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Topic: [TOS #5] Re: K2 HD is the new crap around? (Read 2901 times) previous topic - next topic - Topic derived from K2 HD is the new crap...
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[TOS #5] Re: K2 HD is the new crap around?

Just my opinion.. K2HD and MQA are gimmicks.

Slightly off-topic but I hadn't realise MQA was a lossy codec. How do they justify slagging off any other lossy codec? :D

 

Re: Re: K2 HD is the new crap around?

Reply #1
There is absolutely no way to get audible frequencies (below 20k) from above 20k without distortion (or nonlinear) effects.  Just like there is no way to synthesize higher frequencies from lower frequencies without nonlinearity.   Any allusion about the 'stairstepping' creating any audible nonlinearity is also specious (unless the dithering was done totally incompetently.)
There can be some nonlinear effects in the human hearing system, but unless the levels are incredibly high (to the point of damage), then there is little way that very high audible frequencies -- because of the required levels -- can be synthesized.  (Middle/low frequencies can be synthesized, but that is a totally different environment, and middle frequencies don't need to be improved.) 
There is too much snake oil being sold to susceptable individuals.  Audio electronics techniques and technology have hit a point of diminishing returns (decades ago), but transducer (I mean real transducers like speakers/microphones) always have room for improvement, even though they have started being very good also.   When a very low noise/low distortion microphone with 40kHz bandwidth can be immediately purchased over the counter -- things have gotten pretty good.
It just isn't very worthwhile to try to listen to a previously noise reduced audio recording with incredibly expensive gear -- when a LOT of vintage material has been touched by NR equipment that used two-transistor gain blocks, OpAmps not much better than LM709s (which were actually a little better than some later parts.)  DolbyA units used two-transistor gain blocks, and later SR units used parts like LF411 (well, approximately.)   No material touched by these devices (or most technology between the '60s through '90s) justify incredibly esoteric gear.  (of course, one always wants to minimize distortion no matter where it comes from, and the early simple RIAA preamps were attricious.)   Simple, competent up-to-date designs are all that is needed to get the highest usable quality.   Maybe it is worth investing in very good quality (not necessarily super-expensive) transducers and being AWARE of truly incompetent electronic designs -- that it is it.