From classicrockmagazine:


Engineer Ian Shepherd compared a number of albums for dynamic range, the key element in the “loudness war.” Death Magnetic topped his list – but lost significant amounts of sonic detail in the process.

The 2008 title scored a dynamic range rating of DR3, compared to the band’s 1991 Black Album, which was much lower on the list at DR11. The least-loudest was Dire Strait’s Brothers In Arms at DR16.

Shepherd says in his Production Advice blog: “Why is it crazy? Because it doesn’t work. None of these ‘loudness’ differences will be audible in any of the most popular places we listen to music. Not on Spotify, iTunes Radio – not even YouTube any more, and certainly not on radio or TV.

“Volume is ‘normalised’ in all of these places to improve the listener experience because the number-one source of complaints about audio is variation in loudness. We hate to keep adjusting the volume control.”

But he adds that things will change as the industry accepts the new norm, adding: “When they do, our ears will thank them.”

ROCK LOUDNESS LIST
Metallica: Death Magnetic – DR3

Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Californication – DR5

Jack White: Lazaretto – DR10

Radiohead: OK Computer – DR10

Pink Floyd: The Dark Side Of The Moon – DR10

Steven Wilson: Hand. Cannot. Erase. – DR11

Metallica: The Black Album – DR11

Motorhead: The Ace Of Spades – DR11

The Sex Pistols: Never Mind The Bollocks – DR11

AC/DC: Back In Black – DR12

Bruce Springsteen: Born In The USA – DR14

Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms – DR16

I don't use any of those sources as my primary or even secondary audio source. Sorry, but DR ratings are 100% legitimate.

You recently stated in another post that you no longer have a stereo. I believe you that it's hard to tell the difference on 192 (or less) kb Spotify, Pandora, digital radio, etc.

I can't tell the difference on picture quality on a 9" television or on an 8 track tape either.

He's not saying DR ratings aren't valid - he's saying the reason behind the compression doesn't have a logical reason because all those sources you mentioned normalize the tracks, effectively making the increased loudness moot.

Good god, your eyes must really be bad if you can't see the picture quality difference between those two!

I'm glad Steven Wilson didn't join the loudness wars.

Eight tracks had a lousy picture. Pretty much non-existent.

Besides, try cramming them into a VCR.

No definition.

Last 8-track I watched, it just sat there.

Didn't do anything.

What a disappointment.

Exactly what he was saying.