Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:10729 comp.std.internat:637 rec.video:11209 comp.graphics:10489 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!sli!news From: rdh@sli.com (Robert D. Houk) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,comp.std.internat,rec.video,comp.graphics Subject: Re: Why I hate CDs (was Re: I don't need HDTV!) Message-ID: Date: 20 Mar 90 04:37:32 GMT References: <1554@redsox.bsw.com> <4154@mit-caf.MIT.EDU> Sender: news@sli.com (news) Reply-To: rdh@sli.com (or uunet!sli!rdh) Organization: Software Leverage, Inc. Arlington, Ma Lines: 33 In-reply-to: mpl@mit-caf.MIT.EDU's message of 19 Mar 90 03:43:02 GMT In article <4154@mit-caf.MIT.EDU> mpl@mit-caf.MIT.EDU (Mark Lubratt) writes: In article <1554@redsox.bsw.com> campbell@redsox.bsw.com (Larry Campbell) writes: >CDs would have been nice if they had a decent high frequency rolloff; but if >I A/B an LP and a CD it is clear that the CD has cut off the higher >frequencies. Even if you can hear beyond normal hearing, the fact is that when listening to normal music, the energy in the lower frequencies mask out your perception of higher frequencies. That is why one can make an amplifier with a 15KHz rolloff and noone could tell except if they send pure tones through it. For normal broad band applications, the lower frequency energy will mask out what you would normally hear above 15KHz and you will never know it is missing. So, you've never listened to cymbols? snare drums? organ? trumpets? All have significant information ("harmonics") well past 15KHz, well past 20KHz for that matter. No, not everyone can hear them. Not everyone can "hear" terminals (15Khz flyback) either - but personally I find them rather an- noying. Chopping off music at 20KHz (CDs) or even 15KHz (FM, and de facto much prerecored music) doesn't deter you from identifying what instrument is playing, any more than NTSC TV pictures deters you from identifying what actor/ess is playing, but higher resolution is distinguishable, more enjoyable (and/or realistic), and addicting to boot. -RDH -- "If you build a system RDH@SLI.COM | uunet!sli!rdh that even a fool could use, Robert D. Houk then only a fool Software Leverage, Inc. would want to use your system." 485 Massachusetts Avenue -Somebody-r-Other's Law Arlington, Mass. 02174 Office (617) 648-1414