Mega Lossy v Lossless Test

[RobHolt]

As requested, here is the version 2 test.

From our last test is was suggested that a wider variety of music be offered and that the lossy codec could be changed from MP3, so here we are using Apple AAC 256.

In this test you can choose from two menus - Menu 1 & Menu 2.
Each menu contains music using the same encoding - so the entire menu will be either MPEG-4 AAC 256 converted to WAV or pure WAV from CD.

So, you can select a pair of tracks from each menu and compare, or two pairs, three pairs etc. The music selection is hopefully wide enough for those who feel that lossy compression effects are more audible with some types of music/recording than others.

To vote you simply select which menu you believe contains the AAC 256 files.

If you feel the results are too close to call, please select that option and vote - finding out how many people cannot reliably detect differences is just as important.

The full files appear below along with a brief description.
At the bottom of the post are shorter files of 2m duration for those with slower internet download speeds. Please use the full tracks if possible.
The Elgar track does not appear as a short file, the sound varies greatly through the track and besides, chopping up Elgar is just not done!

Lastly a note about listening equipment.
There is no need to replay these tracks on high end audio systems in order to hear differences (if they exist). Equipment used to enjoy your music through preference, and equipment used for analytical purposes need not be the same thing at all.
Decent headphones connected to your laptop are a perfectly valid and very revealing tool for this type of test. You are using a simple system to carry the signal to your ears via a very direct and simple route, with little in the path.

It would be great to get some cross-forum input into the test, so please mention the test (or link with Admin/mod permission) on other audio sites.


MENU 1

Honeysuckle Rose:Jane Monheit: Easy/Vocal:
http://www.mediafire.com/?1wxt6exjxn8s6z3

Nimrod: Elagar: Classical:
http://www.mediafire.com/?99zcay2bs116s6t

This is What You Are: Mario Biondi: Jazz/Soul:
http://www.mediafire.com/?2ih70775m6c7qp2

Look What You've Done: Joe Cocker: Rock:
http://www.mediafire.com/?4md089cz89mcm0z

Let's Stay Together: Jimmy Smith: Jazz/Blues:
http://www.mediafire.com/?yhw8n7ny40bay3r

Even After All: Finley Quaye:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zb7me029esqc11b

Can't stand The Pressure: Aswad: Reggae/Dub:
http://www.mediafire.com/?91gkbd5md35xr53

Bombtrack: Rage Against The Machine: Heavy Rock:
http://www.mediafire.com/?28bkwn3qffppaob


MENU 2

Honeysuckle Rose: Jane Monheit: Easy/Vocal:
http://www.mediafire.com/?q9c9b2zv8x9xi8x

Nimrod: Elgar: Classical:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gbuoawc4av86hs5

This is What You Are: Mario Biondi: Jazz/Soul:
http://www.mediafire.com/?j9ns7fsfi7p9bn8

Look What You've Done: Joe Cocker: Rock:
http://www.mediafire.com/?1c018jpvisbe70e

Let's Stay Together: Jimmy Smith: Jazz/Blues:
http://www.mediafire.com/?n1s5pocs3841crv

Even After All: Finley Quaye
http://www.mediafire.com/?oqe45nb9g1p2ne3

Can't stand The Pressure: Aswad: Reggae/Dub
http://www.mediafire.com/?fd7knbi3vgwybdx

Bombtrack: Rage Against The Machine: Heavy Rock
http://www.mediafire.com/?gmge7fiptxpx0ag

_________________________________________________________________



Short files - order as above:

SHORT MENU 1

http://www.mediafire.com/?x2amtainq5dau6w
http://www.mediafire.com/?zsss4jkupj5izkh
http://www.mediafire.com/?xbmb7ifaxskxvay
http://www.mediafire.com/?0dxucs4ukdufk08
http://www.mediafire.com/?ewwdyj92jfj842m
http://www.mediafire.com/?4b298ux62t1665k
http://www.mediafire.com/?l7aba16tizw1999

