{"id":6774,"date":"2019-11-27T14:58:28","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T22:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/?p=6774"},"modified":"2019-11-27T15:08:20","modified_gmt":"2019-11-27T23:08:20","slug":"hd-audio-challenge-ii-listening-approaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/?p=6774","title":{"rendered":"HD-Audio Challenge II: Listening Approaches"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fixing a Hole Where the Rains Gets In<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy Thanksgiving! As I sit here is Southern California, it&#8217;s pouring rain outside. I know that many \u2014 if not most \u2014 the rest of the country is suffering through far worse weather. I spoke briefly to my sister this morning and she lamented that had 24&#8243; of snow on the ground and that the deer in their yard were having a hard time navigating through it. But because the good folks at Denali Builders are midway through a complete reroofing job on my house, I&#8217;m more than a little concerned that the new layer of plywood and Owns-Corning roofing paper may not be enough to keep Charlie and I dry (I put my wife on a plane to London yesterday morning &#8211; where it&#8217;s raining as well!). Keeping my fingers crossed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Please Sign Up for the Challenge<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In case anyone missed the announcement and updates for the HD-Audio Challenge II, here are the basics once again. Please feel free to sign up using the form below. I am making available 20 different tracks from the AIX Records catalog in the original 96\/24 master format AND as downconverted 44.1\/16 &#8220;Redbook&#8221; versions. The goal of the survey is to learn whether enthusiast music consumers can pick the hi-res from the standard-res version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"588\" height=\"324\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191118_HD-Audio_Challenge_II.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191118_HD-Audio_Challenge_II.jpg 588w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191118_HD-Audio_Challenge_II-300x165.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Please add your name to the list of participants using the form below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"frm_forms  with_frm_style frm_style_formidable-style\" id=\"frm_form_4_container\" >\n<form enctype=\"multipart\/form-data\" method=\"post\" class=\"frm-show-form \" id=\"form_hd-audio-challenge-ii-participation-request\" >\n<div class=\"frm_form_fields \">\n<fieldset>\n<legend class=\"frm_screen_reader\">HD-Audio Challenge II Participation Request<\/legend>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"frm_fields_container\">\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"frm_action\" value=\"create\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"4\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"frm_hide_fields_4\" id=\"frm_hide_fields_4\" value=\"\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_key\" value=\"hd-audio-challenge-ii-participation-request\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_meta[0]\" value=\"\" \/>\n<input type=\"hidden\" id=\"frm_submit_entry_4\" name=\"frm_submit_entry_4\" value=\"da19ce5fe7\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F6774\" \/><div id=\"frm_field_34_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_required_field frm_top_container frm_first frm_half\">\r\n    <label for=\"field_qh4icy23\" id=\"field_qh4icy23_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Name\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/label>\r\n    <input type=\"text\" id=\"field_qh4icy23\" name=\"item_meta[34]\" value=\"\"  data-reqmsg=\"Name cannot be blank.\" aria-required=\"true\" data-invmsg=\"Name is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   aria-describedby=\"frm_desc_field_qh4icy23\"\/>\r\n    <div class=\"frm_description\" id=\"frm_desc_field_qh4icy23\">First<\/div>\r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_35_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_required_field frm_hidden_container frm_half\">\r\n    <label for=\"field_ocfup123\" id=\"field_ocfup123_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Last\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/label>\r\n    <input type=\"text\" id=\"field_ocfup123\" name=\"item_meta[35]\" value=\"\"  data-reqmsg=\"Last cannot be blank.\" aria-required=\"true\" data-invmsg=\"Last is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   aria-describedby=\"frm_desc_field_ocfup123\"\/>\r\n    <div class=\"frm_description\" id=\"frm_desc_field_ocfup123\">Last<\/div>\r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_36_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_required_field frm_top_container frm_full\">\r\n    <label for=\"field_29yf4d23\" id=\"field_29yf4d23_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Email\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/label>\r\n    <input type=\"email\" id=\"field_29yf4d23\" name=\"item_meta[36]\" value=\"\"  data-reqmsg=\"Email cannot be blank.\" aria-required=\"true\" data-invmsg=\"Please enter a valid email address\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  \/>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_38_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_required_field frm_top_container frm_full\">\r\n    <label for=\"field_9jv0r12\" id=\"field_9jv0r12_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Message\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/label>\r\n    <textarea name=\"item_meta[38]\" id=\"field_9jv0r12\" rows=\"5\"  data-reqmsg=\"Message cannot be blank.