BLIND TEST: 128kbps mp3 vs Lossless

[xnor]

Amazingly fatiguing, this is.  I had to constantly take breaks or I'd start to miss the cues.

Yeah, now imagine you gotta redo the test with 320 kbps instead of 128 kbps mp3s. I guess most would fail such a test, me included.

 

[MohawkUS]

Yeah, now imagine you gotta redo the test with 320 kbps instead of 128 kbps mp3s. I guess most would fail such a test, me included.

The difference between 128 and 320 is pretty obvious to me, surprisingly I struggle to hear a difference between 320 and FLAC.

 

[zhenya]

Quote:

Yeah, now imagine you gotta redo the test with 320 kbps instead of 128 kbps mp3s.

I guess most would fail such a test, me included.

I'd love to try it again with 320kbps files.  Preferably with a better quality recording to begin with.  Anyone want to keep this going?

 

[tim3320070]

I chose A as MP3 without reading but I have to say they are quite close. Then again, my E17 is quite close to my bajillion dollar home rig.
You may state that "that's what we listen to anyway" (not me) but that recording is very average at best.

 

[Swatcsi]

I'd like to try this with a well recorded 320 vs flac, and see how it turns out
 

 

[adamlau]

Too easy. You can tell within the first three seconds, the MP3 has clearly lower overall volume and bass.

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

Too easy. You can tell within the first three seconds, the MP3 has clearly lower overall volume and bass.

Yeah - now use Foobar, apply some gain to level match, and then post actual abx results like a posters have already .........

 

[adamlau]

No need for foobar2000 on Linux, ABX accomplished by simply playing back in raw mode (direct to hardware) using 'ossplay -R A.wav' versus 'ossplay -R B.wav'...
Posted a new poll as BLIND TEST: Lossless vs. MP3 320 kbps using the latest versions of the right tools and the correct command lines to create proper testing files... 

 

[Brooko]

Quote:

No need for foobar2000 on Linux,  

No - but it gives a nice report, is easy to run, virtually foolproof, and runs nicely under wine.
 
Debian Sid 64b user.

 

[Lord Crow]

Pretty easy at first out of my tablet and (crap) Sony buds. B was just fuller. After awhile though they both started sounding the same.

Got it right without reading any comments but I doubt I could tell the different between even 256 & lossless, at least with my current gear.

 

[adamlau]

You can always try BLIND TEST: Lossless vs. MP3 320 and BLIND TEST: Lossless vs. MP3 320 vs. Vorbis (q=10) 

 

 

 

[akiroz]

This Foobar2000 software seems quite useful, is there something similar that will run on mac?

 

[Jaywalk3r]

This Foobar2000 software seems quite useful, is there something similar that will run on mac?

I haven't tried it, but the Mac App Store has freeware ABXTester.

 

[zhenya]

Quote:

Pretty easy at first out of my tablet and (crap) Sony buds. B was just fuller. After awhile though they both started sounding the same.
Got it right without reading any comments but I doubt I could tell the different between even 256 & lossless, at least with my current gear.

Doesn't really mean anything unless you post your actual results.
 

 

[Devarika Woulf]

Listened again with the EQ off this time. You can tell easily from the beginning. The bass and drums are heavier on B. Whether or not that warrants the larger file-size is up to you but for me it makes a difference. Why spend $4500 on a Headphone set and listen to mp3s?