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CD vs FLAC/ALAC Quality

mwplummwplum Posts: 1,542
in The Porch
I've always just purchased mp3 downloads from 10C for shows I've gone to in the past. However, since getting a pono and (trying) to educate myself about quality, I'm trying to determine whether there is any difference in quality between the bootleg CDs and the ALAC downloads. I went to more shows on this tour than in the past, so was going to opt for CDs to have something tangible, but are the CDs of the same quality or better than the ALAC downloads?

Thanks, Matt
1992-07-21 Vancouver
1993-9-4 Vancouver
1996-9-16 Seattle
1998-7-19 Vancouver, 7-21 Seattle, Memorial Stadium
2000-11-6 Seattle
2001-10-22 Seattle
2002 -12-09 Seattle
2009-8-17 Manchester, 9-25 Vancouver
2011-6-16 Seattle (EV), 9-3/4 PJ20, 9-25 Vancouver
2012-6-27 Amsterdam (#2!)
2013-11-29 Portland, 12-4 Vancouver, 12-6 Seattle
2014-AUS - 1-26 Sydney, 1-31 Adelaide, 2-11/12 EV Sydney State Theatre, 2-13 EV Opera House
2014 - USA - Memphis, Detroit, MOLINE, St. Paul, MILWAUKEE, Denver, 25/26 Bridge School
2016 - Lexington, Philly x 2, MSG x 2, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto x 2, Pemberton, Fenway x 2, Wrigley x 2
2018 - Seattle x 2, Missoula, Fenway x 2

Comments

  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,388
    http://www.stereophile.com/features/308mp3cd/
    www.cluthelee.com
  • JohnnieBeBlueJohnnieBeBlue Posts: 630
    2-feign-reluctance said:

    http://www.stereophile.com/features/308mp3cd/

    This seems to show why MP3 and AAC suck compared to uncompressed codecs, but doesn't really talk about FLAC or ALAC vs CD. Am I missing something?
  • lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    FLAC/ALAC = CD = WAV quality > MP3, AAC
    FLAC HD > CD, FLAC/ALAC, WAV

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • ikiTikiT USA Posts: 11,057
    HD FLAC = Blu Ray audio = DVD-A
    Bristow 05132010 to Amsterdam 2 06132018
  • Nick NamenoneNick Namenone Posts: 72
    Short version. CD's, ALAC and FLAC files are all the same resolution/quality. HD ALAC and HD FLAC are higher resolution/quality. MP3's are lower resolution/quality.
  • lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    the tiki bomb said:

    HD FLAC = Blu Ray audio = DVD-A

    and this ^

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • NewJPageNewJPage Posts: 3,314
    lolobugg said:

    the tiki bomb said:

    HD FLAC = Blu Ray audio = DVD-A

    and this ^
    Blu ray is better than DVD. 192/24 vs 96/24
    6/26/98, 8/17/00, 10/8/00, 12/8/02, 12/9/02, 4/25/03, 5/28/03, 6/1/03, 6/3/03, 6/5/03, 6/6/03, 6/12/03, 6/13/03, 6/15/03, 6/18/03, 6/21/03, 6/22/03, 7/12/03, 7/14/03, 10/3/04, 10/5/04, 9/9/05, 9/11/05, 9/16/05, 5/16/06, 5/17/06, 5/19/06, 6/30/06, 7/23/06, 8/5/07, 6/30/08, 8/23/09, 8/24/09, 5/4/10, 5/7/10, 9/3/11, 9/4/11, 10/11/13, 10/17/14, 8/20/16
  • lolobugglolobugg BLUE RDGE MTNS Posts: 8,195
    edited November 2014
    NewJPage said:

    lolobugg said:

    the tiki bomb said:

    HD FLAC = Blu Ray audio = DVD-A

    and this ^
    Blu ray is better than DVD. 192/24 vs 96/24
    and this too ^
    but I think he was referencing DVD-Audio/SACD
    Post edited by lolobugg on

    livefootsteps.org/user/?usr=446

    1995- New Orleans, LA  : New Orleans, LA

    1996- Charleston, SC

    1998- Atlanta, GA: Birmingham, AL: Greenville, SC: Knoxville, TN

    2000- Atlanta, GA: New Orleans, LA: Memphis, TN: Nashville, TN

    2003- Raleigh, NC: Charlotte, NC: Atlanta, GA

    2004- Asheville, NC (hometown show)

    2006- Cincinnati, OH

    2008- Columbia, SC

    2009- Chicago, IL x 2 / Ed Vedder- Atlanta, GA x 2

    2010- Bristow, VA

    2011- Alpine Valley, WI (PJ20) x 2 / Ed Vedder- Chicago, IL

    2012- Atlanta, GA

    2013- Charlotte, NC

    2014- Cincinnati, OH

    2015- New York, NY

    2016- Greenville, SC: Hampton, VA:: Columbia, SC: Raleigh, NC : Lexington, KY: Philly, PA 2: (Wrigley) Chicago, IL x 2 (holy shit): Temple of the Dog- Philly, PA

