"Todd Lipcon" wrote in message

In article ,
"Arny Krueger" wrote:

"Todd Lipcon" wrote in message



If its so easy, why not give the other files a try?

I haven't tried the other files with a proper ABX utility, since the
one I wrote for OSX doesn't support sample rates greater than 48k.

So, your ABX Comprator might be putting switching artifacts that you may be
unknowingly basing your judgements on. ABX Comparators are, as a rule not
artifact-free, but when they have audible artifacts, the artifacts are
themselves randomized.

At some point when I have more free time I'll update it, but for now I
can't do proper ABX testing for the 96k files.

Also, by just listening to pure sine waves, I can tell that my hearing
drops off at just about 21khz, even when outputting with my 828 in
96khz mode. This is through both my MDR7506s and my HR624s. Could be a
function of their lowpass filters, but more likely just the fact that
I'm not a bat.

Right. Also, sine-wave based listening tests don't address the *strongest*
reason that people can't hear the removal of high frequency information -
masking. Basically, what we hear is broken down into what are known as
critical bands - approximately 1/3 octave wide bands of frequencies
non-uniformly distributed across the audible range. The loudest tone in any
band tends to capture that band and obscure our perception of other tones in
that band. The frequency range of the highest band varies, but is something
like 13-18 KHz for most people. The strongest, lowest frequency in that band
tends to capture it and control what we hear in that band. So, if you are
listening to something that has very strong content at say 15 KHz, content
at 17 KHz tends to be irrelevant to your perceptions.


I'm also 19, though, so that may have something to do with the good
HF hearing.

That, and a relatively sheltered life could help quite a bit.
However, younger people have tried and failed for whatever reason.

I'm probably fairly sheltered compared to lots of my peers. I don't go
clubbing or to rock concerts, and when I go to loud dance parties I
try to stay on the opposite side of the room from the PA and not be
in that room for more than 2 hours or so in a night. And of course I
wear hearing protection when operating a chop saw.

I'm 58 and cultural norms for hearing protection have changed dramatically
over my lifetime. For example when I was in the Army, they didn't know how
to spell hearing protection, let alone provide it. There were some signs of
awareness up the chain of command, just near the end of my duty.