Test with newest Ahead aacenc32.dll v. 2.5.5.2
same settings as before.
Results:
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1R File: .\Samples\003 ChopinPolonaiseDMoll_Nero_vbr_new.wav
1R Rating: 3.0
1R Comment: lower cutoff, ringing and warbeling in some places (e.g. 14-18), bumping echos
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2R File: .\Samples\003 ChopinPolonaiseDMoll_Nero_cbr_new.wav
2R Rating: 3.5
2R Comment: high tones sound a bit like another instrument, problem with transients
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3R File: .\Samples\003 ChopinPolonaiseDMoll_qt_44.wav
3R Rating: 3.7
3R Comment: small lack of brightness compared to 2, but less other problems.
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1L File: .\Samples\005 Enola_Gay_qt_44.wav
1L Rating: 3.5
1L Comment: brightness, smeared transients, a little bit of flanging, pre-echo
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2R File: .\Samples\005 Enola_Gay_Nero_vbr_new.wav
2R Rating: 3.0
2R Comment: less bright than 1, less flanging, a little bit less pre-echo at some places
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3L File: .\Samples\005 Enola_Gay_Nero_cbr_new.wav
3L Rating: 2.8
3L Comment: same as 3, brighter but serious stereo problem at 1 sec., warbeling
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1L File: .\Samples\006 experiencia_Nero_cbr_new.wav
1L Rating: 3.6
1L Comment: percussion smeared, trumpets suffer from cutoff
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2L File: .\Samples\006 experiencia_Nero_vbr_new.wav
2L Rating: 2.5
2L Comment: similar to 1; cutoff more noticable, ringing
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3R File: .\Samples\006 experiencia_qt_44.wav
3R Rating: 3.5
3R Comment: same as 1, trumpets a little bit worse
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1L File: .\Samples\007 gone_Nero_vbr_new.wav
1L Rating: 2.0
1L Comment: 1st part: 2.0 cutoff, warbeling, pre-echo
2nd part: 2.0 warbeling, ringing, flanging, watery
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2L File: .\Samples\007 gone_Nero_cbr_new.wav
2L Rating: 3.3
2L Comment: 1st part: 3.5 high pitched noise partitially removed + bumping, slightly flanging in some places
2nd part: 3.0 ringing, flanging, cymbals smeared
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3L File: .\Samples\007 gone_qt_44.wav
3L Rating: 3.5
3L Comment: 1st part: 4 high pitched noise partitially removed
2nd part: same as 2
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1L File: .\Samples\009 mybloodrusts.sample20sec_Nero_vbr_new.wav
1L Rating: 2.3
1L Comment: 1st part: 2.5 stereo problem
2nd part: 2: loud ringing
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2R File: .\Samples\009 mybloodrusts.sample20sec_qt_44.wav
2R Rating: 2.5
2R Comment: 1st part: 3.5 small stereo problem (chirping)
2nd part: 1.5 constant chirping, ringing
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3R File: .\Samples\009 mybloodrusts.sample20sec_Nero_cbr_new.wav
3R Rating: 2.3
3R Comment: 1st part: 1.5 annoying stereo problem
2nd part: 3 guitar+cymbals smeared but no annoying ringing
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1R File: .\Samples\011 Scars_Nero_cbr_new.wav
1R Rating: 3.8
1R Comment: percussion smeared
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2R File: .\Samples\011 Scars_qt_44.wav
2R Rating: 3.8
2R Comment: same as 1
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3R File: .\Samples\011 Scars_Nero_vbr_new.wav
3R Rating: 2.5
3R Comment: percussion smeared, lowpass, ringing, warbeling
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1L File: .\Samples\012 Waiting_Nero_vbr_new.wav
1L Rating: 2.0
1L Comment: 1st part: stereo separation OK but annoying ringing
2nd part: smeared, flanging, ringing cymbals
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2R File: .\Samples\012 Waiting_qt_44.wav
2R Rating: 3.0
2R Comment: 1st part: 3 same as 1 but better
2nd part: similar as 1 but less lowpass
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3L File: .\Samples\012 Waiting_Nero_cbr_new.wav
3L Rating: 3.2
3L Comment: 1st part: 3.2 same as 2 but slightly better
2nd part: as 2
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Conclusion:
Ahead aacenc CBR and Quicktime seem to be equal if there weren't the stereo issues. As there are at least two severe problem cases for Ahead aacenc among the samples chosen, Quicktime is the only option.