Sound quality of Kalafina and FictionJunction

[Kirito]

Just wondering how much this really matters. I don't have a CD player, but I buy the Kalafina CDs for archival purposes.

Any way one could provide a compressed version VS a high-def FLAC? Just a 30-second clip would do and would definitely shed some light on the topic since I'm not an audiophile.

 

[mf4361]

Just wondering how much this really matters. I don't have a CD player, but I buy the Kalafina CDs for archival purposes.

Any way one could provide a compressed version VS a high-def FLAC? Just a 30-second clip would do and would definitely shed some light on the topic since I'm not an audiophile.

There will be no difference unless you listen on a good pair of headphone. Even that an untrained ear barely pics up a difference

 

[Squall Leonhart]

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I can't tell you how many instances there were when I was listening to (any kind of, really) music and imagined how much better certain things, or just the whole songs overall would sound if x was different, or if it used just a little bit less of compression. But sadly, most people don't care or even notice, or listen on their earbuds where they can't even hear everything that's going on - so it doesn't matter to them (which is understandable). Could you tell me what's your audio setup? I'm just curious.

Currently I am using a Denon PMA-720ae amplifier with DCD-720ae cd player and wharfedale diamond 220 speakers.

I have them on top of my desk in my room.
I plan on upgrading to Dali Opticon 1 speakers soon as I read they are good with music like Kalafina:

I really like that this kind of thread was opened. I was always curious to hear other people's opinions when ti comes to sound production of Kalafina's stuff.

I am very happy this thread has drawn this much interest. :)

Just wondering how much this really matters. I don't have a CD player, but I buy the Kalafina CDs for archival purposes.

Any way one could provide a compressed version VS a high-def FLAC? Just a 30-second clip would do and would definitely shed some light on the topic since I'm not an audiophile.

Same as what mf4361 said. You will either need a good pair of headphones with a good DAC or alternatively a hifi system.

Despite compression in Kalafina albums the sound quality is still better with good headphones or hifi system as you can more accurately hear the individual instruments and vocals sound more lifelike. But if less compression was used then it would sound even better as instruments would sound more realistic and vocals would be even more lifelike.

Edit: One other thing is CD's are already capable of a wide dynamic range and there has been debates on if people can hear the differences between the two. There was a physical version of hi res which was SACD but unfortunately it didn't take off. But there were a number of cases where the improved sound was attributed to the better mastering compared to regular CD's rather then the higher capabilities of the format itself so many CD's could have sounded as good as many SACD's potentially.

Basically companies choose to do better mastering for SACD's because they knew the majority of people that bought that format specifically wanted better sound. Most buyers of regular CD's don't use CD's on hifi equipment compared to those that do. If things were to suddenly reverse and more people that buy CD's get into audio and hifi then labels will likely follow trends and start mastering regular CD's better. After all there is well mastered CD's out there but unfortunately it's not the norm. Plus all these audio companies still make audiophile CD players that only play regular CD's.

Throughout the early 2000's the younger generation moved to compressed mp3's due to the convenience of the format. However there seems to be a slow resurgence in the popularity of audiophile equipment and increasing demand for mp3's to be replaced with flac.

 

[yuki.n]

At least in my rips, the single version has some observable clipping (and makes my ears bleed). But I couldn't find the single anymore, Early Best and Dream Field are all I could find. If anyone else has the CD, please paste the waveform!

 

[Mace63]

Currently I am using a Denon PMA-720ae amplifier with DCD-720ae cd player and wharfedale diamond 220 speakers.
I have them on top of my desk in my room.
I plan on upgrading to Dali Opticon 1 speakers soon as I read they are good with music like Kalafina

That's some really good gear! I myself am a headphone person, and my setup is not nearly as great as yours, but I still find it to be mind-blowing considering the price ranges. I use Sennheiser HD 600 with FiiO E17 + E09K. I can't really afford too pricely DAC or Amp, and everything I tried (even in a higher price range) wasn't that much better than what I had, so I juts stick with it for now.

Also, I'd be very curious to hear how does Kalafina's music sound on your setup - specifically because I've never played it on good speakers. I envy you there!