SHORT MENU 2

http://www.mediafire.com/?pd3w4a5zbboos4u
http://www.mediafire.com/?iefr5iuiwbukbav
http://www.mediafire.com/?81bcmt0flnbmon7
http://www.mediafire.com/?opq53vmbhr8ezuf
http://www.mediafire.com/?gub476v44nz2u3a
http://www.mediafire.com/?qrb87q6dowlboh8
http://www.mediafire.com/?91knnydktk55383


Bulk Zip file download option now added.
These links take you straight to the menu folder and you can select 'download this folder':

MENU 1 Full files:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=ntmio0en0b8d2

MENU 2 Full files:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=9oufs4o9umsgb

MENU 1 Short files:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=66kvlq1h4f114

MENU 2 Short files:

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=39l4247knqnl4

 

[Labarum]

Must get down to it!

 

[jcbrum]

Downloaded, - will listen later. - JC.

 

[Labarum]

PMed Harbeth Forum Mods.

They are looking at the test.

They say they cannot reliably tell apart a 128kb/s MP3 file and its WAV parent, so reckon a 256 AAC file should be "indistinguishable".

 

[TonyL]

They say they cannot reliably tell apart a 128kb/s MP3 file and its WAV parent, so reckon a 256 AAC file should be "indistinguishable".

Pah! Amateurs!

Tony.

 

[TonyL]

It would be great to get some cross-forum input into the test, so please mention the test (or link with Admin/mod permission) on other audio sites.

I've started a thread over on pfm here and duplicated the poll options for anyone who doesn't wish to register on ZG. We can just add them together at the end.

Tony.

PS I suggest people only vote on one forum!

 

[RobHolt]

Thanks Tony.

Yes multi forum voting could get interesting

 

[Labarum]

Link on AOS here

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=143031#post143031

 

[thrudge]

PMed Harbeth Forum Mods.

They are looking at the test.

They say they cannot reliably tell apart a 128kb/s MP3 file and its WAV parent, so reckon a 256 AAC file should be "indistinguishable".

I am surprised. I recently ripped a couple of CDs to my MP3 player and was baffled by very indifferent sound quality on the MP3 player and a top end that varied from a bit ragged to outright distorted. Turns out that my ripper had somehow got switched from my standard 320k to 192k. Ugh. Re-ripped at 320k and all was well.

 

[RobHolt]

301 thread views and only 3 votes cast.

I'm seeing lots of downloads so hopefully everyone is having a good long listen.

Go on, no need to be shy or scared

 

[bottleneck]

hi

suggest we let this one run for some time - there's a lot of tracks there. perhaps 3-4 weeks or so?

 

[muzzer]

I have downloaded R.A.T.M and Joe Cocker, I think 1 is AAC.

 

[RobHolt]

hi

suggest we let this one run for some time - there's a lot of tracks there. perhaps 3-4 weeks or so?

Agreed, I was thinking a month or so.

 

[Labarum]

Someone on PF suggested one big zip for the files. What are thoughts here?

 

[jonesi]

Someone on PF suggested one big zip for the files. What are thoughts here?

Very good idea. One zip file containing two folders one for each menu.

 

[mosfet]

Seeing how other people have voted will set up bias in those undertaking the test - mainly because of herd mentality. I'd suggest votes are kept private until the end of the test.

I'm just surprised I could remember my ZG login details.

 

[Labarum]

Seeing how other people have voted will set up bias in those undertaking the test - mainly because of herd mentality. I'd suggest votes are kept private until the end of the test.

I agree.

 

[Dev]

301 thread views and only 3 votes cast.

I'm seeing lots of downloads so hopefully everyone is having a good long listen.

Go on, no need to be shy or scared

I downloaded 4 of the tracks, but then had a problem with the laptop. I'll try again during the week.

 

[RobHolt]

I think ZG just fell over for a few minutes - everything locked - ok now though.

I've just thrown some cash at the hosting site, so the annoying download ads will all have now gone and I'll have a bulk zip download function added by the end of today.

Oh you're a demanding lot!

 

[RobHolt]

OSX doesn't seem to like the zip format used by Mediafire.
They recommend this:

http://wakaba.c3.cx/s/apps/unarchiver.html

Quick free download and it seems to work.