sound quality comparison of different lossless formats |
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sound quality comparison of different lossless formats |
  Dec 22 2006, 05:41
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#1
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Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 22-December 06 Member No.: 38897  |
Theoretical question:
Two users have identical computer hardware (including identical audio cards), identical software audio players, and identical receiver and speakers. (Let's assume an infinite cpu processing power and infinite computer memory.) The only difference is that one user has his music stored as .flac lossless files and the other user has his music stored as .wma lossless (or any other lossless) files. Both users ripped their music using the same settings with the same software. Would there be any sound quality differences (perceived or not) when comparing playback between the two users? Thank you in advance for your input. This post has been edited by mirdle: Dec 22 2006, 05:57 |
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Dec 22 2006, 05:51
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#2
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Group: Members Posts: 830 Joined: 3-November 05 Member No.: 25526 |
The actual audio data will be identical, but it can sound different because of different speaker positioning, or because of the room itself.
This post has been edited by Firon: Dec 22 2006, 05:52 |
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Dec 22 2006, 05:56
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#3
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Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 22-December 06 Member No.: 38897 |
QUOTE (Firon @ Dec 21 2006, 21:51)  The actual audio data will be identical, but it can sound different because of different speaker positioning, or because of the room itself. Ok let's say the speaker positioning and rooms are identical as well. |
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Dec 22 2006, 07:34
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#4
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 Group: Members Posts: 658 Joined: 26-October 05 From: Various networks Member No.: 25371 |
If the only difference is the file format, there will be no quality difference in the playback. Lossless means exactly what it says - exactly the same as the original. Under the above conditions, all lossless files sound exactly the same.
-------------------- EAC>1)fb2k>LAME3.97 -V 0 --vbr-new>WMP11 2)MAC-Extra High
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Dec 22 2006, 14:38
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#5
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Group: Members Posts: 1709 Joined: 1-September 05 From: SE Pennsylvania Member No.: 24233 |
This is equivalent to asking: If a game was compressed in one case with ZIP and another case with RAR, would one play better than the other?
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Dec 22 2006, 14:53
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#6
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 Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 27-September 03 From: Cape Town Member No.: 9042 |
This question needs to be added to the FAQ. It comes up often, and the answer is the same every time.
-------------------- Simulate your radar: http://www.brooker.co.za/fers/
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Dec 22 2006, 15:40
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#7
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 Group: Members Posts: 913 Joined: 10-January 05 Member No.: 18979 |
The software audio player doesn't really "play" a compressed FLAC or WMA lossless file, it first decodes (uncompresses) the data back to it's original state. Therefore, the data that is being played (sent to the soundcard) is (sans any bugs/errors) 100% identical.
Lossy formats (exa. mp3) also get decoded during playback, but data that was discarded during compression cannot be restored. |
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Dec 22 2006, 21:16
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#8
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 Group: Members (Donating) Posts: 432 Joined: 13-October 01 From: Stuttgart Member No.: 286 |
QUOTE (cabbagerat @ Dec 22 2006, 14:53) This question needs to be added to the FAQ. It comes up often, and the answer is the same every time. People who ask such questions never read any FAQ 
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Dec 23 2006, 01:32
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#9
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Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 22-December 06 Member No.: 38897 |
Thank you all for your thoughtful responses (well, except Sunhillow). I figured as much but just wanted some confirmation.
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 22nd November 2009 - 00:03 |
