it will convert 96 to 48 if I let it, I believe.

 

Oh, by "lesser" I thought you meant lesser-quality.

Yes, with good software ... you can down-sample to a lower sample-rate. But I would only do that if they refuse to play normally in their native format.
You can also down-sample the bit-rate or audio-resolution (like 24bit down to 16bit) but I see little reason to.

It's like digital pictures ... you can go lower, but you should never try to go higher (click link below)

https://www.provideocoalition.com/un...-distribution/

I'll take what I can get (so lower-sampled tracks I just play as is) . But if FLACs are too high, I've standardized on 2ch or 6ch (5.1) and 48kHz-24bit Level-0 . Same for ripping something from a SACD, etc. From my testing, those seem to play nicely everywhere I've tried them (and sound great) . That is the max-quality of DVD and is very good (which is beyond CD-Audio ... which is pretty-much perfect itself)

Finally, IIRC ... Acura-ELS FLACs must be zero-compression or Level-0. There is no-way to measure or identify that. However, if you buy some files that won't play, that is likely the reason. Foobar2000 can do that conversion (from Level-5 to Level-0) without changing the sound in the files (or changing anything about them if you don't want to). The current premium audio systems in Audi and BMW do not have this limitation.

 

oof. Ive been converting them at 2. I need to go re do this at 0? My rdx plays them as is at 2. No issue...but maybe they sound better at 0?

 

1. Interesting. Maybe Acura/ELS finally fix it on new models and removed that requirement.

2. No, not if they play already.

3. No. They sound the same regardless of Compression Level.

 

Any way you can take one file and compress it at different levels just to test, and provide your findings back here? It would be good info to know the changes to the formats. Not for me, but for others. We seem to be a good team on this forum..

 

My software lets me do 48/16, but when I try to do 48/24 even though I select 5.1, it want's to say I'm trying to convert 6 channel to 2, and it balks at this. Compression to 0 is no issue. Why won't it let me do 48/24 when it lets me do 96/24 and 48/16? Native for my data is 96/24.

 

Not sure what "software" you are using. I can only help with Foobar2000 (but I'm, no expert).

Sounds like your files are 96kHz/24-bit 2-channel stereo. You can't make them 5.1 (aka, a 6-channel FLAC). I thought Acura-ELS can play native 96kHz/24-bit files, as long as they are only 2-channel stereo. If not, you would down-sample them to 48kHz/24bit/2-channel FLAC.

Once again ... you can't "convert a file" into 5.1-surround. They must start-out that way.

In Foobar2000 Convert - If you don't define something like Bit-Rate, it stays the same as before (which is nice). Don't over-process or over-manipulate your files. If you do, you might change the way they sound. Play them the way you get them. If they must be Converted, only send them through the Conversion process ONCE.

Common FLAC formats are:
44khz/16bit/2-channel (as that is a Audio-CD, stereo like they all are)
48kHz/24bit/6-channel (as that is an DVD with Dolby-Digital/DTS 5.1 audio ... re-encoded to 6-channel PCM audio)
48kHz/24bit/2-channel FLAC (would be like a DVD movie with only stereo PCM audio).

When converting to FLAC, just always set to Level-0 (no compression). Other Levels don't really save much file-size space anyway. And NO, FLAC compression-level does NOT affect sound-quality (it's more like ZIP than anything else).

To help quickly identify format of files in Windows-Explorer, I use Media-Info .
For ID3-Tags (words and pic) on FLAC and MP3 files, I use MP3Tag .

 

The "Rock On" that you have came from, you won't believe this but it's true, a quadraphonic 8 track tape. It's one of the files I posted a while back. It's an incredible quad mix that sounds great in the car. When you consider that it was done around 1973 without digital studios and software, it's quite an amazing mix. It has never been offered for sale in a digital format (SACD, DVD-A, BluRay Audio)

 

So here are some classic Elton John tunes from Greg Penny's 5.1 mixes that came out on SACD a while back. All are out of print but can still be found on eBay and other places.

If you are not an early Elton fan, I suggest you at least download the track "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", as it sounds spectacular in the ELS surround system. The intro is all instrumental and there are sounds and noises coming at you from all around the car. Very cool

Anyway, as all of my posts, this is only a short time link. Get it while you can, then share among yourselves. And please, don't PM me weeks from now asking for a repost because it's not my intent to be a long term supplier of this stuff. I'm only posting it because you can't get this stuff anywhere and I enjoy listening to your reactions to listening to these in your car.

https://mega.nz/folder/ncA2kByC#w6jrRIqnjHtV_stUelLeLQ

 

Well, I stand corrected. And you did a great job on this one ... actually all your stuff is nice. We all really appreciate you.
Yes, I see now ... I just viewed it in Audacity. Yep, quad-tracks with no Center or LFE. Well, you certainly can't tell in the car. I have some light DSP running so maybe it matrix-ed the Center and LFE? I'll have to play it some more ... maybe in the home theater this time.

 

No, they are 5.1, it would not let me convert t hem to 2 channel, which is what it accused me of trying to do when I went to 48/24. I can restore it to native (match source), or convert to some it seems like. Standard is 2 for my software, so I changed it to 0, as some threads say the Acura likes that. I basically reverted back to just 96/24 with 0 compression. All of my stuff I'm messing with is 6 channel. Also, I selected not to use "dithering", as I was not reducing.

