Would someone be able to explain how volume leveling works? Specifically, I have ripped CDs to WMA Lossless and applied volume leveling through Windows Media Player. Does this action change the data in the file? Or, is the dynamic range of the original file intact, but volume leveling happens on the fly, so to speak, without altering the original file?

Hello Stereophiles,

There are a lot more RANTS in this forum than RAVES so I thought I would just add a quick RAVE. We just got a new CD called "A Timeless Thing" by Amanda McBroom and I wanted to RAVE about hit here. This is Classic Cabaret/Jazz and if this style of music is your cup of tea - You will be amazed at how the CD really sounds!! This is going to be my new vocal reference CD for sure.

With all the talk about SACD and surround formats this CD really does prove that plain old 2 channel can still make the spine tingle.

Enjoy!
AudioStone

Just wanted to thank Mikey for one of the more humorous article's I've read in the publication in some time. Four pages of non stop snickers and chuckles. Hilarious! Can't wait for the next installment where he promises to break out the "Heavy Duty" stuff.

RG

Hello all,

I'm looking for an upgrade for my PC audio. Currently I'm using a C-Media CMI8738. It's much better than the onboard card of coarse, but it doesn't do a great job. I selected a couple of candidates. Perhaps anyone can give me suggestions, I mostly listen to Jazz, Alt. Rock/Pop and Reaggea. I never play any PC games but occasionally I watch a movie via my DVD player in my PC.

I'm hung up with the setup procedure for my new VSX-52TX. Using componant cables to my HDTV I get no picture on the TV. The componant inputs (cable TV box, DVD player) have been double-checked and are correct, as is the A/V monitor-out cables. I have tried ALL of my TV's signal input settings, yet no video signal and picture.

The supplied manual indicates that one should be presented with an automated set-up screen on the TV, yet I see nothing.

As i am not a multichannel listener i would like to change my XA777es multichannel sacd player for a SCD-1 player
Are the DAC's in the SCD-1 better than the 3 dual paralleled for each channel overwelming DAC B-B PCM 1738 used in the 777ES ?
For SACD for CD

Here's a link to the first chapter of a new book by Earl Geddes, acoustic engineer, that I find especially interesting because it's written in understandable layman's language, and it explores perceptions as well as the technical aspects of audio reproduction.
http://www.gedlee.com/audio.htm

The recent addition of the article at http://www.stereophile.com/thinkpieces/599digital/ about digital versus analog effectively makes the quite valid point that we should not argue one technology is superior to another (e.g., CD versus vinyl) simply on aesthetic, philosophical, or other theoretical grounds. The argument is made that "digital idealism" should not prejudice us against "analog realism". I agree completely.