LAME 3.97 -V5 -q0 (default vbr old) or, LAME 3.98.2 -V5.5 (default vbr new & -q0) Options

[Rio]

Hi guys,


Were there any significant perceived differences in quality regarding the two settings? Although the older version encodes slowly, I still can't really jump into the newer version though. Somehow, I have this inkling for the old method. I have a hard time ABXing given the equipment. The only tests I have done are single blind in real listening environments (car and portable device).

I am really targeting a maximum of 16kHz lowpass for portable use. Previously I was a -V2 fanatic, but I still can go down to 128 vbr or -V5 for most of my needs, as I cannot distinguish CD quality from -V5.

Comments are very welcome.



Rio

[shadowking]

Differences are subtle [vbr new wins in listening tests by small margin] . Bitrates for vbr old are more inline with 3.97 and you can use --vbr-old on 3.98 if you want to be very conservative. Don't know about advantages of q0 - it does nothing in vbr-new