1. Hello, I have downloaded lots of shows from this awesome website..I used to buy bootlegs but thanks to u2start I no longer have to..I have a question, alI the boots I would purchase are in shn/flac..I have heard from lots of people that SHN/Flac sounds better than MP3 when converting to cdr. I would like to get your opinion in this matter, is there really a difference in sound and if so how much difference...Your help will be greatly appreciated..

    THX
  2. Yes there is. Not enough to make a difference unless you're on seriously high-end equipment.

    Glad you've found our boots and enjoy the site. Please don't buy boots any more, its naughty

    As you're new I'll say 'Welcome'

    Why not pop over to 'Welcome to U2Start y'all' and start a topic there to say hi? Everyone could greet you then
  3. Dan gave you the answers...just wanted to add this. If you end up preferring flac and lossless, you still don't have to buy the boots, you can get them in lossless format from U2torrents.com (ask us if you need help with torrents).
  4. but i listened to both the types on my computer and i sensed no difference at all
  5. Depending on your source material, you'll hear a difference on any half decent HiFi system. Not so much on computer speakers or mobile devices. But what music lover uses these to listen to his music?
  6. Originally posted by yeahDepending on your source material, you'll hear a difference on any half decent HiFi system. Not so much on computer speakers or mobile devices. But what music lover uses these to listen to his music?


    Actually, if you're really in LOVE with music, you can't get enough of it, you'll use whatever you can find to listen to music (DO we want to start the lossless discussion again? )
  7. Replace music lover with audiophile then. Makes it easier.
  8. FLAC is better if you want the original sound unspoiled (it's loss-less, meaning it has less loss of sound, at none). MP3 is lossy (meaning it loses the original quality). I also like it because it natively supports gapless playback. Unfortunately it crashes Windows Media Player each time I play one so Foobar is the only program I'd use for it.
  9. does it really matter? I mean these are bootlegs....most of them have echo, reverb, or a little static in them that will still be there no matter what format is used....even ALD's, IEM's and some soundboards have some static or distortion, what do I benefit by using FLAC? Clearer static?
  10. Originally posted by Guenther, what do I benefit by using FLAC?


    better sound.
    A bad recording stays a bad recording but on a half decent there is a difference.
    Lossy conversion will cause the loss of some details.
    Bass will lose some of it's "punch". It won't be as exact as it should be. Voices will lose some of it's detail, sometimes it will be harder to hear the lyrics. Sounds will float more into each other instead of being detailed and clear.
    And, the tune will lose some of it's "dynamic".

    But again, your equipment is pretty important. If you listen to music on bad speakers or headphones the difference is negligible.
  11. Originally posted by Guentherdoes it really matter? I mean these are bootlegs....most of them have echo, reverb, or a little static in them that will still be there no matter what format is used....even ALD's, IEM's and some soundboards have some static or distortion, what do I benefit by using FLAC? Clearer static?


    If the recording is all static, then yes, you would have clearer static. But the parts that are not static would also be clearer.

    I think Yeah summed it up pretty well. Its all about what you are using to listen to it on and/or if you are an audiophile (which I am). I use MP3's for samples to send or to determine if a bootleg is worth getting before I try to obtain it. Otherwise I prefer/require lossless recordings. Nothing wrong with getting MPs's, just dont burn them to disc and then trade them out.
  12. Download an mp3 show and a lossless show and judge for yourself. You are going to get varied opinions here so just get a copy of each and you be the judge. Personally I have all the bands studio albums and a few select bootlegs as Flac/Lossless and with my Bose speaker I can pick up the differences. Listening to Zooropa lossless is awesome but not so awesome as 160mp3s.

    Up to you though