    2017- ED VED- Louisville, KY

    2018- Chicago, IL x2, Boston, MA x2

    2020- Nashville, TN 

    2022- Smashville 

    2023- Austin, TX x2

    2024- Baltimore

  • ikiTikiT USA Posts: 11,057
    Stereo DVD-A can be up to 192/24
    Bristow 05132010 to Amsterdam 2 06132018
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 38,986
    what in the fark is ALAC?
    "every society honours its live conformists and its dead troublemakers"




  • ikiTikiT USA Posts: 11,057
    Apple FLAC
    Bristow 05132010 to Amsterdam 2 06132018
  • KV4053KV4053 Mike's side, crushed up against the stage Posts: 1,504
    To sum up, you should be able to hear / feel the difference of HD-FLAC on the Pono.
    I know I was born and I know that I'll die. The in between is mine.
  • MedozKMedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    You can tell the difference usually between 16 and 24 bit, but a good mastering beats bad mastering every time.
  • darthvedderdarthvedder Posts: 2,628
    MedozK said:

    You can tell the difference usually between 16 and 24 bit, but a good mastering beats bad mastering every time.

    This is a good point. The recordings are only as good as the weakest link. And there are a lot of links to go through.
  • CROJAM95CROJAM95 Posts: 10,238
    I bought Leeds Flac HD and listened on my Pono.... Wow it's so fucking good.

    Both on my home stereo and my Sennheiser Momentums..... A little pricey at $20 a pop but I'll def buy a few each tour, so dynamic in what you can hear.

    Hopefully Black Friday sale includes Flac HD, I'll buy a few more (Denver and another)

  • BF89905BF89905 Posts: 1,433
    Can iTunes play ALAC HD ......thanks for the feedback
  • MedozKMedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    BF89905 said:

    Can iTunes play ALAC HD ......thanks for the feedback

    Yes, but it's downsampled
  • MedozKMedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    edited November 2014
    BF89905 said:

    Can iTunes play ALAC HD ......thanks for the feedback

    Yes, but it's downsampled when you play it through Apple hardware.

  • mwplummwplum Posts: 1,542
    Thanks for the great response everyone! So just so I'm sure, are CD/FLAC/ALAC 16 bit? ....and HD FLAC/ALAC is 24 bit?. It's somewhat confusing because when you go to buy boots that it says "ALAC, ALAC-HD (24 bit/96KHz)"...which when I read it tells me the bit of the HD version, but not of the standard ALAC.

    ....also the Vienna show is the first one I bought on HD and it absolutely blows away the lower quality files I have on my Pono. I also went out and bought Sennheiser Momentums a few months ago, and they sound so much better using the Pono with that Vienna show than anything I've ever hear before!!! Very stoked to get to revisit these shows in this format.
    1992-07-21 Vancouver
    1993-9-4 Vancouver
    1996-9-16 Seattle
    1998-7-19 Vancouver, 7-21 Seattle, Memorial Stadium
    2000-11-6 Seattle
    2001-10-22 Seattle
    2002 -12-09 Seattle
    2009-8-17 Manchester, 9-25 Vancouver
    2011-6-16 Seattle (EV), 9-3/4 PJ20, 9-25 Vancouver
    2012-6-27 Amsterdam (#2!)
    2013-11-29 Portland, 12-4 Vancouver, 12-6 Seattle
    2014-AUS - 1-26 Sydney, 1-31 Adelaide, 2-11/12 EV Sydney State Theatre, 2-13 EV Opera House
    2014 - USA - Memphis, Detroit, MOLINE, St. Paul, MILWAUKEE, Denver, 25/26 Bridge School
    2016 - Lexington, Philly x 2, MSG x 2, Quebec City, Ottawa, Toronto x 2, Pemberton, Fenway x 2, Wrigley x 2
    2018 - Seattle x 2, Missoula, Fenway x 2
  • MedozKMedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    Sounds like your enjoying the Pono, that's great to hear.

    All I know is since I have gotten more into hi-res audio, I have become a lot more picky about what I buy. I do a lot more research and have found that in many cases the digital versions are better than the analog... And most times because of mastering. In some cases a redbook CD will sound better than the vinyl version.

    I have educated myself enough now to be able to pick and chose carefully what I buy.... Especially now with vinyl prices high. Yet there is still one group that i will buy anything... U can prolly guess that one .. Lol
  • BF89905BF89905 Posts: 1,433
    MedozK said:

    BF89905 said:

    Can iTunes play ALAC HD ......thanks for the feedback

    Yes, but it's downsampled when you play it through Apple hardware.

    Thanks for the feedback....... enjoy the music
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,388
    You
    MedozK said:

    BF89905 said:

    Can iTunes play ALAC HD ......thanks for the feedback

    Yes, but it's downsampled when you play it through Apple hardware.

    You can adjust your audio settings to play 24/96 through iTunes. Done it & tested it with an HD PJ show. Checked sample rate and nothing was downsampled.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,388
    On a Mac desktop or laptop. Not a phone or iPod by the way.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • BF89905BF89905 Posts: 1,433
    Good to know - thank you. I was looking to play the files through apple tv over the stereo speakers..... The other option is through sonos speakers, but they don't play HD file types.... I'll look into the iTunes audio settings
  • MedozKMedozK Tennessee Posts: 9,212
    AppleTV will downsample, it only plays 16/44.1
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