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Blind Test: mp3 vs. 24bit

Hello Audiogon Members~
PMA magazine is conducting a study to see if we can hear which is better between an mp3 and a 24/96 file in a side-by-side comparison. So far, the results are surprising. If we all participate, we’ll know the truth. It’s also a fun test. Please go to the page below to participate:

https://www.pmamedia.org/en/home/can-you-hear-the-difference


johnson0134
jond's avatar
jond
5,794 posts
 
I emailed Rob Schryer who nicely responded obviously I'm not a huge computer guy and the MP3s are disguised as WAV files duh. Some slight differences on my crappy laptop speakers but uploading them to my NAS to listen on the big rig.
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
Close but the discussed mp3's are not quite as good on my system. I'm curious, what's your point of this comparison? 
johnson0134 OP
26 posts
 

Hello everyone! The results are out. The 24-bit was chosen correctly about 53% of the time, which means 47% of the answers were wrong. This is coin-toss territory. You can read the full summary here: 

 

pinebilly
7 posts
 

That is very close to be fair.

cd318
2,636 posts
 

Wow, that’s close.

When you consider the fact that the MP3 versions were between 220~260kbps, and not the highest available, 320kbps, then you can see the disparagement of MP3 for what it’s worth.

As I said 12 months ago, it would appear that once you get above 192kbps it becomes very difficult to distinguish MP3 from anything higher.

Even all the way up to 24/96!

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