Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben Thornton
Of course, I accept that mp3 is not lossless - the whole point is to be lossy. But do you really hear a "huge qualitative difference between CD audio and MP3 even at high sampling rates"? I've tried really hard to hear the difference - with decent equipment - and from 256kbps, I can't tell which is which. Studies seem to bear this out too. Of course, my ears could be broken ...
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I can tell the difference easily on my car audio system. I have a good quality Alpine system in my Honda. I ripped several different styles of music CDs to 256 kbps and played them back two different ways by burning the MP3s to CD-Rs and loading them on my Zune. I could tell no qualitative difference in the playback of the MP3s. The CDs I tested included Classical, live Rock, studio Rock and studio Jazz.
Then I listened to these same CDs on my car Audio system and was absolutely blown away at how much is missing from MP3s especially with the Classical, Jazz and live performances. I also listened to the same music loaded in WMA lossless on my Zune and to me it sounded as good as the CDs.
Listening to the same music in same formats through my home stereo gave me the same impressions. MP3s are flat and miss many of the nuances on CDs.
The only way I really can't tell the difference is if I'm listening through crappy earbuds on my Zune or one of the kid's iPods. Especially if you don't take the time to set the equalizer for the style of music then it will sound pretty much the same. Normally, I use a pair of Ultimate Ears (picked up for 2/3's off) or a set of Sony Sport earphones and I definitely can tell the difference.
This is all subjective but this is what works for me.