[sdiy] Harmonic bandwidth

[Ben Lincoln]

On Tue, January 8, 2008 8:35 am, Tom Wiltshire said:

> I think the key there is 'misinterpret'. There's lots of evidence
> that people hear differences where they think there are some - like
> when they plug in their super-duper audiophile hifi using a new
> platinum-plated mains cable.The improvement is subtle, but
> _definitely_ there, ask anyone who just paid $400 for a mains cable! ;)

I am firmly in the "ha ha, audiophiles are suckers" camp under normal
circumstances, but this thing with the phase has made me a little less
sure of that position.
Achim had a clever idea and sent me an mp3 of two samples with the same
harmonics but different phases for the harmonics, arranged in a binary /
morse code pattern. I couldn't hear any differences in the original file
because it was too high-pitched (I am 29, so my ears are getting old), but
when I slowed it down so it was running about four octaves lower and I
picked them out on the first try (without looking at the waveform
beforehand). I assume that there could have been some distortion there due
to the processing, but I liked the idea of using a pattern rather than me
doing a manual A/B between the two (which is obviously subject to a lot
more misinterpretation).