radio in the car. That is still where #1 hits are made.

I read from a father whose son was in a band. They valued high quality sound so their loudness was not 'on'. After some time on iTunes, their songs simply weren't selling. They went in and remastered the tracks at higher levels and sales began taking off. For the majority of music lovers, dynamics is not as important as how loud it is.

[Audiophilehi]

Yes. Especially when listening to the radio in the car. That is still where #1 hits are made.

I read from a father whose son was in a band. They valued high quality sound so their loudness was not 'on'. After some time on iTunes, their songs simply weren't selling. They went in and remastered the tracks at higher levels and sales began taking off. For the majority of music lovers, dynamics is not as important as how loud it is.

Wow! Go figure!

Thanks