Got a copy of Paul Simon's "So Beautiful or So What".
Good album.
Will never listen to it again.
Why? Extreme volume compression. So much so that it literally gives me a headache after about 2 minutes of listening.
Using Foobar Dynamic Range tool, I find it has a dynamic range limited to about 5db. This is extreme even for modern compressed albums, which usually have something more in the 7db-8db range. I don't like the 7db-8db compressed ones, but I can usually listen to them. Less compressed albums have DR of 9-12 db and sound modern and "punchy", but still good. Older albums (I'm talking pop/rock here, not classical) generally have DR of 10-14 db of DR.
Can't we bombard record companies and bands with complaints? Ask reviewers to make negative comments about sound quality of these albums? Why does this level of compression have to become the accepted norm? Can anything be done about this? Don't artists like Paul Simon care? Hard for me to believe he doesn't have control over the final product.
I'm very frustrated about buying music that I want to enjoy, but can't.
Good album.
Will never listen to it again.
Why? Extreme volume compression. So much so that it literally gives me a headache after about 2 minutes of listening.
Using Foobar Dynamic Range tool, I find it has a dynamic range limited to about 5db. This is extreme even for modern compressed albums, which usually have something more in the 7db-8db range. I don't like the 7db-8db compressed ones, but I can usually listen to them. Less compressed albums have DR of 9-12 db and sound modern and "punchy", but still good. Older albums (I'm talking pop/rock here, not classical) generally have DR of 10-14 db of DR.
Can't we bombard record companies and bands with complaints? Ask reviewers to make negative comments about sound quality of these albums? Why does this level of compression have to become the accepted norm? Can anything be done about this? Don't artists like Paul Simon care? Hard for me to believe he doesn't have control over the final product.
I'm very frustrated about buying music that I want to enjoy, but can't.
