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Dorian Gray
Veteran Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Paris, France
 
2010-04-11, 06:37

Quote:
Originally Posted by SpecMode View Post
Generally, I can readily tell the difference between tracks encoded at <=160Kbps from higher bit rates, and occasionally between high-bitrate lossy (AAC/MP3) and ALAC-encoded tracks.
Having participated in a public listening test run by Hydrogen Audio, I'm sceptical that you could tell the difference as readily as you think. It's one thing to think you hear a difference, and another to prove it in a blind ABX listening test.

Apple's AAC encoder is insanely good these days. The iTunes MP3 encoder was once relatively poor, but even it is greatly improved today. However, converting from lossless to AAC at slightly greater than 128 kbps, and then from that to 128 kbps, is likely to introduce artefacts that can be readily detected in good listening conditions. Most people still wouldn't think the sound is bad without a reference, and many wouldn't even then.
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