\" aria-required=\"true\" data-invmsg=\"Message is invalid\" aria-invalid=\"false\"  ><\/textarea>\r\n    \r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"frm_field_40_container\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field  frm_required_field frm_top_container vertical_radio\">\r\n    <div  id=\"field_5xrhk_label\" class=\"frm_primary_label\">Checkboxes\r\n        <span class=\"frm_required\">*<\/span>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"frm_opt_container\" aria-labelledby=\"field_5xrhk_label\" role=\"group\">\t\t<div class=\"frm_checkbox\" id=\"frm_checkbox_40-0\">\t\t\t<label  for=\"field_5xrhk-0\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"item_meta[40][]\" id=\"field_5xrhk-0\" value=\"I will not analyze the files to determine the format. I will only listen.\"  data-reqmsg=\"Checkboxes cannot be blank.\" data-invmsg=\"Checkboxes is invalid\"   aria-required=\"true\"  \/> I will not analyze the files to determine the format. I will only listen.<\/label><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"frm_checkbox\" id=\"frm_checkbox_40-1\">\t\t\t<label  for=\"field_5xrhk-1\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"checkbox\" name=\"item_meta[40][]\" id=\"field_5xrhk-1\" value=\"I agree not to distribute the files to others or to make them public.\"  data-reqmsg=\"Checkboxes cannot be blank.\" data-invmsg=\"Checkboxes is invalid\"   \/> I agree not to distribute the files to others or to make them public.<\/label><\/div>\n<\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"frm_description\" id=\"frm_desc_field_5xrhk\">Please check the two boxes to help insure the integrity of this research.<\/div>\r\n    \r\n<\/div>\n\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"item_key\" value=\"\" \/>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"frm_field_120_container\">\n\t\t\t<label for=\"field_mvldg\" >\n\t\t\t\tIf you are human, leave this field blank.\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t<input  id=\"field_mvldg\" type=\"text\" class=\"frm_form_field form-field frm_verify\" name=\"item_meta[120]\" value=\"\"  \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<input name=\"frm_state\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"ty6M+VFE9oRTjD8h+ali2lRwmsnQNO80cYKGrvTTfw0=\" \/><div class=\"frm_submit\">\r\n\r\n<button class=\"frm_button_submit\" type=\"submit\"  >Submit<\/button>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/fieldset>\n<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"display: none !important;\" class=\"akismet-fields-container\" data-prefix=\"ak_\"><label>&#916;<textarea name=\"ak_hp_textarea\" cols=\"45\" rows=\"8\" maxlength=\"100\"><\/textarea><\/label><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"ak_js_1\" name=\"ak_js\" value=\"245\"\/><script>document.getElementById( \"ak_js_1\" ).setAttribute( \"value\", ( new Date() ).getTime() );<\/script><\/p><\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make Sure You Listen at 96 kHz!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A couple of readers have pointed out a potential problem with the distribution of 96 kHz\/24-bit PCM files for this comparison. It is possible that  the systems used to playback the files MAY downconvert the 96 kHz\/24-bit PCM files to 48 kHz without the listener knowing. I acknowledge that this could certainly happen and could seriously skew the results. My response has been that I assumed that experienced audiophiles with sophisticated systems should know how to playback a high-resolution file. I may be wrong. So&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>If you&#8217;re participating in the HD-Audio Challenge II, PLEASE INSURE THAT YOU LISTEN TO THE FILES AT THEIR NATIVE SAMPLE RATE OF 96 kHz.<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>This is important. Please take care to confirm that you are actually listening at 96 kHz without system induced downconversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audio MIDI Setup on Mac<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As a example, here&#8217;s what I had to do to insure that my Benchmark DAC3 B was in fact converting a 96 kHz\/24-bit file at the original hi-res specs. First, I had to confirm that the source file had the 96 kHz\/24-bit specifications. I located one of Albert Lee&#8217;s tracks on the iTrax Backup hard drive. A quick check in the Finder confirmed that the file has a sample rate of 96 kHz and a word length of 24-bits. Us COMMAND I to &#8220;get info&#8221; on the file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"482\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_file.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_file.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_file-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_file-67x48.jpg 67w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_file-87x63.jpg 87w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is to playback the file using a program capable of running at 96 kHz\/24-bits. For simplicity, I simply dragged the file on the iTunes application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"448\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_lee_itunes.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_lee_itunes.