Author Topic: I can't tell the difference between FLAC and mp3, can you? (Read 2007 times)

Powerslave · « **on:** February 07, 2008, 12:08:22 PM »

Yes, I do realize that 128kbps mp3's are shit, that's why I'm only talking about the better ripped or converted mp3 files. I have this one FLAC version of a song that sounds literally identical to it's mp3 version. So what's the point in having your entire music library in FLAC, consuming up all those gigabytes?

Eric P · « **Reply #1 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:16:08 PM »

only when i blast my music in my car

when it's in my ears for my mp3 player, i listen to 192 because i don't listen to loud music that close

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #2 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:17:01 PM »

I cant either, then again im not an audiophile. I suspect audiophiles will continue setting the standard in shit I dont care about.

Powerslave · « **Reply #3 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:18:32 PM »

Well seeing as I now have a pretty good speaker and soundcard setup, I did a test and there is no audible difference to the human ear.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #4 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:19:27 PM »

no no no, a good speaker and soundcard setup doesnt even bring you close to an audiophile, they have shit I cant pronounce modulate the gigawatz of the whozits in the dimension of audio discombobulation

Powerslave · « **Reply #5 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:24:09 PM »

oh my god this file is approximately 0.000021khz and 3kbps lower than my minimum requirements I'm missing out on this song's experience it's worthless now

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:25:37 PM »

WORTHLESSSSSSS

Mupepe · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:28:05 PM »

I only notice when they're played through my truck's stereo. and usually it's a volume and clarity difference on background instruments and whatnot.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:28:41 PM »

the only thing ive ever noticed with compressed audio is between 128 bitrate and 160 bitrate

Eric P · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:30:40 PM »

I have created a compression format called HP3. It uses a compression algorithm which stores bits in the dreamlands. There's a slight issue where decoding it can bring through...other...elder...things...but that rarely happens. not enough to prevent us from going to market anyway.

We're calling our player I'celoPod

edit: this is offically the geekiest thing i've typed today

abrader · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:31:05 PM »

I can easily tell the difference.

It also depends on the piece of music and your system.

abrader · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:31:58 PM »

Quote from: Eric P on February 07, 2008, 12:30:40 PM

I have created a compression format called HP3. It uses a compression algorithm which stores bits in the dreamlands. There's a slight issue where decoding it can bring through...other...elder...things...but that rarely happens. not enough to prevent us from going to market anyway.

We're calling our player I'celoPod

edit: this is offically the geekiest thing i've typed today

I <3!

Powerslave · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:33:55 PM »

Quote from: abrader on February 07, 2008, 12:31:05 PM

I can easily tell the difference.

It also depends on the piece of music and your system.

post me an example of whatever piece of music you're talking about with a FLAC and MP3(well converted) version and I'll test it out.

abrader · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:46:41 PM »

Quote from: Powerslave on February 07, 2008, 12:33:55 PM

Quote from: abrader on February 07, 2008, 12:31:05 PM
I can easily tell the difference.

It also depends on the piece of music and your system.

post me an example of whatever piece of music you're talking about with a FLAC and MP3(well converted) version and I'll test it out.

heh thats a tall order considering I am at the office....

But to provide more detail - you mostly hear it in higher pitched sounds/instruments. The outer edges of a highhat wav-form can suddenly sound more staticy than smooth in an MP3.

Classical music listers likely notice more.

Eric P · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:48:12 PM »

i'm ripping a piece of Dizzy Gillespie's for your examination

Powerslave · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:49:07 PM »

^thanks eric.

abrader · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2008, 12:52:46 PM »

Quote from: Eric P on February 07, 2008, 12:48:12 PM

i'm ripping a piece of Dizzy Gillespie's for your examination

That should be a great example.

demi · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2008, 01:10:00 PM »

192kbps or bust

Eric P · « **Reply #18 on:** February 07, 2008, 01:12:47 PM »

Dizzie Gillespie - Mas Que Nada
Album: Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac (a lesser work but the only one i had here on CD)

I chose this because lots of highs and some good lows, but you won't really notice any loss of the lower frequencies unless you decide to blast this quite loud.

Flac
http://www.wetotallyheartponies.com/glue/dizzytest/02%20-%20Dizzy%20Gillespie%20-%20Mas%20Que%20Nada.flac

mp3 encoder 1.34 320kbps
http://www.wetotallyheartponies.com/glue/dizzytest/02%20-%20Dizzy%20Gillespie%20-%20Mas%20Que%20Nada.mp3

mp3 encoder 1.34 192kbps
http://wetotallyheartponies.com/glue/dizzytest/02%20-%20Dizzy%20Gillespie%20192kbps-%20Mas%20Que%20Nada.mp3

TVC15 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 07, 2008, 01:19:38 PM »

Quote from: Powerslave on February 07, 2008, 12:08:22 PM

Yes, I do realize that 128kbps mp3's are shit, that's why I'm only talking about the better ripped or converted mp3 files. I have this one FLAC version of a song that sounds literally identical to it's mp3 version. So what's the point in having your entire music library in FLAC, consuming up all those gigabytes?

It depends how the music is mixed. In order to benefit from FLAC or the like, it has to have a lot of highs and lows in it. If it has a lot of (or if it is ALL) highs (as is often for shitty music today, because it makes it louder), you are not getting the full scale, and thus you won't gain much benefit from listening to it uncompressed. For things like classical music, many electronic musics, and "quieter" pop/rock (singery songwritery stuff, etc), you'll get the benefit, but only if you are listening loudly/closely enough.

Personally, I think people just like being leetheads about it. My optimal mp3 format is 256k vbr.

Powerslave · « **Reply #20 on:** February 07, 2008, 02:04:47 PM »

Quote from: Eric P on February 07, 2008, 01:12:47 PM

Dizzie Gillespie - Mas Que Nada
Album: Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac (a lesser work but the only one i had here on CD)

I chose this because lots of highs and some good lows, but you won't really notice any loss of the lower frequencies unless you decide to blast this quite loud.

Flac
http://www.wetotallyheartponies.com/glue/dizzytest/02%20-%20Dizzy%20Gillespie%20-%20Mas%20Que%20Nada.flac

mp3 encoder 1.34 320kbps
http://www.wetotallyheartponies.com/glue/dizzytest/02%20-%20Dizzy%20Gillespie%20-%20Mas%20Que%20Nada.mp3

mp3 encoder 1.34 192kbps
http://wetotallyheartponies.com/glue/dizzytest/02%20-%20Dizzy%20Gillespie%20192kbps-%20Mas%20Que%20Nada.mp3

I listened to the FLAC and the 320kbps ones and................yup no difference at all. It didn't help that the song has a constant hiss on the background. But the way the high notes of the trumpet and low notes of the bass guitar came out were indistinguishable from eachother from both files.

Powerslave · « **Reply #21 on:** February 07, 2008, 02:10:02 PM »

I'm listening to Adagio for Strings on full volume and it's amazing

Powerslave · « **Reply #22 on:** February 07, 2008, 02:23:03 PM »

Erich Kunzel's Batman Theme is so fucking awesome, it has all the elements you look for in a test

Trent Dole · « **Reply #23 on:** February 07, 2008, 05:55:52 PM »

FLACs take up more hard drive space.

GARBAGE DAY!

Powerslave · « **Reply #24 on:** February 07, 2008, 07:00:57 PM »

haha time to take out the garbage known as FLAC from our hard drives

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Author Topic: I can't tell the difference between FLAC and mp3, can you? (Read 2007 times)