2016 Dead pool

[trappy]

Hoo boy... I see the fogey is strong with this thread.

[mordante]

I clearly don't subscribe to Tidal*, but not because I have technical objections, I just really don't like Jay Z and I am not a fan of a great deal of the music they promote.

 

(*I did subscribe for a month.)

 

On the other paw, while not lossless, I cannot hear a difference between streamed FLAC files from Tidal, and streamed AAC files from Apple. And Apple Music has a much larger catalog to choose from. For me at least, Apple Music works better than Tidal. YMMV!

 

 

 

Did you ever hook up a Sonos Connect to a decent DAC and listen to Redbook material? It makes at least as good a source for that as JRMC or iTunes. In my book, as good as any of the more expensive streamers on the market, but again, YMMV! Admittedly, the Sonos speakers are not what I would call "high end" - but their streaming is, as long as you restrict the source material to CD quality.

 

I really love JRMC myself, especially since it is trivial to transcode even CD quality files to DSD128. Which is my favorite thing to do depending upon the DAC I am using. (grin) Also, JRMC certainly does sound better when playing hi-res or DSD files than a Sono's, but that is at least partly because Sonos won't stream hi-res at this time. Perhaps they never will.

 

-Paul

 

I would prefer Tidal over Apple Music. While Jay Z may not be a role model. Apple as a business is far more shady.

 

As far as I know there is no alternative for Tidal.

 

Ontopic:

 

DSD will fade into obscurity following the SACD

Donald Trump will make a fool of himself

China will have a financial crisis which will result in the global stock markets going down

Even though school/public shootings will continue the red necks/hillbilly's will prevent stricter gun laws.

Tax evasion laws will get stricter

Trickle down economics will continue to fail, rich becoming richer poor will get more poor. More working poor.

[mordante]

I was thinking audio-related companies, product or technologies.

 

The NAZIcar is too popular to go away just because they got caught doing what all the auto manufacturers probably do.

 

LOL Nazicar, you are funny.

[Teresa]

...It's great, because I can legally try music on my good system that's new to me without any monetary loss if I don't like it.

 

I agree the ability to check out new music without any monetary loss is a plus. However, I not only must consider the monthly cost of Tidal but also I would have to switch to a fast internet service with a monthly charge.

 

Currently, I use free wi-fi internet supplied by my apartment complex. If I watch too many YouTubes or download too many high resolution music files, my service slows down for several days. There seems to be a time/data cap. Surely, Tidal's lossless high resolution streaming uses a lot of data.

 

If my free wi-fi internet ever goes away, I will go back to using the internet at the library.

 

Probably not related but based on some of the CSI:Cyber episodes I've watched I have quit purchasing anything online, so all of my new music purchases (SACD, CD, Blu-ray, etc.) will be in person, in town. Also CSI:Cyber has furthered my resolve to never purchase a cell phone, to never join any social media, perhaps even being on the internet at home is risky, despite the firewall.

 

Since I'm no longer downloading music, my free internet has been very fast, so I am happy.

 

P.S. I don't believe in paying a monthly charge for the internet, TV, music or rentals. I use an antenna for HDTV and I check out music and movies at the library.

[Teresa]

DSD, Atmos. Might take longer than 2016.

 

...DSD will fade into obscurity following the SACD...

 

People have been predicting the death of SACD since it premiered in 1999, it has found its niche with classical, jazz and audiophile remastered rock. I believe DSD will also find its niche. I love both SACD discs and DSD downloads and believe I will die before before either SACD or DSD dies.

 

I have an excellent collection of both SACDs and DSD downloads so if they do die before I do, it won't affect me much. Many dead formats sound great.

[4est]

SACD may die eventually as an alternative purchased PCM, but DSD gets stronger by the day in no small part from intrepid designers such as Miska/Signalyst. Just look at the HQPlayer threads as exemplification. A niche surely, but an avid following from often experienced and/or serious users willing to expend the effort. From what I have seen, it is the user base that drives longevity. 20 years ago people said vinyl was a dead format, and yet whenever someone finds out I am into Audio, 2 out of 3 will ask if I have a turntable.

People have been predicting the death of SACD since it premiered in 1999, it has found its niche with classical, jazz and audiophile remastered rock. I believe DSD will also find its niche. I love both SACD discs and DSD downloads and believe I will die before before either SACD or DSD dies.

 

I have an excellent collection of both SACDs and DSD downloads so if they do die before I do, it won't affect me much. Many dead formats sound great.

[christopher3393]

Axent Wear Cat Ear Headphones. The start-up, composed of 2 young U.C. Berkeley grads, raised well over $3 million for these. The final product started shipping 3 months ago. I have this uncanny intuition that the product will quickly disappear. You can grab a pair at Brookstone for $129.99.

 

"Enjoy your music privately—or turn on the cat ear speakers to share with friends

LED accent lights on cat ear speakers and earcups make a statement anywhere

Speakers and lights are controlled independently

Over-the-ear cushioning for noise reduction and a secure fit

USB rechargeable—up to 5 hours of playing time per charge

Detachable gaming boom mic

Inline volume control plus forward & back buttons"

 

 

http://http://axentwear.tumblr.com/

[wgscott]

I have this uncanny intuition that the product will quickly disappear.

 

Excellent!

[Audio_ELF]

Axent Wear Cat Ear Headphones. The start-up, composed of 2 young U.C. Berkeley grads, raised well over $3 million for these. The final product started shipping 3 months ago. I have this uncanny intuition that the product will quickly disappear. You can grab a pair at Brookstone for $129.99.

