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Topic: How to compare audio quality against 2 wav files? (Read 9616 times) previous topic - next topic
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How to compare audio quality against 2 wav files?

Does anyone know any software that will take 2 wav files and compare them to produce a score?

My scenario is that I want to test some different speakers
I will play a file though my PC and record what it hears from a mic in the middle of the room.
I then have the source and the recorded file

I want some method of comparing the 2 files and get a score.
Then do the same test with different speakers and compare.

I have searched and found thing regarding comparing mp3 encoders but that is not what I’m after.

Can anyone provide any applications or ideas?

How to compare audio quality against 2 wav files?

Reply #1 –
Quote from: dotnetdan on
Does anyone know any software that will take 2 wav files and compare them to produce a score?

My scenario is that I want to test some different speakers
I will play a file though my PC and record what it hears from a mic in the middle of the room.
I then have the source and the recorded file

I want some method of comparing the 2 files and get a score.
Then do the same test with different speakers and compare.

I have searched and found thing regarding comparing mp3 encoders but that is not what I’m after.

Can anyone provide any applications or ideas?


There are programs called SMAART and Spectra Lab that will compare two audio files and give you the transfer function of the system that took one file as an input, and spit out the other as an output.  This is a way of measuring the frequency response of systems. SMAART in particular is widely used in live sound applications for tuning equalizers and crossovers.

I did a little searching around and found that  Meyer Sound has a program called SIM3 that produces transfer functions in a similar way.

How to compare audio quality against 2 wav files?

Reply #2 –
There's freeware Audio DiffMaker also: http://www.libinst.com/Audio%20DiffMaker.htm.

"Audio DiffMaker is a freeware tool set intended to help determine the absolute difference between two audio recordings, while neglecting differences due to level difference, time synchronization, or simple linear frequency responses.

The difference recording  that results is only what has changed between the two recordings.  If anything - a change of component, a treatment, mechanical damping, etc. - is having any audible effect on the audio signal in a system, the difference recording will have audible content. The end result is primarily intended to be evaluated by ear.

This relatively simple idea can be used demonstratet whether some products can alter audio signals in audio equipment.

Changes detected by Audio DiffMaker are not necessarily audible changes for any given person.  Some changes will not sound different, and some are too weak to be heard when accompanied by the unchanged part of the program material.  But a silent difference track can only result if the two tracks being compared are unchanged (the same).

The DiffMaker process, by its very nature, avoids masking effects because it removes the large signal that masks subtle details.  Unlike traditional listening tests, differences can be detected even when buried by program material or if affected by imperfect components in the system."

How to compare audio quality against 2 wav files?

Reply #3 –
Comparing speakers this way is somewhere between very difficult and imposable.  If you make a recording of the original speaker then move the speaker or microphone just a few inches and the make a second recording, the two files will be different.  Plus in listening rooms people decode sound differently than a mic and measurement software.
Kevin Graf :: aka Speedskater

How to compare audio quality against 2 wav files?

Reply #4 –
To get the files sync (drift free) it's important that the DAC and ADC run at the same clock. If not, a correct difference signal is impossible (or at least very hard) to generate, even with DiffMaker (great application BTW).
I remember an interesting demo on an exhibition with two KEF speakers playing identical music but with different absolute phase. One of the speakers had a fixed position, the other was periodically moved, like a mechanical metronome. Every time the speakers were facing each other, there was (almost) silence. Kef wanted to prove that their production tolerances were pretty tight.
I can imagine that for this test physical differences between speaker models should be minimal (never tried it myself), but perhaps it can give you some ideas. This test will eliminate or at least reduce the influence of the room acoustics. If you don't want that, it's probably best to use your microphone scenario.
Apparently you're using a pc. In case you (also) have access to a Mac, there is a nice speaker measurement application FuzzMeasure.