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Hydrogenaudio AAC Listening Test Results

Posted by timothy on from the picking-and-squeezing dept.

caffeine_monkey writes "Hydrogenaudio's AAC public listening test, previously posted on Slashdot, is now over and the results are in. The test compared five codecs at 128 kbps, including Psytel, Nero, Sorenson Squeeze, QuickTime, and FAAC. The winner? 'QuickTime is a clear winner, performing much better than the competition. Sorenson Squeeze, Psytel AACenc and Nero are tied, with Sorenson slightly higher than the others. Faac is clearly the worst.'"

1 of 306 comments (clear)

  1. Flawed samples by bukharin · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    Whilst the listening test is interesting, look at the styles of music tested:

    1) "Rock"
    2) Solo Harpsichord
    3) Quiet intro with acoustic and electric guitars followed by loud metal riffs
    4) IDM [??]
    5) Electronic mix
    6) Metal, complete with screeching vocals
    7) drums and bass in the far left, guitar in the far right. Female vocal in the center.
    8) rock/metal riffs
    9) Drums and ride cymbals intro, followed by bass and female vocals.
    10) Intro consists of guitar in far left with male vocal in center.

    Hardly a broad range of music! This test tells me essentially nothing about which encoder would be best for piano music, orchestral music, opera, jazz, speech, etc.