The art of beeing in Dynamic Range
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: And the rest
Forum Name: Audio System Set-Up
Forum Description: Discussions about getting the best from your system (Digital section now moved)
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2190
Printed Date: 27 Mar 2026 at 5:57am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The art of beeing in Dynamic Range
Posted By: Humboldt
Subject: The art of beeing in Dynamic Range
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 12:46pm
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Hi! I didn´t know exactly where to put this post, but hope this is ok. A huge problem for audio enthusiasts is the bad mastering of CD records. This is a result of the so called "loudness war". Today vinyl versions of new records sometimes sound better due to better mastering. That´s bad. I recently come across a free software - a dynamic range meter. This program make it possible for every audio enthusiast to measure the dynamic range of CD:s. It is very easy, it do not take a lot of computer and software knowledge. The link to the download is here. http://www.dynamicrange.de/es/es/download The VTS version can be used with Jriver. Read about it here: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=77129.0 There is also a plugin for foobar2000. Here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wki2m3yotlvmoim/foo_dynamic_range_1.1.1.zip - https://www.dropbox.com/s/wki2m3yotl...ange_1.1.1.zip Here is a link to a database where people have uploaded metering results. A depressing read. You can upload your own meterings as well. http://dr.loudness-war.info/ Interesting is that the Database often confirms that Vinyl versions have a better dynamic range than the same music on CD (a depressing fact). I have measured some Miles Davis CD:s and other Jazz recordings (Recordings from late 50-ties and early 60-ties) and they are superb compared to much of todays music. A dynamic range about 15 - 16 compared to today's 6 - 7. Classical music has often good dynamic range, but the big companies like Deutsche Gramophone are worse than many smaller record companies. The more mainstream, the worse the audio quality is, as a general rule. I which all reviews of music, not at least in the HiFi press, always included a DR value. Fact is, that some music today is so bad when it comes to audio quality that the CD:s ought to be regarded as faulty. Happy metering |
Replies:
Posted By: Drewan77
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 1:06pm
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Thanks for sharing this Pär Yes some albums seem more compressed than others but I can't say I had listened for or noticed differences between the formats themselves It seems to confirm one more reason why I love vinyl records so much ! ------------- Older than I once was, younger than I'll be ............................. Andrew |
Posted By: Ash
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 1:10pm
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Yes, some CD albums are so poorly mastered that it's no surprise that many audio enthusiasts deem CD sound quality to be inferior to that of vinyl. On the whole, CD format has been rather misused/abused when in fact it is a very capable medium for musical enjoyment. It's all dependent on the implementation and thanks to the imminent emergence of Graham's Majestic DAC, listeners will soon be able to experience the excellence of digital audio from a well mastered source. As for the poorly mastered digital stuff, enthusiasts will have to resort to vinyl for a higher fidelity, better mastered source then convert it to digital audio themselves. ------------- We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. |
Posted By: oldagetraveller
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 4:48pm
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I personally think that lots of vinyl re-releases are very poor too compared to their originals. Whenever I see, on a l.p. or it's advertising hype, "Digitally Remastered" I usually steer well clear and try to find a second hand original copy in preference. I'm not saying they're all going to be inferior to the originals and sometimes they're not, but............... ------------- Peter P T- LPT/RB300/G1042, Pink Triangle Tarantella/Nima/Ortofon 2M Black, SL1210II, Naim CD5, NAC112, NAP150, Flatcap2, Proac SC1, GS SoloUL,GS Accession , Senn HD250 & HD540. |
Posted By: Ash
Date Posted: 28 Feb 2014 at 5:08pm
but............. there be dragons?  ------------- We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are. |
Posted By: fixedwheel
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 9:56am
I think you are right After buying quite a few re-issues, there are quite a number that are very disappointing. I'm rapidly coming to the opinion that the master tapes have deteriorated far more than the vinyl that was pressed at the time! Which makes a lot of sense, as the magnetic nature of tape will affect the next layer. That's if the magnetic media stays attached to the backing layer! One of my favourites is DSOTM, had the 30th Anniversary, and was decent. The remastered one that came out for the 40th wasn't as good, cleaner, but less dynamic. My GF (Minigill) bought a 1973 A3/B3 copy, it wiped the floor with both of the re-issues. So I ended up buying an A3/B3 copy for myself. Most I have ever spent on a secondhand piece of vinyl (and only a very few new box sets have cost me more) but far more satisfying to listen to. John |
oldagetraveller wrote:Posted By: Fatmangolf
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 10:36am
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Thanks Par. I'm going to have a play later with the DR plug-in. I've written elsewhere on the perils of excessive limiting and compression. Echoing the comments above, a squashed master will sound poor on vinyl or CD. Like John and other members, I have carefully cleaned second hand LP's that are far more enjoyable than the re-released version. There are many exceptions to this that show digital restoration isn't a bad thing. I think you are right to suggest that recording medium degradation or detail lost in the original may have been "faked" by digital tweaks. I suspect the other problem is an audiophile restoration that is then 'brought up to date' with a bucket full of effects like multiband compression, enhancement of high and low frequencies, stereo width processing. I use those techniques but I think there is a difference between a restoration/reissue of a classic album and a remix! ------------- Jon Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
Posted By: fixedwheel
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2014 at 12:03pm
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Makes you wonder if a transcription from a very clean copy might be a better way to go to get a new reissue. Won't give as much room to manoeuvre the levels, but it will be interesting to see if it happens, especially as a lot of the earlier LPs will be passing the 50yr mark. Am I correct in thinking that copyright in some places ends at 50yrs? ISTR that that being the case in the US. Is it 75yrs in the UK/Europe? Cheers John
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