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What is the least compressed signal?

Hello everyone.I was wondering what everyone's thoughts might be about what is the least compressed front end signal? A friend of mine recently told me that radio signal is compressed. So I thought maybe a direct connection to a CD player? Or, since CDs are pretty compressed, maybe a record player? Thoughts?
the reason I ask is, my friend recently gave me a fantastic pair of speakers. And I've been listening to the radio through them. He had a disgusted look on his face and told me I was not using these speakers how they were meant to be used, because the radio signal is kind of crappy and compressed. I would love to use the speakers as they were intended. Meadowlark kestrel hot rods hooked up to an Integra receiver w/ kimbers
ddjr

Showing 5 responses by cleeds

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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
n80
kosst seems to be missing the point. As Geoff says, what the DR database data shows, correlates almost perfectly with the listening experience.
Exactly! And if kosst actually bothered to consider some of the data and listen for himself, he'd understand that. That doesn't mean that the database is perfect, but it's certainly useful.
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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
kosst_amojan
Bass is this giant, power sucking waveform that would send the needle sailing off the surface and crashing into the record were it physically represented in accurate proportion to the treble. And the treble is cranked WAY up just so the needle can pick it up ... the massive pre-amp connected to the needle that undoes an insane amount of dynamic compression ...
That is a very colorful dramatization of the LP process but it doesn't really mean anything. There's nothing at all insane about the RIAA curve and if you disagree, then you'd have to acknowledge that it's a pretty simple, straightforward process when compared to something such as CD, which relies on things like block-based error correcting codes, filtering, complex servo mechanisms and the like.
The only conclusion I can come to given the facts is that people generally like a dynamic range limited to about 60 or 70 dB, which would explain why some like vinyl with it's limited range so much.
Actually, a 60 to 70 dB dynamic range is quite broad - much more so than you'll find on most CDs. That's the simple fact you're choosing to dismiss. It's rather moot that CD is capable of much greater dynamic range because it's rarely needed musically, and even more rarely actually utilized. If ever.
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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
geoffkait
... if the range of values that represent dynamic range in the database are 1-20, whereas real dynamic range values are from 1 to 130 dB or higher, then the database contains approximate values ... The database shows trends.
That sums it up rather nicely. For anyone who has compared some of the database numbers with their own listening, it’s pretty clear that it’s a useful resource. Data needn’t be perfect to be useful, particularly in this kind of example. We’re not using the numbers to calculate a moonshot - the data are just a guide to DR.

Objections to the quality of the data are silly, imo. Of course, kosst is free to discount or ignore the information. But to criticize its value by attacking the methodology is sort of like measuring something with a micrometer, marking it with a grease pencil and then cutting it with a chainsaw. Extreme precision isn't always necessary, or even desired.
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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
noble100
... if readers here can't even agree that CDs generally have compressed dynamics mainly due to the Loudness Wars, and conscious decisions made by the recording engineers to compromise good dynamics for higher volume, then we either all go in for a group ear exam or we concede the obvious ...
That won't be necessary - there's only one person here who insists:
CDs do have better dynamic range and that's just a fact.
I'm not sure why he's so confused and refuses to look at the extensive evidence to the contrary. But that's no cause for alarm.
CD as a format is still capable of recording and playing back musical content in high fidelity and with very good dynamics.
Agreed! That's why the present state of affairs with CD is kinda sad. It just isn't necessary. Hence, LP and hi-res seem to flourish.
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cleeds
5,647 posts
 
kosst_amojan
What extensive evidence? The evidence you and Geoff keep citing I debunked? That miserably flawed, unscientific evidence ...
Kosst, I’d ask why you are so angry and argumentative, but you’ve already answered the question. I feel badly for you and wish you peace.

kosst_amojan06-14-2019 4:05am
Kosst doesn’t have a wife. Kosst went through two. One went to prison for attempted murder. The other died a year and half ago of a heroin overdose. Kosst is a single dad of a 15 year old daughter and wouldn’t get married again

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