![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/191118_HD-Audio_Challenge_II_final_days.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTo date, I’ve had almost 2000 music lovers submit a request to participate, over 1000 people have confirmed receipt of the 40 files, and 360 submit their results. I would like to encourage everyone that has spent time with the files and tallied their results to visit the submission page and send me their selections. The more people submit their results, the more valid the data. Here’s the link to the submission page: http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/?page_id=6746<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve also had a number of friendly email exchanges with other interested individuals offering their thoughts about the survey. When I wrote that the average score was 40% in a previous post, a gentlemen wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n “If people average 40% correct, then they can actually hear a difference with some statistical significance but picked the wrong one as the high-res. If no one can hear a difference, then while individual variances can be large (even if they just tossed a coin to select), over a large enough population, the average should converge to 50% not significantly lower, not significantly higher. Otherwise, your thesis will not be supported.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n So I went back to the raw data and did a little additional calculation because Robert, the individual behind the graph below, had indicated that the number was closer to 50%. First, I removed anyone that could not confirm they actually listened at 96\/24 or knew that their system downconverts to 48 kHz. I also removed anyone that used any type of analytical tools or other non-listening methods to make their selections. Finally, all of the people that responded that didn’t perceive any differences between the native 96\/24 master and the downconverted 44.1\/16-bit Redbook standard files, were counted as 50% (there were 44 submissions that stated “No Choice” for all tracks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The average success rate \u2014 across 350 people \u2014 in selecting HD-Audio vs. CD-Audio was 47.7%<\/em><\/strong>. That means that people did no better than a coin toss. And it didn’t make any difference if they had a “highly resolving” system costing over $50 or simply listened on headphones from their portable DAP. There’s obviously a lot more analysis to be done but the initial take away from this survey shows that HD-Audio or “hi-res audio” as promoted by the CTA\/CEA, music industry, equipment manufacturers, and magazine publishers is not worth the investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gentleman that initially pointed out that 40% might actually be statistically significant added that my interpretation of the data might be subject to “confirmation bias.” He stated that I have a vested interest in the outcome and therefore should steer clear of making claims prior to a full analysis of the data. I responded that, in fact, by seemingly refuting the value proposition of hi-res audio, I diminish the value of my own catalog of native 96\/24 recordings. For the longest time, I wanted to believe that HD-Audio made a difference. I was among the strongest advocates for this new and exciting “upgrade” to audio reproduction. When Paul McGowan states emphatically that “Oh God yeah” high-resolution audio is easy to identify, he’s just plain wrong…and so are many others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the first HD-Audio Challenge seem to indicate that people even trained listeners with above average systems \u2014 couldn’t pick out an HD file from a Redbook CD, I began to have serious doubts about my previously held position. The hundreds of people that have participated in the second round of the HD-Audio Survey, have confirmed the results of the previous project. It is no longer possible to claim that “hi-res audio” is an important next step in the evolution of audio. HD-Audio is completely unnecessary for the reproduction of hi-fidelity. It is a very good thing to record using 96\/24 PCM audio but for the distribution of music, it’s nothing more than a sales slogan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the next few days and weeks, I will be revealing more about the survey, going through all of the tracks, and discussing how we move forward from here. But when someone posts on a FB group or in a YouTube video that it’s easy to tell a hi-res audio tracks or album from a standard-res version, ask the person if they participated in the HD-Audio Challenge II. If they haven’t, you might gently suggest that they download the files and see if they can tell them apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of my favorite artists is John Gorka. A few days ago, I received an email from his manager with a link to a new COVID-19 themed song: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/watch\/?v=260584415139849<\/a> recorded and performed by John. It’s called, Soap Opera<\/em> and tells the now familiar story of a musician’s plight in a time of “stay at home” mandates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The next day the manager wrote again and bragged about another video of John playing a live concert in Santa Ynez back in 2013. The performance is available on YouTube and DVD and shows John doing what John does best \u2014 perform his songs with heart and soul<\/em>. I guess I was tweaked because David, the manager, was wrote that the video is, “the best live footage of John..ever. Great video, great audio….and, of course, great performance.” I beg to differ. The “live” session we captured of John about 10 years ago is IMHO far better, has audiophile quality audio (in stereo and surround), and isn’t compromised with audience noise and applause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/200430_HD-Audio_Result_Graph-1024x731.jpg\")
John Gorka Broadcasts New Tunes…From Home.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n