High bitrate MP3 vs. Lossless ABX Tests?, Are there any studies...? Options

[Street Samurai]

Hi All,

I've been corrected before on this site for making the statement: "I can tell the difference between an MP3 and lossless". I've never ABX'ed myself but I was wondering if there has been a statistically significant (with regard to population) ABX study done with (say) Lame insane vs. Lossless?

Clearly for myself it makes more sense to do a personal ABX but I was wondering in general about the population.

I searched manually through the posts in this forum (since search seems useless for the term 'mp3') and didn't see anything.

Thanks for help,

ss.

This post has been edited by Street Samurai: Jun 2 2005, 01:02

[Defsac]

You couldn't do an accurate statistically significant test with average users because they'd all be using different (and much of the time lousy) equipment.

[Cyaneyes]

You couldn't do an accurate statistically significant test with average users because they'd all be using different (and much of the time lousy) equipment.

And that is a perfectly accurate reflection of the real world. If your statement was true, any of the group blind listening tests conducted here would be invalid.

[Defsac]

And that is a perfectly accurate reflection of the real world.  If your statement was true, any of the group blind listening tests conducted here would be invalid.

No, you're not listening to what he is saying. He wants to test the limits of people's hearing, not their equipment. If you did a blind test with $50 headphones and onboard sound, and the people taking the test were unable to determine a difference, does that mean they cannot detect the difference between mp3 and lossless? Not necessarily, it means they cannot on that equipment.

Group tests conducted here are different, they are set up to determine whether people can tell the difference on their equipment because that's what they will be listening on. They do not determine whether the person is capable of percieving a difference.

This post has been edited by Defsac: Jun 2 2005, 10:08