Digital audio listening test

[Theo]

> Here's a 128k torture test I found. Encode the instrumental opening of
> CCR's "Fortunate Son" (the one they ripped off for a Wrangler Jeans
> commercial recently). For some reason this drives every 128k encoder I've
> tried batty. It simply sounds like crap. Sound weird imaging going on near
> the center. Significantly higher rates work like a charm.
>
>
> --
> Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
> "The Mac Doctor"

There are several modes of how to handle stereo in the mp3 standard.
Maybe that might be the problem here?

I am not sure if its really the compression or just badly encoded files, but
most mp3s sound crap to me.
Especially orchestral music and acoustic recordings with lots of dynamic
range (e.g. acoustic guitar) cause me ear fatigue.
Have a whole bunch of dance/electro MP3s though and they sound fine to me.

Some colleague and me did this test ones to see if there was a audible
difference between CD and mini disk.
We recorded a 1K sine and a  pop cd to the midi disk using s/pdif,
then played both over the same system at exactly the same volume.
Next we did a blind AB test, both where given 10 trials, but we stopped half
way.

My colleague who did not expect to hear the difference, got 4 out of 5
trials correct.
But stated he found his mini disk better sounding ;)

I was also able to tell what was the mini disk in 4 out of 5 trials.
The mini disk sounded more "radio" like to me, don't know how to describe it
better.

Again this may proof nothing.
But yes, I do think there is a audible difference.

Theo