Bitrate Challenge Nr. 2 - Identifying Higher Bitrates
 

Bitrate Challenge Nr. 2!

Hey guys!

As consumers of digital music formats, we often get to choose the quality of the lossy file formats that make up the digital music libraries for so many of us. There are two general schools of thought regarding bitrates;

• That higher bitrates makes for a better listening experience
• That an increase in bitrate only creates a better listening experience up to a certain point (usually thought to be around 160~192 kbps)

The previous bitrate test (nr. 1) asked testers to rank a series of sound clips by in order of quality. This time, I've made it easier and divided the whole challenge into several simpler ones. You'll only have to choose between two options at a time. There are 6 tests pitching different bitrates against eachother and, with enough participants, the data can tell us something about what bitrates people are able to differentiate. So, please take a few minutes and do this test!


How to do it

Open the following site in your browser : Bitrate Challenge, Round 2!

The page contains 6 blind tests represented by 6 flash players. Each player plays two tracks. Underneath each player, you can tick off which one of the tracks you think has the highest quality. Tick it off and when you get to the bottom of the page, click the submit button. You'll get a short string of numbers, your choices, which you can paste to a post in this thread.

Good luck! :)


Edit :

Remember that the picks you get wrong are just as much worth as the ones you get right, so don't worry about that! Each individual result will not be made public, but you may get it on PM if you want.

This test always tests the same part of one song, something which is important to the test because it makes them all highly comparable. I might make the same kind of general test later, only with a clip of metal or classic music or something else.

The test clip is from the song "Vintervake" from Panzerpappa's album "Koralrevens Klagesang" from 2006.

edit :

In case anyone's wondering, the order of everything has been randomized (usig a randomizer script), so don't go into the test expecting anything like it getting progressively harder or easier etc. :)

112121

Ah god not again.
Audio is never simple enough to just do one on one comparison...
It just doesn't work that way. It only proves how good your memory for sound is.
Eitherway, enjoy the game :)

This is round 2! Which just tests your ability to separate different quality lossy files for one song. It's not the whole story, there will be more tests in the future.

Don't take the test .. if you're afraid of what the answer might be. :p:

122111

PM me.

Oh I don't care :)
111222
I know I don't score all that good on those tests.
But I know how usless they are to check if someone can hear audio quality.
The brain really gets in the way with those tests.

Where is Round 1?

Is 111222 based on a real attempt or just something you wrote?

It's not a useless way to check if someone can hear and differentiate audio quality. Blind test comparisons is basically the only way to do it. The fact it's blind is supposed to prevent the brain from getting in the way. If you listen to something with a preconcieved idea of the comparative quality of what it is you're listening to, then that's gonna affect your answer. That's why new medication has to be tested against placebos, because people are expecting to get a drug which works regardless of whether it really does. If you don't have any preconcieved ideas, like in a blind test, that helps eliminate that problem. Furthermore, this way gives definite yes/no data which is easy to use in statistics to prove simple hypotheses, provided you get enough data.

GuitarBizarre, sending you your score!

Oh it's based on a real attempt. But that remark probably says it all.
Neither of them are worthless by the way.

The brain does get in the way because you keep comparing.
The same thing happens when you listen to some different sets of speakers. You may be able to hear differences, but you can't tell for sure which are best (unless one of them is obviously ****ty).
I'm busy buying a new phono preamplifier. I've compared four so far. At first sight, the new one always seems the same or better than the old one. But then you start listening to music instead of listening to the preamp and then you realise 'I'm missing stuff'. That's the only way I can compare. And if I am to believe the real audiofreaks (guys who buy cables for the price of a second hand car), I'm doing a really good job for virtually no money. So hey :)

Edit: I'm going to do the test again, see what comes out now :D. Probably something different.
Don't send me my score yet :)

Hahaha, second attempt :)
121212
:D

Ah well :D.