Arc Audio is adding Bluetooth audio streaming to its PS8 digital signal processor along with the ability to accept Hi Res Audio files. Users can now stream music recorded at up to 96kHz from their phone or tablet to the processor, without the need for a head unit, when the processor is used with a new Bluetooth module and a control module.
But while the system accepts the Hi-Res Audio files, it down samples them to CD quality at 48kHz. Arc Audio’s Fred Lynch notes, “But we’re not adding compressing or losing bandwidth form a phone interface.” The company says the sound quality is as good as Hi-Res Audio and demonstrated an a-B comparison during CES in January.
Arc Audio’s new Bluetooth module is designed to plug and play directly into the PS8 antenna integrated into the display. Called the BTM it will ship in April at $199. The controller for the PS8 processor, the PSC is $369.
I completely agree with Mr. Heiblim’s comment.
One thing is not being able to tell the difference between a true Hi-res Audio file and a compressed Audio file during an A/B blind listening comparison, another entirely different is arguing there’s no compression or bandwidth loss from a mobile interface.
Furthermore, by specs/performance the Bluetooth standard isn’t capable of transmitting Hi-Res audio, not even with Sony’s proprietary LDAC that goes beyond Apt-X on bandwidth according to their engineers, which also insisted on not calling it “Hi-Res capable” during technical trainings for a reason.
This is simply not possible. BT is a standard and it is a lossy compression standard. BT does NOT stream Red Book uncompressed files in CD format so the contention is wrong. If it is BT, then it is a lossy compression, period. One can deploy improvements such as AAC, or Apt-X but these too are lossy compression formats. None of these are directly comparable to an uncompressed file. Yes, at times and depending on the source you may or may not hear the difference, but it is there. Please do not corrupt the concept with marketing speak.