[MDCT]

You're right, Joe. But what you suggest as a fair comparison is the same as playing the MD sample on that page and a MP3 compressed and uncompressed sample with the same soundcard or cd player.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Theoretically, not the same... theoretically...

 

[j-curve]

Cyanide, thanks for your comments but you've confused me. I too have the MZ-R909 with its adjustable playback speed from 80% to 110%. Question: what do you mean by the "25% play rate"? Are you actually referring to LP4?

My understanding is that SP (short-play) mode uses ATRAC-R, while LP2 and LP4 use ATRAC3. My interest is in ATRAC-R or its predecessor ATRAC 4.5, since I want the best the unit has to offer and it doesn't bother me having to carry around a few discs. Also from the point of view of this discussion, the artefacts of the LP modes can be heard fairly easily whereas those of SP mode are not, IMO.

I'm interested in what you're saying about flutes and woodwinds but I don't quite understand exactly what it was that you tested.