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_lee_itunes-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_albert_lee_itunes-106x69.jpg 106w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Then I hooked up an inexpensive USB cable from the back of my iMac Pro to the input of the Benchmark DAC3 B. Simply selecting the USB input on the DAC is not sufficient. There is an application on all Macs that needs to be configured as well. It&#8217;s called Audio MIDI Setup. You can find it in the Utilities folder (short cut SHIFT CMD U). Once opened, you can view and change a few settings. Take a look at the illustration below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"501\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_audioMIDI.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_audioMIDI.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_audioMIDI-300x221.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_audioMIDI-67x48.jpg 67w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_audioMIDI-87x63.jpg 87w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The output device has to be selected from the available devices on the left hand side. I&#8217;m using my Benchmark DAC so I selected that device. In the OUTPUT section on the righthand side of the information screen, make sure that 96 kHz is selected. Some devices will not offer 96 kHz as an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, I confirmed that my Benchmark was rendering the 96 kHz\/24-bit digital signal by looking at the display LEDs on the front of the unit. See below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"510\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_benchmark.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_benchmark.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_benchmark-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_benchmark-53x41.jpg 53w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><figcaption>Notice the 2X and 48 kHz lights are on.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This method guarantees that the output of the Benchmark HPA 4 is 96\/24. The sample clock is handled by the DAC3 B so no crazy expensive &#8220;low jitter&#8221; USB cable is necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ll describe other playback setups in another post. The point is to be sure that you&#8217;re listening to the real 96\/24 uncompressed files and not a downconverted version. I&#8217;m going to add a question in the submission survey to confirm that you&#8217;ve checked this. Thanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicandaudioguide.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Music and Audio: A User Guide to Better Sound (opens in a new tab)\">Music and Audio: A User Guide to Better Sound<\/a> sale continues through the end of the month. Now is your chance to get this highly regarded &#8220;Gold Standard&#8221; reference book for yourself or a favorite audiophile friend or member of the family. I&#8217;ll even dedicate and sign your copy \u2014 simply let me know. It&#8217;s 50% off until the end of the month. Be sure to use the coupon code <strong>MAAG19101<\/strong>6 during checkout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"680\" height=\"554\" src=\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_MAAG_Sale.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_MAAG_Sale.jpg 680w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_MAAG_Sale-300x244.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_MAAG_Sale-85x69.jpg 85w, https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/191127_MAAG_Sale-115x94.jpg 115w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And for those of you looking to augment your catalog of AIX Records albums or find the perfect gift for the holidays, I&#8217;ll offer the same 50% discount on all DVDs or Blu-ray discs AND include a free digital file for your music server or DAP (Just let me know which mix and format you prefer). Use coupon code <strong>AIX191101<\/strong> during check out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">iTrax High-Resolution Files<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>For those of you who prefer to purchase albums as high-resolution files, the iTrax site is still in progress. However, simply let me know which album, which format (FLAC or WAV), and which mix you want and I&#8217;ll send them to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fixing a Hole Where the Rains Gets In Happy Thanksgiving! As I sit here is Southern California, it&#8217;s pouring rain<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,1,76],"tags":[97,1145,657,50,1168,1169,1173,83,40,1166,172,1141,1032,70,640,26,1172,639,1043,1154,980,1061,42,298,251,645,638,637,227,643,302,303,169,1026,1027,150,41,1167,436,320,1143,347,27],"class_list":["post-6774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dr_aixs_posts","category-what-is-hd-audio","category-hd_audio_samples","tag-5-1-surround","tag-5-1-surround-mix","tag-advanced-resolution","tag-aix-records","tag-amazon","tag-amazon-hd","tag-amazon-music-hd","tag-analog-tape","tag-analog-vs-digital","tag-apple-digital-masters","tag-audio-resolution","tag-dgitial-audio-review","tag-dvd_audio","tag-hd-downloads","tag-hd-music","tag-hd-audio","tag-hd-audio-challenge-ii","tag-hi-res-audio","tag-hi-res","tag-hi-res-audio-challenge","tag-hi-res-music","tag-hi-res-sound","tag-high-resolution-audio","tag-high-res-music","tag-high-resolution","tag-high-resolution-audio-experience","tag-hires-audio","tag-hires-music","tag-hra","tag-hra-listening-experience","tag-lossless","tag-lossy","tag-mark-waldrep","tag-music-and-audio","tag-music-and-audio-a-user-guide-to-better-sound","tag-pcm","tag-provenance","tag-pzzll","tag-qobuz-2","tag-rmaf","tag-sound-bar","tag-spectragram","tag-spectragraphs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6774"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6787,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6774\/revisions\/6787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}