I just preordered a PSP for me and one for my sister-in-law. The PSP games shown so far aren't that appealing to me, I am more interested in its use as a digital audio unit and games secondary. How does the PSP stack up against DVD audio, vinyl (my fave, with a tube power amp and near field monitors coupled to a Velodyne sub), CD, MP3, and against the iPod? Specifically, dynamic range and phase accuracy. I'll be using Sony model MDR-7506 headphones for travel or Sennheiser HD 595 headphones at home. Thx.
PSP audiophile question
- Thread starter -SRV-
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If you're ripping CDs into ATRAC format to use on the PSP, then it doesn't matter how popular the format is. i use FLAC myself, and while it's more popular online compared to ATRAC, there's still very few people who use it compared to MP3lockii said:
You can get the latest SonicStage at www.sonyconnect.com and compare the quality for yourself.
Sony should REALLY think about releasing an ACM ATRAC3plus codec so that it could play in media player and winamp... with PSP, their ATRAC CD walkmans, minidisc, Network walkman, etc, they could really get some market penetration going. At least potentially more than other marginal codecs like ape, flac, mpeg4 audio...
p_xavier
Authorized Fister
There's already one for Windows Media Player, I know I have one.
You can get it here : http://www.minidisc.org/atrac3.zip
Thx for the replies. I would assume that music downloaded from a site with PSP in mind would give better than MP3 quality? CD?
I don't see the PSP as offering anything *new* in the way of gaming. I'll get most of my handheld gaming elsewhere, but thanks. I am looking at the PSP as an economic alternative to the iPod (I'm not sold on an iPod), depending upon the audio performance of the PSP.
I don't see the PSP as offering anything *new* in the way of gaming. I'll get most of my handheld gaming elsewhere, but thanks. I am looking at the PSP as an economic alternative to the iPod (I'm not sold on an iPod), depending upon the audio performance of the PSP.
Amir0x said:
Not JUSt music, but music first and gaming definetly second. I am disatisfied with MP3 players. (CD players as well, but that is another story). The iPod has limited gaming. I may just opt to go iPod and DS (I have one), but I wanted to give the PSP a fair and serious look. If the audio of the PSP is superior to the iPod, the PSP may be the way to go. (Better fidelity is a bargain to me). Heck, if I don't like it, I can put it on ebay and make $$$. I win either way with the preorder.
AndriaSang
Member
PSP audio = MD audio = iRiver audio > iPod audio
radioheadrule83
Banned
There'll be iPod revisions in the coming year. We've already had iPod photo and I remember a while back they were looking for people experienced with video... a hard drive based player of music and movies is going to crap all over the memory stick / UMD based PSP. In every area except maybe the screen. It has a beautiful screen.
Even Sony's new walkman devices, or the likes of iPod or iRiver - if you're serious about music / media, I'd say these are the ways to go.
Even Sony's new walkman devices, or the likes of iPod or iRiver - if you're serious about music / media, I'd say these are the ways to go.
old data on minidisc audio
http://minidisc.org/near_cd.html
that was back in 1996 With plai old ATRAC, sony's kept on improving their encoders and playback DSPs since then of course, and revamped the codec into ATRAC3(plus). So if PSP has the same kind of audio output circuitry as a modern minidisc, you wont be dissapointed.
And if PSP supports ATRAC3plus @ 256, I think your main worry is not how the PSP is gonna sound, but if your source is good enough
http://minidisc.org/near_cd.html
that was back in 1996 With plai old ATRAC, sony's kept on improving their encoders and playback DSPs since then of course, and revamped the codec into ATRAC3(plus). So if PSP has the same kind of audio output circuitry as a modern minidisc, you wont be dissapointed.
And if PSP supports ATRAC3plus @ 256, I think your main worry is not how the PSP is gonna sound, but if your source is good enough
Amir0x pretty much nailed it. The PSP's main problem is the storage media. 512 MB is NOT a lot of space...especially when you're already bitching about sound quality.Amir0x said:
Let's look at your original list of "audiophile" stuff. DVD-A? That's hilarious to include, topped only by listing vinyl as well. Of COURSE portable audio players aren't going to support 5.1 audio, and of COURSE there isn't a portable vinyl solution short of dragging DJ gear around with you.
If you want portable CD audio, buy a CD walkman or rip your collection to lossless formats. However, the PSP can't play CDs, and if it plays lossess formats at all, you will be severely space-limited by the Memory Stick media.
If you want to deal with compressed audio (MP3, AAC, etc.), and you claim to be an audiophile, then you already know that the particular compression algorithm isn't as important as the bitrate. Higher bitrate = better sound, and the only way you'll have space to support higher bitrate files is with a hard disc-based player.
Last but not least, you also know that none of these options is going to have a top-quality DAC or distortion-free signal transmission like you can get from a good HT setup...and, oh yeah, you're restricted to HEADPHONES.
So, I really don't understand why you're asking the question. If $$$ are a concern, buy a cheap, hard drive MP3 player, encode losslessly or at the highest bitrate you can, accept its limitations, and buy whatever gaming system floats your boat.
For top quality portable audio, You'd probably do well to get a HiMD unit. most of them have a mic in (they either have USB only, or USB/line-in/optical/mic) that can record straight off of a turntable into Hi-SP (256 kbps ATRAC3Plus - lossless) and give you UNBELEIVABLE sound. I know, I did that a couple of times with my old JVC MD, sounded bloody amazing even if it was plain old ATRAC.
If you're unsatisfied with compressed audio still, HiMD supports raw linear PCM.
If you're unsatisfied with compressed audio still, HiMD supports raw linear PCM.
At the bitrates you're expecting, you better not expect to fit more than 3 or 4 CDs on a single 512MB Memory Stick.
It just seems stupid that you have a DS and are getting a PSP solely for music so you can have an all-in-one unit. If time hasn't told you before, Jack of All Trades, master of none.
It just seems stupid that you have a DS and are getting a PSP solely for music so you can have an all-in-one unit. If time hasn't told you before, Jack of All Trades, master of none.
Smiles and Cries
Member
Micheal Jackson has a PSP and he says it sound good
radioheadrule83 said:
Thx and others, thx. I am not up to speed on all the digital compression, etc. terminology and capabilities. I appreciate the knowledge.
WTF? Having a bad day? Your post is off base and reveals a lack of high end knowledge. Thanks for the attempt, I guess.
The others in the thread, thank you.