Any way one could provide a compressed version VS a high-def FLAC? Just a 30-second clip would do and would definitely shed some light on the topic since I'm not an audiophile.

I assume you are asking about lossy files vs. lossless, right? Digital compression after all is an entirely different thing than what was being discussed in this thread, after all. As people said, without a good system you won't really be able to notice any differences, especially if we're talking about higher bit rates of lossy files. Also because the codecs used in a lot of lossy encoders have improved vastly over the past 10 years. However, you could hear the difference between a, say, FLAC file and a 64 kbps mp3 file - anyone should be able to hear the difference since it's a very low bit rate. You can use that as a reference point on what this kind of compression sounds like on files. Then you can go up with the bit rate and test whether you can hear any differences. It's a fun thing to do if you're interested.

Anyway, a well mastered song is going to sound good whether it's encoded by a lossy codec (depending on the bit rate) or a lossless one. In that sense this is a lot less important than actual dynamics compression and everything done during the mixing and mastering stages of songs.

 

[Kugayama]

On a pc-based set-up, I noticed an improvement in sound quality using a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card with EMU 10k2 chip over the on-board Intel "HD audio" sound chip.

 

[yuki.n]

At least in my rips, the single version has some observable clipping (and makes my ears bleed). But I couldn't find the single anymore, Early Best and Dream Field are all I could find. If anyone else has the CD, please paste the waveform!

Found and imported. The waveform is real and proper. It's so beautiful!

 

[Kirito]

I assume you are asking about lossy files vs. lossless, right? Digital compression after all is an entirely different thing than what was being discussed in this thread, after all.

I am very much aware of how digital compression negatively affects audio quality hahaha. I was actually referring to the compressed version where OP said Kajiura-sensei deliberately compresses some instruments vs the supposed uncompressed ones. Would there actually be a discernible difference even on relatively decent headphones (like those Seinheiser in-ears that go for like $50 a pair)?

 

[Mace63]

I am very much aware of how digital compression negatively affects audio quality hahaha. I was actually referring to the compressed version where OP said Kajiura-sensei deliberately compresses some instruments vs the supposed uncompressed ones. Would there actually be a discernible difference even on relatively decent headphones (like those Seinheiser in-ears that go for like $50 a pair)?

Ah, sorry, my bad. The way that was worded confused me because you said "compressed version VS a high-def FLAC" so I assumed that was what you were talking about, not the dynamics compression.

That depends entirely on how strong the compression is - if you know what to look for, technically you'd be able to hear the difference even on cheap earbuds (if the compression is REALLY strong, however). Generally what you look for is flat, lifeless sounding instruments, vocals, or just the entire track for that matter. Or what I like to call "wall of noise" kind of sound - when all the instruments sound like they are mushed together rather than standing out separately. Though do keep in mind this kind of thing is very hard to hear even on those "relatively decent" headphones, especially if we are not talking about strong cases of compression. I can't think of two examples within Kalafina (I don't really listen to most other Kajiura projects) right now, but I could give you an example with two songs (one of which could be Kalafina's song) - one using decent and acceptable amount of compression and one using way too strong compression which led to clipping. If that's what you're looking for. It would be an example of something you could hear even with earbuds.

 

[grunty]

Nevermind. Links removed.

 

[Squall Leonhart]

That's some really good gear! I myself am a headphone person, and my setup is not nearly as great as yours, but I still find it to be mind-blowing considering the price ranges. I use Sennheiser HD 600 with FiiO E17 + E09K. I can't really afford too pricely DAC or Amp, and everything I tried (even in a higher price range) wasn't that much better than what I had, so I juts stick with it for now.

Also, I'd be very curious to hear how does Kalafina's music sound on your setup - specifically because I've never played it on good speakers. I envy you there!

Thanks. I was just listening to Hikari no senritsu from the Best of Red album and it sounds like butter. That part on 3:38 of the track where two different lines are being sung at the same time sound completely separate and clear. Bass frequencies sound crisp also.

On a pc-based set-up, I noticed an improvement in sound quality using a Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card with EMU 10k2 chip over the on-board Intel "HD audio" sound chip.

I need to get a soundcard at some point. The onboard sound on my motherboard isn't very good.