BBE, MP, Etc...?

[Fredag]

Somebody knows what to use with FLAC? Please send in some opinions or experiences about this. I´m confused....

[4ki]

flac is only a file format that is uncompressed so you can do what you like aside from MP which is used to make up for poor file quality.

For the most part FLAC isn't practical for portable use unless you're using a high-end output equipment (headphones or speakers, amplification, etc). You can, however, keep FLAC files, and encode copies of OGG/MP3/AAC/whatever of quality that you're good with.

Experiment with EQ and find what you like.

[Fredag]

Thanks. I think FLAC gives me the best sound on my D2. I use Sennheiser HD600 and KOSS portapro. Quite decent headphones in my opinion. I think I´ll stick to my FLACs and, as you suggest, find som EQ settings that I like and let the other settings be.

[4ki]

The senn HD600s are QUITE awsomely decent, even better if you swap cables I hear (not sure on the specifics, but a cable swap improves tonal warmth that the D2 might take away from). As for the Porta Pros the best part about them is that their darker sound sig works well with the D2 on flat settings, controlling the lower end if it's ever too much/too little.

[Fredag]

I like both. And I´m trying to find a setting that dont affect the original recording too much. Thats why I only have FLACs in my D2. I listen, not only, but often to Jazz and classical music. Rock, blues, etc is not such a big problem but finding a setting for music with accoustic instruments is not that easy. Maybe all at 0 is the best....?

[juanca7300]

Originally Posted by Fredag

I like both. And I´m trying to find a setting that dont affect the original recording too much. Thats why I only have FLACs in my D2. I listen, not only, but often to Jazz and classical music. Rock, blues, etc is not such a big problem but finding a setting for music with accoustic instruments is not that easy. Maybe all at 0 is the best....?

Yeah, me too, listen more music with acoustics instruments in FLAC. Everything to 0 is the purist option. I put the BBE to 2. The others in 0.

[arcanehacker]

Originally Posted by juanca7300

Yeah, me too, listen more music with acoustics instruments in FLAC. Everything to 0 is the purist option. I put the BBE to 2. The others in 0.

I'd beg to defer that all 0 is a purist option.. All 0 might not be actual on all the bands, highs and lows.. Basically because all players are made different, all earphones are made different.

Just like on all 0, you use different earphones/IEMs/headphones, you get different highs, lows, mids.. some give you more of a clear vocals skimming on ther aspects, while on some others might give you a low bass but muddy on instruments, etc.. well you get what I mean..

Its all about synergy of the D2 with your 'phones' and tune the EQ on what you prefer to hear more of.. like if you prefer vocals and you IEMs are not giving enough, then you tune the band mostly related to vocals.. or if your IEM and D2 already giving you extra clear highs like symbol sounds, then you probably want to lower the band related so you can hear more of other instruments.

There's no right way of tuning the EQ.. But I must say, leave the MP option off.. Its more for MP3 file format.. On FLAC you shouldn't get any loss so that option theoretically should not fix anything.. in fact if it ever tries to fix a lossless format, its probably be worst off.

Oh yeah I still don't really get the BBE thingy.. on or off, higher or low, it just sound different to me but I can't really get my finger to it.. whatever the option, it doesn't feel right or wrong..

[arcanehacker]

Originally Posted by 4ki

flac is only a file format that is uncompressed so you can do what you like aside from MP which is used to make up for poor file quality.

For the most part FLAC isn't practical for portable use unless you're using a high-end output equipment (headphones or speakers, amplification, etc). You can, however, keep FLAC files, and encode copies of OGG/MP3/AAC/whatever of quality that you're good with.

Experiment with EQ and find what you like.

FLAC BTW is not uncompressed.. its lossless but still compressed.

Its practical if your player has reasonable amount of space and you pair it with a good player and headphones/IEMs.

You can hear more of a difference if you amp a player. Then again the D2 doesn't have a true lineout so might not help much and amping.

[Fredag]

Can somebody explain the BBE? I dont really understand what it does. It sounds different but not allways better. Its like the "precense" switch on my guitar amp.......

