ABX Testing: 128k AAC vs Lossless
We conduct an
ABX test between 128k
AAC and lossless!
● WHAT IS ABX TESTING?
http://youtu.be/nFEvFpzldJc
● See below for equipment and software used, raw results and comments.
Thanks everyone for clicking the
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The music used in this video:
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - IV
. In the Hall Of
The Mountain King
was sourced and can be found here:
https://musopen.org/music/1568/edvard-grieg/peer-gynt-suite-no-1-op-46/
This recording is in the public domain.
My explanation of lossless vs lossy:
http://youtu.be/AoiiKZkcHME
and
ABX testing:
http://youtu.be/nFEvFpzldJc
////////////////////
Software Used
Foobar2000 v1.
3.1 http://www.foobar2000.org/
ABX Comparator (Foobar2000
Component) http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_abx
WASAPI Output Support (Foobar2000 Component)
http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_wasapi
iTunes v11.1.4.62 (PC)
AAC conversion settings: 128k 44.1kHz
Constant Bit Rate
////////////////////
Equipment &
Results
All tests were performed on a
Surface Pro 2 256gb in
Flight Mode on battery power. The room was acoustically treated but there was background noise from surrounding conversations.
RUN 1:
Shane initially attempted to use a Sennheiser HD650 with a Vioelectric
V100 and
Headroom Pico DAC. He was unable to perform the first trial due to background noise, and switched to an
Audio Technica W10VTG. All trials below were performed with the W10VTG. Results were hidden from view during the trials.
Test track: 'When
Rain Falls'
Chris Botti
14:26:25 :
Test started.
14:29:53 : 01/01 50.
0%
14:30:18 : 01/02 75.0%
14:32:23 : 02/03 50.0%
14:33:42 : 02/04 68.8%
14:34:41 : 03/05 50.0%
14:35:26 : 04/06 34.4%
14:36:09 : 04/07 50.0%
14:36:54 : 04/08 63.7%
14:37:22 : 04/09 74.6%
14:38:08 : 05/10 62.3%
14:39:14 : Test finished.
----------
Total: 5/10 (62.3%)
COMMENT: Shane performed no better than random guessing. The W10VTG is an older headphone and perhaps not ideal testing equipment for these purposes.
RUN 2:
Tom initially attempted to use an
AKG K701 with a Vioelectric V100 and Headroom Pico DAC. He was unable to perform the first trial because of background noise, and switched to a Fitear MH334 custom in-ear monitor, with a
JDS Labs Objective 2 amplifier and
ODAC on battery power. All trials below were performed with the MH334. Results were hidden from view during the trials.
Test track: '
Stroll Through
The Sky'
Joe Hisaishi
15:01:31 : Test started.
15:07:05 : 01/01 50.0%
15:10:37 : 02/02 25.0%
15:15:21 : 03/03 12.
5%
15:17:13 : 04/04 6.3%
15:18:10 : 04/05 18.8%
15:18:59 : 05/06 10.9%
15:19:27 : 06/07 6.3%
15:20:24 : 06/08 14.5%
15:21:27 : 07/09 9.0%
15:22:52 : 08/10
5.5%
15:24:46 : Test finished.
----------
Total: 8/10 (5.5%)
COMMENT: Tom performed the best of all 3 participants, but while suggestive, his result is not considered statistically significant (95% confidence level). More trials would need to be conducted to draw any conclusions.
RUN 3:
Josh performed all trials with a
Unique Melody Miracle custom in-ear monitor with a JDS Labs Objective 2 amplifier and ODAC on battery power. Results were hidden from view during the trials.
Test track: '
Platinum Disco'
Iguchi Yuka
15:39:03 : Test started.
15:43:21 : 00/01
100.0%
15:45:02 : 00/02 100.0%
15:46:08 : 00/03 100.0%
15:46:57 : 01/04 93.8%
15:49:03 : 02/05 81.3%
15:49:29 : 03/06 65.6%
15:50:04 : 03/07 77.3%
15:50:23 : 03/08 85.5%
15:51:08 : 03/09 91.0%
15:51:24 : 04/10 82.8%
15:54:28 : Test finished.
----------
Total: 4/10 (82.8%)
COMMENT: Josh performed no better than random guessing. It should be noted that the track Josh chose seems inappropriate for this kind of testing.
////////////////////
For reference, I attempted this test at home under similar conditions got the following results on a 16 trial run using the VSonic GR07 and JDS Labs Objective 2 and ODAC.
Test track: 'Kugutsuuta ura mite chiru'
Kenji Kawai
21:38:26 : Test started.
21:40:33 : 01/01 50.0%
21:42:19 : 01/02 75.0%
21:43:22 : 02/03 50.0%
21:43:44 : 03/04 31.3%
21:44:34 : 04/05 18.8%
21:45:24 : 04/06 34.4%
21:46:14 : 04/07 50.0%
21:46:46 : 05/08 36.3%
21:47:30 : 05/09 50.0%
21:48:10 : 05/10 62.3%
21:48:50 : 06/11 50.0%
21:49:21 : 07/12 38.7%
21:50:00 : 08/13 29.1%
21:50:20 : 09/14 21.2%
21:50:44 : 09/15 30.4%
21:51:19 :
10/16 22.7%
21:52:32 : Test finished.
----------
Total: 10/16 (22.7%)
COMMENT: I performed only marginally better than random guessing and did not achieve a statistically significant result.
![Inside the ABX Air 767-200F [HD]](http://web.archive.org./web/20160602043253/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FrS1AgRSlFM/0.jpg)
