OK, here's #3.
http://cid-bddc40910d4ed66e.skydrive.live....lf.aspx/Sample3
Same idea as before. There are 4 Testfiles, 1 original. To make things easier, I also uploaded a zip file containing all files.

Track is "Full Metal Cars" by Daniel.

Vote away. I hope to see more participants than the last poll.

PS: Can any mod set the thread to expire in 14 days, just like the last poll? Thanks.
PSS: Also, can a mod fix my spelling error on the title of the thread? I want it to be "Informal Listening Test poll #3." I wish I could fix this myself.

Done. Poll will close on 1 July.

Bump.

Bump. 700+ views, but only 2 votes?

It might be because there are too many clicks required to get to the files to save locally for testing and it might be confusing for some.

How about just a direct link to the ZIP file so we can right-click once and "Save Target As..."? That's better than having to click on the link, then click again to reach another menu, then click again for yet another menu.

For example, the actual Sample3.ZIP can be located at:

http://xfihdg.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pUfM...e3.zip?download


See how easy that was?

I honestly can't tell the difference, but that's probably because I don't have very expensive speakers.

@WonderSlug: Any better?

Original
Testfile01
Testfile02
Testfile03
Testfile04

Cheers, Slipstreem.

That works too.

My vote here was from best to worst : 4,3,1,2. My comments is that for me 4 and 3 sounded ok, being the 4 the more closest to the original. The 1 and 2 files I can notice the loss of frequency and hence the worst files.

Wow, 100% increase from 2 voters to 4 voters.... Thanks to those that participated. Hopefully I can see more votes before the thread is closed. The response on the 2nd poll was so great that I want to do more of this, but maybe not everyone is interested.

I really appreciate this. I've discovered new codecs (their weakness and strongs) because of your listening tests .

4 is better,
but 1, 2, 3 sounds very similar, i vote 3 is worst

PS. I think that "4" is a AAC-HE.

Another quick bump before July 1st. 6 voters out of 1400+ views is inda depressing....

First listened them trhough and then ABX:ed them with the original, heard the differences pretty easily. And i "only" have Sennheiser hd 595 headphones, HiFi enough for me. The third sounded worst for me, I think it is mp3, and fourth the best.