[Fredag]

Well....well....well....I found this: http://www.bbesound.com/technologies...DS/BBE_HDS.pdf
Does it make sense to anybody?
I´ve allways been a purist but I am begining to like this BBE-thing...

[4ki]

arcanehacker: thanks for the clarification :-)

"purist" is subjective to source, ampage, headphone, and preference to sound, so it's inarguably contrived as the player itself "equalizes" the file's levels. This is why no two players sound exactly alike, though it is true that the less filters you apply, the generally better off should you hook it up to a speaker system of some sort. BBE is pretty awesome for portable use when you don't have an amplifier to switch levels in an 'analogue' fashion...use it if your ears like it.

[arcanehacker]

Originally Posted by 4ki

arcanehacker: thanks for the clarification :-)

...BBE is pretty awesome for portable use when you don't have an amplifier to switch levels in an 'analogue' fashion...use it if your ears like it.

hehe.. problem is I dun know to like it or hate the BBE options.. any options it just sound different bit neither good nor bad.. oh well.. I just set it to 2 a leave it there.

[Insta]

Personally, I find that BBE can either make or break certain genres. For most of my bass-light music (stuff with primarily guitars and not too much bass), BBE does more harm than help, but for tracks that rely on bass for you to really experience them, BBE is the best. So you might find yourself swithcing BBE presets depending on what you happen to be listening to.

I forgot what I set mine too, but it was relatively low. Then, when I came to a track that could use some bass, I just turned BBE up. But I mean, even if you use BBE on the wrong track, it doesn't make the quality/experience deplorable, but it could just be better without BBE.

Anyway, all that is to say that I think you're pretty safe at 2. Keep in mind, though, that I'm far from a real audiophile, as I didn't encode to FLAC, and I used run-of-the-mill headphones. But I mean, if it sounds good to you, then w/e. That's what you bought it for, right?

[arcanehacker]

Originally Posted by Insta

Personally, I find that BBE can either make or break certain genres. For most of my bass-light music (stuff with primarily guitars and not too much bass), BBE does more harm than help, but for tracks that rely on bass for you to really experience them, BBE is the best. So you might find yourself swithcing BBE presets depending on what you happen to be listening to.

I forgot what I set mine too, but it was relatively low. Then, when I came to a track that could use some bass, I just turned BBE up. But I mean, even if you use BBE on the wrong track, it doesn't make the quality/experience deplorable, but it could just be better without BBE.

Anyway, all that is to say that I think you're pretty safe at 2. Keep in mind, though, that I'm far from a real audiophile, as I didn't encode to FLAC, and I used run-of-the-mill headphones. But I mean, if it sounds good to you, then w/e. That's what you bought it for, right?

Thanks for the info on the BBE.. maybe I should try playing around with the BBE again with different genres..

You should go for FLAC though a higher bitrate mp3 format should still sound good in the D2.. the D2 is just a great player. My theory is get the most out of a player.. if you have ample space that is. Mines a 16gb D2 with 16gb SDHC (32gb not available locally yet), coupled with a UE Triple-Fi 10 Pro. BBE don't really sound all that bad high or low.

[Bullseye]

Well, as I am an album listener, every time I put a different genre, or a different artist (or file type -like FLAC vs MP3-), I like to tweak my EQ till I can hear it as I like it. As there is also an option to save preset and there are 12 presets, I save the one I like more, then when i try to put the back with the album i want if I am not satisfied I keep tweaking that one till it sounds how I like to listen to music

In general (not always), BBE sounds better with my lower quality Mp3 files. With some of them is "not needed", and that happens too with some FLAC files.

So personal advice, just "play" a lot with the EQ, try loads of settings, with the same artist/album, then with different ones. And when you have decided for one, in some time (maybe next day) listen to the album again, try the EQ settings you did till you are happy

Sound clarity and enjoyment is so personal you should only rely in your ears and your brains. I enjoy being able to listen to the full sound spectrum and don't care so much about bass (Edit, forgot to finish sentence) being so powerful that my brains explode.