 

I couldn't discern any difference in 0 and 2, but take this with a grain of salt, my hearing is trash (empirically). My vision is 20/10, but my hearing has significant notches in the 6kHz range, and I am honestly not the best source of audio information because of this in some tones, but...to m yhearing, it didn't matter.

 

I just played the Elton John tracks in my TLX this morning and I can't thank you enough for doing this. They just sound great, the ELS system makes it sound like I'm in the middle of the music. I don't know when you are going to stop doing this for us, but I for one, hope its years from now lol.

 

I know there is no discernible difference, thats a fact. The FLAC is lossless either way. I was just wondering if the car can play it at 2, or any higher compression.

 

Good, because I will NOT vouch for my hearing, lol!

Yes, the car did not care at 0 or 2, played identically. That said, at 2 I did every now and then have "this source not recognized" or some similar error, I just pulled/reinserted the drive and it was fine. It is a different drive from my 0's, though, so IT could be the error and not the compression, but no, both played fine ultimately.

 

FYI I've been ripping a bunch of my CD's to FLAC to have in my car. Not 5.1 or anything just normal stereo.

I rip at: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, Compression level 6

They play fine on my 2022 RDX.

 

What kind of files WILL my RDX play, if I want to just run non-FLAC but load up a USB with a playlist?

 

its in the manual. get a soft copy of it and search for 'flac'.

 

for 2019
ACURA/ELS 3D Studio Audio System

• WILL PLAY STEREO: [16/44, 24/44, 24/48, 24/96 .flac (any compression) and .wav files]
  WILL NOT PLAY STEREO: [24/192 .flac or .wav]
• WILL PLAY PROPERLY IN 5.1: [5.1 24/48 .wav files], [5.1 24/48 .flac files with ZERO compression]
  WILL NOT PLAY PROPERLY IN 5.1: [5.1 24/96 .wav files], [5.1 .flac files with > ZERO compression)], [DTS encoded .wav files]

this came from really early in this thread. gotta look around....lol

get your 2019 manual here- https://drive.google.com/file/d/10qU...ew?usp=sharing

 

Here the list of playable formats from the 2022 owners manual:

 

FYI These tracks are 5.1 and 88.1 kHz. They work on my 2022 but did NOT work on my 2021 loaner when I took it to the dealer. So looks like they have improved compatibility for 2022.

 

Jeremy, you are correct. I finally got around to testing the 2022 system in my car today and it played every flac and wav file I threw in there. This is a major change from the system in my previous 2019 RDX. I was totally amazed that it even played a 24/192 5.1 wav file!!

 

Sheesh...you people are going to force me to buy a 2022.....or a 23...which I guess based on history should be out in 6 months or so. I don't know of anyone here that has picked up a 22, and had a 19 (like I do), 20 or 21, that has really had anything but pretty positive things to say.

 

I wish this would come to the 2019+ (pre 2022) models, one would think just a software update. This isn't a major "feature" upgrade so one would think possible...but highly doubtful. Would definitely save a few steps while ripping my 5.1 music to flac for listening in the RDX.

 

Some Billy Joel tunes - just a few, some 5.1, some quad. The quad stuff is rare, folks. Link expires in a week

https://mega.nz/folder/CM4GlLAA#Mug4gQOLSWjE7JWa5wVSqQ

 

I thank you, kind sir! God bless and keep you in His grace. Amen!

 

Wow thanks, this sounds great on my 5.1 speakers, and I know it will sound even better in my car.

I didnt know there was any multi-channel billy joel. Now I have to acquire all of it!

 

I have been reading all of these posts and this is an amazing group. I am just starting to lean about 5.1 in digital format (I have a 2012 TL with the ELS system that plays DVD-A)
Just picked up a TLX type S. Any chance you would share these once more so I can give it a go?

Thank you in advance, and if the answer is no, I understand.

 

here are a few surprises.
will be up for a week.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FNf...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QF1...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WpI...ew?usp=sharing

 

requested access. Thanks!

 

Me too….my Google email is different from the one I use here….

 

sorry abut that.

try: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FNf...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QF1...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WpI...ew?usp=sharing

 

Thank you for the files, some really good music and it just shows how good the ELS system is in the Acura cars.

 

Thank you! trying to DL now

 

Thanks so much, once again! There was quite a variety in there. Some is awesome to me, some not so much.....getting old......

Blessings on your week!

QUOTE=Funz51;16813772]sorry abut that.

try: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FNf...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QF1...ew?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WpI...ew?usp=sharing[/QUOTE]

 

Thanks for sharing this @Funz51 !
Just curious. It looks like this is from the original sample DVD from ~2004. Do you know if Acura changed the songs with the latest demo USB?

 

[/QUOTE]
I will make sure the next small batch is right up your alley...

 

Do not know

 

A few years ago Jimmy Page was talking about releasing Led Zeppelin songs in 5.1. I don't think that ever happened, or at least yet, but wouldn't that be something.

 

That is something that I would pay for!