full comparison between
- mpc --insane
- vorbis megamix II -q6
- lame 3.93.1 --preset extreme
- hardware atrac encoding at 292 kbps
- hardware atrac3plus encoding at 256 kbps
- software atrac3plus encoding at 256 kbps
ABC/HR Version 0.9b, 30 August 2002
Testname: ATRAC TYPE-R / ATRAC3+ Hi-SP / MP3 LAME / VORBIS / MPC Comparison
1L = castanets mpc.wav
2R = castanets ogg.wav
3R = castanets sp.wav
4L = castanets_hi-sp_(nh700).wav
5L = castanets hi-sp.wav
6R = castanets mp3.wav
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General Comments:
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1L File: castanets mpc.wav
1L Rating: 4.0
1L Comment: I heard thousand times this "piou-piou" = mpc, without hesitation;-)
Slight artifact between 2.1 - 3.1
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2L File: castanets.wav
2L Rating: 4.5
2L Comment: first guitar note is slightly smeared.
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3R File: castanets sp.wav
3R Rating: 2.2
3R Comment: first guitar note is distorted. Attacks are dull, slightly smeared, but it's not offending. Sound is also synthetic and lifeless: maybe some background noise is missing.
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4L File: castanets_hi-sp_(nh700).wav
4L Rating: 1.2
4L Comment: unsharp attacks, and buzzing -electrical- distortions in the middle. Guitar is smeared, and with a strange and electric noise too. Really awful.
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5L File: castanets hi-sp.wav
5L Rating: 1.0
5L Comment: attacks are sharper (first four castanets), but are then slightly more distorted than previous file. Overall sound is also really synthetic
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6R File: castanets mp3.wav
6R Rating: 2.0
6R Comment: unsharp on the beginning (first castanets and guitar). Rest is OK.
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ABX Results:
Original vs castanets mpc.wav
7 out of 8, pval = 0.035
Original vs castanets ogg.wav
6 out of 8, pval = 0.145
Original vs castanets sp.wav
8 out of 8, pval = 0.004
Original vs castanets_hi-sp_(nh700).wav
8 out of 8, pval = 0.004
Original vs castanets hi-sp.wav
8 out of 8, pval = 0.004
Original vs castanets mp3.wav
8 out of 8, pval = 0.004
Few differences in my opinion between atrac3plus hardware and software encoders. The biggest artifact is slightly reduced with the hardware encoder, but it also introduce additional distortion (noise), audible on the first guitar note.
Both are rated near 1.0 but 0.0/5 is more realistic I think to maintain the real distance between other challengers - much better.