Should i start using AAC? Can you notice a better quality? Options

[Bahamut2]

I have read everywhere that it is better than MP3, but will i be able to notice the difference?
I encode all my files to VBR -V0 and i don't know anything about AAC, what would be the equivalent encoding settings for AAC?

Can you people really notice that theyre is a reall difference in quality? I want to test it by myself (encoding always it max quality off course) but first i want to ask here.

[Bahamut2]

I did a quick test with foobar and im surprised i can not even hear any difference between q.35 AAC and a FLAC file! And .35 means about 100kbps, with MP3 im sure i would have heard a difference... i guess.
Anyway im pretty sure it deppends on the kind of music, i was just listening pop.
What is the best music genere to test music? Maybe clasical music?

I will test more when my new senheisser hearphones arrive, i read somewhere that with hearphones you ear more "sound bugs".

This post has been edited by Bahamut2: Jan 2 2012, 14:10

[markanini]

Anyway im pretty sure it deppends on the kind of music, i was just listening pop.
What is the best music genere to test music? Maybe clasical music?

Densely produced metal and electronica.

[Nessuno]

What is the best music genere to test music? Maybe clasical music?

Densely produced metal and electronica.

As a matter of fact classical, of which I'm a big fan, seems to be not particularly troublesome for modern encoders. I found the most revealing instrument to be harpsichord, especially on solo quieter passages. I successfully ABXed it at LAME -v2 (some very specific killer tracks, of course), nevertheless failed at 256Kbps on both codecs.

[Porcus]

I found the most revealing instrument to be harpsichord

That appears to be a rather common observation.

[Nessuno]

I found the most revealing instrument to be harpsichord

That appears to be a rather common observation.

I think it's because of the rather "metallic" sound and sharp transients of this instrument, which is difficult to setup and record, in the first place.

Let me tell you an anecdote: I was listening to the Trevor Pinnock recoding of Bach Partitas (a GREAT and well recorded performance, which I own since its first release on LP) at 256K AAC, on headphones and quite loud, looking for artifacts. On a quiet passage I heard a very feeble, strange ringing sound, quite high in pitch, which surely didn't belong to the original harpsichord notes: here we go! I thought, and went for the lossless version, to possibly arrange an ABX set. But... what a surprise: the "alien" sound was there too! Turned it up a little more and... guess what? There was actually a bird, singing in the far distant background!

If someone has this recording and wants to try, they are more evident in the Sarabande from the fourth Partita: once you know he is there you can't miss him!

[Porcus]

I was listening to the Trevor Pinnock recoding of Bach Partitas (a GREAT and well recorded performance, which I own since its first release on LP) at 256K AAC, on headphones and quite loud, looking for artifacts. On a quiet passage I heard a very feeble, strange ringing sound, quite high in pitch, which surely didn't belong to the original harpsichord notes: here we go! I thought, and went for the lossless version, to possibly arrange an ABX set. But... what a surprise: the "alien" sound was there too! Turned it up a little more and... guess what? There was actually a bird, singing in the far distant background!

Haha. I've heard similar at low volumes too, only that they become much clearer when I turn off.