[Trevor]

On 1/03/2017 11:51 PM, Mike Rivers wrote:
On 2/28/2017 11:37 PM, Trevor wrote:
That was MY point, "most people" don't. So those who do usually care a
little more.

OK, so we agree on this. Now we can argue about whether majority rules,
and when it comes to marketing, _other than products marketed
specifically for a non-majority class_, the products "most people" see
are those that are suited for their class.

More usually simply what companies choose to provide, regardless their
customers are a wide range of class and needs,



OK find a file less than 256kbs on newalbumreleases dot net amongst the
many thousands they have if you can. Plenty of FLAC there too.
NOT suggesting you should actually download any illegally though!!

So the way to get _apparently_ high resolution files is from a pirate
web site? I know there are legal (as in making some attempt to adhere
to provisions of copyright and performance rights) sources for real high
resolution files, and anyone, including the proverbial "most people" can
obtain them. But the majority of "most people" would prefer to settle
for lower cost or less risky sources for their music, and are happy just
to have the music available.


As I already indicated, most legal download sites have long since
improved on 128kbs, although many are still 256kbs rather than maximum
rates. I wouldn't pay for any compressed file myself though, I still buy
*MANY* CD's and do it myself. I would accept FLAC if it was actually a
fair bit cheaper, but usually isn't.



But let's talk about something related. Is there anything magic about
"320 kbps" if you don't know any more than that? I looked at the Jazz
and Blues category figuring I'd at least have heard of some of the
artists (and I did). "New releases" suggests CDs, so they start with a
16-bit 44.1 kHz source. But many, at least in this category, might be
new releases on CD but are sourced from material originally issued 30 or
more years earlier. So what's the real bandwidth? What's the real
resolution? What's the real noise floor? What's the real distortion?

That's a completely separate issue. Obviously the CD rips are no better
than the CD's they are ripped from regardless of encoding. But often
much better than 30 YO vinyl, although not always.



You can make a 320 kbps file from a 64 kbps file.

Sure you can, but who does?

Trevor.