Can't distinguish between MP3 and FLAC on my current system

[asdfTT123]

I just recently got an AD700 and Asus Xonar Essence STX sound card as my beginner setup for high quality computer audio. This system surely rocks and slaughters any previous setup I've listened to. The weird thing is that I have trouble distinguishing MP3 (even 128kbps) vs FLAC. I've listened to the same tracks that were ripped in both formats but 85% of the time I don't notice any difference. I'm using them both in foobar2000.

Are you guys all able to distinguish the difference or do I have to play around with my settings? Is it most likely a limitation with my current setup?

[leeperry]

are you using KS or ASIO? get some LME49720 if any possible

FLAC and 128kb MP3 is night and day on my system........like a PNG against a 30% compressed JPG.

[Nausicaa]

Maybe someone trolled you and converted mp3 128 to flac. Why don't you try more? Do the flacs sound 'bad' or do the mp3s sound 'good'?

[asdfTT123]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm still a newb at this stuff but I downloaded the ASIO plugin in foobar and enabled the STX under ASIO virtual devices. Is that all I have to do? I'm running Vista Ultimate x64. I have my Essence STX settings on Hi-Fi mode and middle impedance.

I would say that neither of them sound "bad". It's more of the MP3's sounding just as good as the FLAC files. I've tried a couple of different albums and it's very hard for me to pick out any drastic differences.

[Prog Rock Man]

Hi asdfTT123. Are you a youngster? I ask because there have been tests done where it was found that the younger ear prefers the sound of compressed files. The theory behind it, is that so much music is digital and compressed that the younger generation have grown used to it and so prefer it.

I am as happy with Ogg Vorbis streamed music off Spotify as I am with Apple Lossless off my itunes and my ears are over 40 years old.

This does not mean that there is anything wrong with my setup or my ears!

There are advantages to being happy with the sound of lower bit rate music when it comes to storage.

EDIT - I should add that how well an album was recorded in the first place makes more of a difference to SQ than bit rate.

[Bojamijams]

First make sure the flac you have is indeed a true flac. Either because you ripped it yourself or gotten it from a known ripper.

Then convert that FLAC yourself into a 128kbps MP3.

Then load both of them up in Foobar, select both of them, right click on the selection and goto Utils -> ABX Tracks.

It'll let you compare the two of them one after another. You really should be able to hear a difference. As someone said, 128kbps and FLAC, really are night and day.

[dallan]

Hey, if you can't tell the difference than you don't have to worry about it, of course until you upgrade your system, then you will have to redownload or reimport all of your music.

[asdfTT123]

I went and downloaded multiple FLAC samples from different sources and converted them to 128 kbps MP3. I couldn't find the ABX Track option under Utils in Foobar but I played them both over and back and I could not hear any audible differences. Is it possible that some settings on my sound card or foobar are off? :/

[leeperry]

maybe you need to train your ears.

listen to this : http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2009/03/...-test-128-320/

notice how the hihat is wooshy as hell in 128bits at 0:06

also you need to run tests on acoustic music, loudness war electronic music is prolly harder to spot.

[asdfTT123]

Originally Posted by leeperry

maybe you need to train your ears.

listen to this : Do 320kbps mp3 files really sound better? Take the test! | NoiseAddicts music and audio blog

notice how the hihat is wooshy as hell in 128bits at 0:06

also you need to run tests on acoustic music, loudness war electronic music is prolly harder to spot.

I just ran the test and before I read the comments and found out which one was the higher bitrate, they all sounded the same. I had to listen to them both for about 10 times until I noticed a tiny subtle wishy-washiness in my left ear on the 128kbps sample. Is this what you guys mean by night and day between low and high bitrates? To me it's not that much of a difference or is it more drastic on other tracks?

[leeperry]

can't you hear the wooshy mangled hihat at 0:06 ? it sounds like it was recorded underwater

[Prog Rock Man]

Originally Posted by asdfTT123

..... Is this what you guys mean by night and day between low and high bitrates? To me it's not that much of a difference or is it more drastic on other tracks?

Unfortunately descriptives in a lot of hifi suggest far more than what is actually delivered. There are those who have 'golden ears' and they find it easier to tell the difference. My wife, who does not listen to much music and has no interest in hifi can hear the difference between low and high bit rates easier than I can.

When I first switched to computer based audio I was totally hung up on bit rates, higher meant better, end of. But as I have listened to more and more music, there are some tracks that I prefer at a lower bit rate, for example Duffy's album 'Rockferry'. I am sure it is down to the original recording standard. I also find that on many occasions I prefer the sound of Spotify's lower bit rate streamed music to Apple Lossless.

I concentrate on getting music to sound enjoyable to me.

[leeperry]

when I start spotting mp3 artifacts(like at 0:06 in that test), I just can't enjoy music anymore

224kb or more is acceptable, but they never sound as genuine as lossless...which is the real deal, no wooshy wooshy/distorted sound to ruin my enjoyment

[e6600]

nice test. i got it right but idk how. it just 'sounded' better, but i didnt know why :P

[Menisk]

I might be wrong. But I'm not sure if you can still use ASIO in Vista. You might be able to but there is also the option of WSAPI, which foobar also has a plugin for.

And also, don't be too worried about not being able to tell the difference. Once you've been listening to FLACs on a decent system for a few months your ears kinda learn to pick the details out of the music and when you go back to 128k MP3s you'll notice in an instant that the detail you were previously picking out isn't there.