[LAU] ABX test invite

[Peder Hedlund]

Quoting Ralf Mardorf <ralf.mardorf at alice-dsl.net>:

> Peder I listened to the Axel F. samples one after the other without
> "dissecting" the sound. I didn't hear a difference, that doesn't mean I
> wouldn't hear a difference by an ABX test or by listening to it focused
> and for two or three times instead just for one time.

So why don't you do an ABX test and get it on paper?
Since you've so boldly stated that MP3 sounds like crap you should  
have no problem telling any original from the 165 kbps, or similar, MP3.

> However, if there
> isn't really significant loss, it doesn't matter, if there is or if
> there isn't minimal loss, since the music anyway will sound different on
> different gear.

Of course a crappy stereo setup with some $50 speakers will sound  
worse than a $5000 Monster cable powered setup, but you're free to  
take this test on any equipment you'd like. An MP3 that sounds like  
shite on a $5000 stereo probably won't sound any better on a $500 one  
but if you can't ABX a file on the expensive setup it's very likely  
that you can't do it on the cheaper one either.

> For my individual dealing with audio recordings I can't imagine why I
> ever should use MP3 or any other codec.

If *you* don't want to deal with anything but 192/24 audio (or even  
"pristine" analog vinyl) that's perfectly fine but unless you have  
some data supporting that claim you're in no position whatsoever to  
say all MP3 files sound horrible.

> I don't need data reduction, if
> I listen to audio recordings, than I do it "conscious", I never ever
> will take a walk and listen to music.

When I listen to music I listen to the song itself and what the artist  
was trying to convey - not what the engineer was thinking on the  
particular day he mixed the song.
After all; most of the old Beatles/Rolling Stones/Queen/whatever  
albums aren't that spectacular sonically speaking, are they?

Again : if you always listen to music with a highly critical audio  
engineer ear that's perfectly fine but unless you have some data  
backing it up you can't just claim it sounds horrible unless it's at  
least 44.1/16.

  - Peder