WAV compared to MP3 - by popular demand

A few people have asked recently for some lossless v lossy comparisons.

I know that some feel the difference between red book cd and MP3 is considerable, while others feel that even 128kbs lossy files are perfectly fine and close to cd/wav.

So here we have two files with one being a straight CD rip to wav.
The other is the same rip but passed through Lame 256kbs MP3 encoding, before being 'restored' to wav.

I've picked something dynamic and complex in an attempt to stress any difference.

So have a go and see if you can spot the MP3.

Please do have a listen and don't be afraid to get this wrong.
Encoding standards shift and evolve so it has to be worth doing this every few years.

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Track 1 --- http://www.zerogain.com/Track1.wav

(Mirror: http://www.mediafire.com/?e451adqkw160q0t)

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Track 2 --- http://www.zerogain.com/Track2.wav

(Mirror: http://www.mediafire.com/?vp91bxaq8wmp9f3)

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Rob.

I'll have a listen to these.

A lot has to do with fit for purpose though. iPod/headphones then 256 MP3 or AAC is all you need IMHO. Proper listening, well thats where it gets interesting.

 

Dear All, the files are relatively small, and easy to download.

Please download them, please listen to them, please make a vote.

It's good of Rob to go to this kind of effort so that we can be more educated consumers.

Let's reply to that by physically taking part.

This also applies to all you lurkers, who read and don't join or necessarily take part.

Why not have a listen and then vote?


In years and years of being on forums, this is the first time I've seen a direct MP3 vs WAV comparison in this way -

On the other hand, I've heard countless tens of opinions being made on whether one format is better than the other.

Can you help us with a listen and a vote?

 

I'm not acquainted with MP3 but as I preferred the first version I assumed the second was MP3

Taking Bottlenecks point participation on this forum is not exactly freeflowing at the moment.
I wonder if the effort is worthwhile in doing the needledrops.

 

Hi UK duty paid,

My view is that participation on the forum will grow naturally as long as we make it an interesting place to be - lots of posts (interesting ones) , lots of future participation.

 

I will echo Chris - please take part.

We've seen a good increase in posting activity recently - on most days - so please don't let the momentum slip.

 

I think (it was too close to be certain) I preferred track number 2. I think 1 is MP3.

 

Keep going - I'll reveal the result once we have 20+ votes.

Then we can do Hi Res v Red Book

Dev, have you voted?
option one has no vote recorded.

 

Bollox, I clicked on 2 because that is what I think I preferred. Should learn to read . I'll listen again to be sure.

 

I'd like to think I could spot the difference between 128kbps MP3 and WAV from a CD pretty easily, but this is too close to call for me.

I've moved your vote across, it's one a piece at the moment.

 

Thanks Mark. Yes it's too close to be sure that I made the right choice.

 

I voted, but I do think it's pretty close. I have found something clean and dynamic like this is usually easier for MP3 to encode though. Put something compressed with lots of heavy instruments and splashy cymbals through MP3 and I think it's easier to tell the difference.

 

I was going to say something similar but didn't want to derail the thread with discussions just yet. Perhaps we can do so afterwards? In the mean time let's have more people listening and voting.

 

I voted before I read any of the thread.

I think track 1 is MP3.

Reason; track 2 has more treble timbre and detail.

I replayed this on my main system using my audigy NX2 and Audacity.

 

I must agree about track two sounding better so I am now waiting to hear that this is actually MP3 as I normally manage to get these things wrong. Track one sounds flatter with less detail.

Fred

 

You and me both!

 

1 = full fat.
2 = MP3.

Tony.

(AKG K450 headphones plugged into MacBook)

 

I reckon 2 is mp3. It's louder and fuzzier.

Paul

 

I'll do another test with something splashy and orrible in a few days.

 

So go on which one is MP3?