audio

The Loudness War is the trend of compressing audio to make it sound louder, which began in the 1990s. It reduces dynamic range, compromising sound quality. Today, streaming platforms and vinyl are bringing renewed attention to dynamics. Software such as Audacity can measure crest factor, a useful metric for assessing compression in digital tracks.

High-resolution audio goes beyond the CD standard, offering sample rates of up to 192 kHz and 24-bit depth. While some listeners praise its greater naturalness and detail, others question the practical value of frequencies above 20 kHz. Scientific studies and psychoacoustic tests have produced conflicting results, fueling an ongoing debate over perceived quality, the limits of human hearing, and possible technical distortions.