Flacs vs Mp3's

[LennyIsLife]

my friend who claims himself to be an audiophile also claims that he can tell the difference between flacs and mp3's, but after listening to both, I believe that this is only due to the placebo effect, and the difference is negligible. The flac was also 48 mbs, while the mp3 was 16. What do you guys think? 

[Godlygamer23]

The average person will not notice the difference between MP3 and FLAC.

[Aytex]

im stupid wahts a flac

[Godlygamer23]

im stupid wahts a flac

FLAC is a type of audio file that's lossless but compressed. FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec.

[Blebekblebek]

with correct tools, you can measure everything.

[LennyIsLife]

im stupid wahts a flac

 

its an audio codec. While mp3's compress data to make the file size smaller, flacs do not. audiophiles think they sound better because of this

[Sam Z Man]

im stupid wahts a flac

A way to make audio sound the same but take up 4 times the storage compared to a MP3.

[Godlygamer23]

its an audio codec. While mp3's compress data to make the file size smaller, flacs do not. audiophiles think they sound better because of this

FLAC files are actually compressed but lossless. MP3s are compressed and lossy.

[LennyIsLife]

A way to make audio sound the same but take up 4 times the storage compared to a MP3.

you just rekt every audiophile on the internet

[LennyIsLife]

FLAC files are actually compressed but lossless. MP3s are compressed and lossy.

true, I should have worded that better

[comicsansms]

I personally  use ogg format for my music.

[BoredErica]

The MP3 format isn't the best, just the most widely used. When we're talking about MP3 vs Flac it's typically assumed we mean a mp3 file encoded from flac with the latest LAME at 320kbps bitrate. The answer is that the overwhelming majority of people cannot tell a difference. I believe there was a guy or two on HA that managed to pass a blind test, but that was for specific tracks and he got a lot of cred for being able to tell a difference. It's quite rare you get a guy like that. 

 

There exists an abx plugin on Foobar.

 

 

with correct tools, you can measure everything.

That's pretty obvious. The question is if humans can tell a difference.

[Aytex]

 

The MP3 format isn't the best, just the most widely used. When we're talking about MP3 vs Flac it's typically assumed we mean a mp3 file encoded from flac with the latest LAME at 320kbps bitrate. The answer is that the overwhelming majority of people cannot tell a difference. I believe there was a guy or two on HA that managed to pass a blind test, but that was for specific tracks and he got a lot of cred for being able to tell a difference. It's quite rare you get a guy like that.

 

 

That's pretty obvious. The question is if humans can tell a difference.

 

how do u measure the universe

[Godlygamer23]

how do u measure the universe

Huh?

[BoredErica]

how do u measure the universe

That's a malformed question. Most statements have ideas implied. You know what you're trying to do with a question like that.

[LennyIsLife]

how do u measure the universe

you just, kinda do

[Blebekblebek]

That's pretty obvious. The question is if humans can tell a difference.

 

that's including person who capable to measure it.

 

 quality differences is huge, but not without spending extra to show that differences (just in case you are using earplug from your phone, or bad singer recording with crappy record system)

it's already been proven at this point.

 

but again, it's audio, it also depends on what kind of content that audio contain, I don't think you can spot the differences with static sounds or mumbling voices, or...bad songs/singers.

[BoredErica]

that's including person who capable to measure it.

 

 quality differences is huge, but not without spending extra to show that differences (just in case you are using earplug from your phone, or bad singer recording with crappy record system)

it's already been proven at this point.

 

but again, it's audio, it also depends on what kind of content that audio contain, I don't think you can spot the differences with static sounds or mumbling voices, or...bad songs/singers.

No it is not.

 

The placebo-driven world drives me up the fucking wall.

[Goose Legs]

Pretty sure I have seen at least 50 of these threads before on the forum.

 

Here's my $0.02, your results will vary depending on the quality of the master recording (if the studio clips the master, or kills the dynamic range, having a lossless copy won't do you any good). Furthermore, the quality of your gear and room will matter to an extent, as well. 

 

Disk space at this point in time is cheap. FLAC is around 250-350MB per 60 minute (ish) album, depending on the complexity and length. A 320Kbps MP3 copy of that same album is about 150MB (ish...). If you have a relatively spacious hard drive, decent audio gear, and have a choice between FLAC or MP3, to me it's a no brainer. I'll take the FLAC all day, everyday.

[BoredErica]

Here's my $0.02, your results will vary depending on the quality of the master recording (if the studio clips the master, or kills the dynamic range, having a lossless copy won't do you any good). Furthermore, the quality of your gear and room will matter to an extent, as well. 

Did you pass abx?

[Goose Legs]

Did you pass abx?

 

I have done some blind testing in the past, and I have noticed that AAC tends to have fewer compression artifacts when compared to MP3 at an identical bitrate. Though depending on the encoding scheme (Faster encodes vs higher quality encodings, etc) the differences in compressed audio can become more or less noticeable. 

 

(All of this is assuming you have a well mastered recording).

[BoredErica]

I have done some blind testing in the past, and I have noticed that AAC tends to have fewer compression artifacts when compared to MP3 at an identical bitrate. Though depending on the encoding scheme (Faster encodes vs higher quality encodings, etc) the differences in compressed audio can become more or less noticeable. 

Well, MP3's not the best, but I was asking about a proper encode that is at 320kbps more specifically.

[Sam Z Man]

The placebo-driven world drives me up the fucking wall.

[Goose Legs]

Well, MP3's not the best, but I was asking about a proper encode that is at 320kbps more specifically.

 

Yes, I have. The MP3 and AAC files I was comparing that I mentioned earlier were both at 320kbps. At the highest quality encoding method, the differences become more subtle, but more often than not, the MP3s one runs into generally aren't encoded in that method - and (although rare, I have seen it happen) are reencodes of previous compressed recordings which result in compound compression (yuck). 

 

More often than not, a FLAC is made directly from the source (a CD, SACD, or provided directly from the studio) thus they generally tend to be more reliable, and that you know you're not getting a reencode of something else that was previously compressed.

[BoredErica]

 

Yes, I have. The MP3 and AAC files I was comparing that I mentioned earlier were both at 320kbps. At the highest quality encoding method, the differences become more subtle, but more often than not, the MP3s one runs into generally aren't encoded in that method - and (although rare, I have seen it happen) are reencodes of previous compressed recordings which result in compound compression (yuck). 

I doubt that the test was done properly and you've passed it. But at least you bothered to.

 

 

 

More often than not, a FLAC is made directly from the source (a CD, SACD, or provided directly from the studio) thus they generally tend to be more reliable, and that you know you're not getting a reencode of something else that was previously compressed.

Mostly true - however even if I commit MP3 encoding inception, I still doubt the large majority of people can hear a difference. As far as I'm concerned the differences are psychological. Storage is cheap, but for some reason (which I personally don't get), some people have amassed a playlist of thousands of tracks and in that sort of situation storage is an issue. But those guys are in the minority I think.

 

Personally I keep my tracks in flac, not because I can hear a difference, but because I feel like it.

 

I hope you're not one of those people touting expensive-ass amps and magic cables while leaving the room untreated. Oh boy, that always gets me. Even more than whatever beliefs people hold about lossy music.