From: utzoo!decvax!duke!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!sri-unix!gwyn@BRL Newsgroups: net.physics Title: Re: Digital Vs. The Audiophile. Article-I.D.: sri-unix.4886 Posted: Fri Dec 17 14:34:28 1982 Received: Fri Dec 24 02:28:48 1982 From: Doug Gwyn If in fact only frequencies from 0 through 20KHz are relevant for audio perception, and if in fact correct Fourier transformation is being done to audio signals (sampled at 40KHz or above), then the reconstructed signal WILL match the original. This is not a model, it is one of the most solidly-established results of mathematics. I note that when true "high fidelity" first became available, there were those who thought IT sounded "wrong". It appears to depend on what one is accustomed to. In the case of recordings, analog disks are typically compressed and digital disks typically are not; this is certainly audibly detectable. There are audiophiles who claim to be able to hear the difference between equipment with 0.001% THD and 0.01% THD; this while putting their output into loudspeakers that cannot do nearly that well! Some of think they are hallucinating.