Mega Lossy v Lossless Test

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.

 

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.

 

No problem, plenty of time.

 

Is the gap closing?

 

Only in the sense that we have more in the 'too close' camp.

Must have about 40 votes in total including the PFM poll.

 

have you checked if someone voted in both forums?

 

It does say in the blurb not to do that, and I'm trusting that people have the common sense not to.

 

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?

 

Entirely up to you.

 

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!

 

O dear. O dear! That's a few red faces.

I said too close to call.

 

So that's you, me, and I wonder who else?!

Tony.

(I voted here, not over at pfm)

 

We must thank Rob for setting this up.

Thanks, Rob.

Will the files remain available for future reference?

 

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.

 

How many people looked at the other votes before they listened?