Mega Lossy v Lossless Test

Which menu contains AAC lossy encoded music?

  • Menu 1 contains AAC music

    Votes: 8 47.1%

  • Menu 2 contains AAC music

    Votes: 3 17.6%

  • Too close to call

    Votes: 6 35.3%
  • Total voters
    17
RobHolt said:
We've now had over 30 responses if you add the votes from here and PFM.
100 is probably a little ambitious so perhaps declare at 50?

Can run longer if that is the general view.
Click to expand...
How much more significant do you believe the result would be when you make it on 50 test cases instead of 100?

Any way this evening my parents-in-law will do the test at my place.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Leave it a little longer before revealing all please - I haven't had the chance to listen yet and I want to do so before I know which is which - 24hrs should be enough - been busy!
 
Any test has more significance with a larger sample.
titian said:
How much more significant do you believe the result would be when you make it on 50 test cases instead of 100?

Any way this evening my parents-in-law will do the test at my place.
Click to expand...
 
Only in the sense that we have more in the 'too close' camp.

Must have about 40 votes in total including the PFM poll.
 
Okay I voted now. I'm tempted to vote too close to call, but I think I can hear something in it.Should I say what I voted?
 
Answer will be posted sometime on Friday evening (20th) so you have until then to download and take part.

The file download links will be disabled after Friday.
 
Answer time.

Menu 2 contains the 256k AAC files.

We had 46 votes cast across three forums:

22 for Menu 1
10 for menu 2
14 voted 'too close to call'
 
Good then I'm in the minority and right (not that I doubted it, well not much anyway)

Looks like a few others have found their ears and or equipment are not quite all they thought then???

I find the most surprising thing about this thread not so much that a lot of people either just plain got it wrong or couldn't tell, but that most of the self proclaimed digital gurus, and particularly those suggesting we should buy some of their expensive stuff seem not to have been willing to express any sort of opinion themselves.

Nuff said!
 
We must thank Rob for setting this up.

Thanks, Rob.

Will the files remain available for future reference?
 
Labarum said:
We must thank Rob for setting this up.

Thanks, Rob.

Will the files remain available for future reference?
Click to expand...

You are very welcome Brian.

I'll be making the files private in a day or two which will block further downloads. Copyright reasons.
 
Thanks again to Rob.

For me there were differences hearing the Elgar track and I could detect them in small blind tests.
I prefered the Menu 1 because I had the feeling that the instruments were more spread out, especially the trombones and tuba at the end (7th last and 4th last bar). This gave also the effect of orchestral fullness.
This reminds me more about the other CDs I have .
Also I found Menu 2 very compact less "airy" going in the direction of congested. I had the feeling the instruments were crunched in the centre. Concentrating on this point though, I didn't pass the blind test.
Saying this the image of some instruments (flute oboe and clarinet) were more consistant and "real" with Menu 2.

This I find very interesting. I'll try to convert some of my CDs. It will be interesting in hearing how very good recorded tracks and other much less sound then in Mega Lossy.

Rob: please tell me from which CD the Elgar track was.
 
I'm really surprised just how good the AAC is. It was really quite tricky to tell them apart. Glad to know I got it right though, it's always worrying when you are in the minority :)

I was sold by the Even After All track. When I closed my eyes the soundstage was noticeably more wide and open and the voice had a more crisp sound. The Elgar was very tricky though, I thought.
 

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