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> where there haven’t been any real advancements in the last 30 years. Really? In the last 30 years, we have highly efficient, essentially perfect class D amp

by amluto 3y ago

> where there haven’t been any real advancements in the last 30 years. Really? In the last 30 years, we have highly efficient, essentially perfect class D amplifiers. DACs and ADCs that are essentially perfect are cheap. We have essentially perfect audio codecs, if only we could get people to use them. We have enough bandwidth to stream lossless and near-lossless audio. We can combine cheap, excellent DSP with cheap, excellent amplifiers to make active speakers with excellent frequency response and appropriate limiting logic to avoid damaging the drivers.

pydry 3y ago
Where are these cheap and excellent amps and speakers? As far as I was aware a near perfect DSP is cheap as chips but if you wanted a decent subwoofer (for instance) you still needed to pay $$$.
- amluto 3y ago
  The actual speakers haven’t changed much, although I suspect many are increasingly designed around the availability of good DSP. But the good amps are all over. Look at any site with actual data. For example, this thing is definitely cheap: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/extron-xpa-1002-plus-amplifier-review.35557/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/e... Some of what’s going on is that TI and others are making very good class D amplifiers on a chip, and they’re fairly easy to integrate. Several companies (IMO sadly mostly Chinese) are selling integrated DSPs and amps that are fantastic and cost a couple hundred dollars. They probably outperform multiple thousands of dollars of gear from 30 years ago, and they are far smaller and generate much much less heat.
fbdab103 3y ago
>We have essentially perfect audio codecs, if only we could get people to use them What audio codecs should we be using?
- amluto 3y ago
  On your computer? Opus, AAC, MP3 with a good encoder and an appropriate rate? Many choices are widely available and transparent. It’s the hidden codecs that still degrade audio. HD radio, most Bluetooth protocols, mobile and landline phones and the networks that interconnect them, etc. You don’t get much say in these.

by amluto 3y ago

pydry 3y ago

Where are these cheap and excellent amps and speakers? As far as I was aware a near perfect DSP is cheap as chips but if you wanted a decent subwoofer (for instance) you still needed to pay $$$.

amluto 3y ago
The actual speakers haven’t changed much, although I suspect many are increasingly designed around the availability of good DSP. But the good amps are all over. Look at any site with actual data. For example, this thing is definitely cheap: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/extron-xpa-1002-plus-amplifier-review.35557/ https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/e... Some of what’s going on is that TI and others are making very good class D amplifiers on a chip, and they’re fairly easy to integrate. Several companies (IMO sadly mostly Chinese) are selling integrated DSPs and amps that are fantastic and cost a couple hundred dollars. They probably outperform multiple thousands of dollars of gear from 30 years ago, and they are far smaller and generate much much less heat.

fbdab103 3y ago

>We have essentially perfect audio codecs, if only we could get people to use them What audio codecs should we be using?

amluto 3y ago
On your computer? Opus, AAC, MP3 with a good encoder and an appropriate rate? Many choices are widely available and transparent. It’s the hidden codecs that still degrade audio. HD radio, most Bluetooth protocols, mobile and landline phones and the networks that interconnect them, etc. You don’t get much say in these.