To what degree DR reflects SQ?

[Allan F]

31 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

I'm thinking (perhaps incorrectly) that DR as shown in DR Database and as defined in a standard reflects the difference between the loudest parts of a track and the *average* loudness (rather than the quietest part).

 

As @firedog correctly states, dynamic range in audio is defined as the difference between the quietest and loudest volume of a piece of music, measured in dB. More generally, dynamic range is defined as the difference between the smallest and largest values that a certain quantity can assume.

[Allan F]

1 hour ago, Jud said:

It may reflect the care taken in mastering an album. See the various versions of this album, for example: http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list/year?artist=Rickie+Lee+Jones&album=rickie+lee+jones

 

In many, if not most cases, it's the recent remasters that have lower DR as part of the "loudness wars".