I'm sure they sound pretty s*** ... but they do look cool!

[Melvin]

I'm sure they sound pretty s*** ... but they do look cool!

 

Yeah but only for about 12 minutes or so.

[orgel]

SACD may die eventually as an alternative [to] purchased PCM, but DSD gets stronger by the day in no small part from intrepid designers such as Miska/Signalyst. Just look at the HQPlayer threads as exemplification.

 

I think this is right on the mark. I've been listening to a fair number of DSD albums since I got the Mytek DAC, but now that I can listen to PCM (including Tidal) and DSD upsampled to DSD128 using my choice of HQPlayer filters, that's what I do, and it'll take something truly extraordinary to get me to move in a different direction.

 

--David

[4est]

If modeled after Hello Kitty they might survive.

Axent Wear Cat Ear Headphones. The start-up, composed of 2 young U.C. Berkeley grads, raised well over $3 million for these. The final product started shipping 3 months ago. I have this uncanny intuition that the product will quickly disappear. You can grab a pair at Brookstone for $129.99.

 

"Enjoy your music privately—or turn on the cat ear speakers to share with friends

LED accent lights on cat ear speakers and earcups make a statement anywhere

Speakers and lights are controlled independently

Over-the-ear cushioning for noise reduction and a secure fit

USB rechargeable—up to 5 hours of playing time per charge

Detachable gaming boom mic

Inline volume control plus forward & back buttons"

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23182[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23183[/ATTACH]

 

http://http://axentwear.tumblr.com/

[christopher3393]

I'm sure they sound pretty s*** ... but they do look cool!

 

No doubt...on the right young female model. But more often:

 

[orgel]

Axent Wear Cat Ear Headphones. The start-up, composed of 2 young U.C. Berkeley grads, raised well over $3 million for these. The final product started shipping 3 months ago. I have this uncanny intuition that the product will quickly disappear.

 

Cat ears, for reasons I don't understand at all, are very popular in geographic areas and among groups where J-pop and K-pop hold sway. So while these might not go over so well in, say, Mississippi, I believe they could be very popular (at least in the short term) in East Asia.

 

--David

[james45974]

Cat ears, for reasons I don't understand at all, are very popular in geographic areas and among groups where J-pop and K-pop hold sway. So while these might not go over so well in, say, Mississippi, I believe they could be very popular (at least in the short term) in East Asia.

 

--David

 

There are some weird trends in East Asia, anyone for a bagel forehead?

[4est]

Eewww! Is that some sort of implant?

There are some weird trends in East Asia, anyone for a bagel forehead?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23185[/ATTACH]

[orgel]

There are some weird trends in East Asia, anyone for a bagel forehead?

 

Make mine garlic.

 

--David

[realhifi]

Axent Wear Cat Ear Headphones. The start-up, composed of 2 young U.C. Berkeley grads, raised well over $3 million for these. The final product started shipping 3 months ago. I have this uncanny intuition that the product will quickly disappear. You can grab a pair at Brookstone for $129.99.

 

"Enjoy your music privately—or turn on the cat ear speakers to share with friends

LED accent lights on cat ear speakers and earcups make a statement anywhere

Speakers and lights are controlled independently

Over-the-ear cushioning for noise reduction and a secure fit

USB rechargeable—up to 5 hours of playing time per charge

Detachable gaming boom mic

Inline volume control plus forward & back buttons"

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23182[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23183[/ATTACH]

 

http://http://axentwear.tumblr.com/

 

Want!

Only thing giving me pause is the independent control of lights and sound. Would love it it they were in synch.

[Superdad]

There are some weird trends in East Asia, anyone for a bagel forehead?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]23185[/ATTACH]

 

It bagels the mind...

[Bob Stern]

Netflix may finally give up on physical discs this year and becoming streaming only company.

I hope you're wrong. I subscribe to both Netflix discs and streaming. Only 10 or 15% of the movies available on disc are also available via streaming.

[orgel]

I hope you're wrong. I subscribe to both Netflix discs and streaming. Only 10 or 15% of the movies available on disc are also available via streaming.

 

+1. Netflix streaming is good for binge watching "TV" series or the occasional impulse movie, but if it's a movie I really want to see, I much prefer watching the Blu-ray.

 

--David

[whoozwah]

As the current crop of audiophiles ages out of the market, the upcoming batch (the head-fi crowd) will take over. Their M.O. is to audition gear at local meetups, not stuffy dealers that profile younger people as having no money. This will lead to the dealers all going under. It may not be in 2016 but soon.

[wgscott]

not stuffy dealers that profile younger people as having no money.

 

At least they profile accurately.

 

This is really making me feel young.

[Miska]

Also, Qobuz is Euro zone only (not sure if it is even all of Europe). Not an option here in the good ol' USofA...

 

Not even Euro zone, not available in Finland, which is both Euro and EU... Not sure about the neighboring countries.

[Miska]

None of this is all that surprising, given that the web based and the Tidal "app" are both implementations of Java and Microsoft sound libraries which were never meant to be "audiophile" quality. I have to admit, I am somewhat suspect of any other solution given that Tidal relies on these sorts of implementations for DRM - are you sure the Kodi/Audirvana implementation bypassing these Java libraries?

 

Tidal streams plain FLAC, I know because I can play streams straight from the Tidal server using my own software.

 

I believe Tidal has the survival strength as long as they keep their system open as they have been so far. As a result there are many software and hardware products supporting it and you don't need to stick to any one particular implementation to use it.

 

I'm pretty sure they will go out fast if they begin to close down the system. Using closed system like MQA worries me.