Re: TVBR vs CVBR
Reply #6 –
TVBR is typically the better of the two given both are pretty much the same sound quality wise (some claim CVBR 'might' have a tiny advantage) but TVBR generally gives smaller files so it's more efficient which makes it the overall better of the two.
I think where CVBR can come in handy at times is at lower bit rates like 96kbps as it seems to limit the encoder from having the bit rate drop too low as looking through my collection, which is 96kbps TVBR (Apple AAC encoded with Foobar2000 QAAC), 53kbps is the lowest and 121kbps was the highest although the average bit rate over all of the files is 93kbps.
but like you said in your post above... you can't really tell the difference so you might as well go with TVBR since it generally uses less bit rate.
there was one song I encoded not long ago that there was one part in a song (when the singer said a certain word at one part in the song) that I could tell the difference between TVBR and CVBR (with CVBR being better but the bit rate was noticeably higher than the TVBR file) but that was at the 96kbps setting and the bit rate between the two tracks was about 20-30kbps between TVBR and CVBR if I recall correctly which probably explained it. but at your super high bit rates I doubt that would occur because at 224kbps is already a bit overkill as it seems, given tests around here, 192kbps is about the max dang near everyone would need.
if you don't mind me asking...
what headphones are you using and how old are you? ; I say that because it seems only those quite young can hear the super fine detail or maybe it partially comes back to fancy headphones etc.
also, when you ABX the music @ 128kbps and 160kbps etc is it something you can detect fairly quickly or does it take a good amount of effort to notice differences between say 128kbps to 160kbps? ; I am sort of wondering what you personally would consider the 'sweet spot' of bit rate? ; it almost seems 160kbps might be your sweet spot given what you said.