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Opus, AAC, Vorbis, MP3, MPC at 128 kbit/s

This listening test has almost the same codec contenders as the previous @96 one with the following differences:

  • All encoders have integer/discrete quality settings which are normally used in practice; in other words, quality parameters were not adjusted to get equal resulting bitrates with nine SE test samples; so the test will show how these codecs with usual settings compare with each other; for codecs with close resulting bitrates some conclusions about their efficiency can be derived as well
  • Opus version was updated from 1.0.2 to 1.1 with some quality fixes
  • CoreAudioToolbox 7.9.8.2 for QuikTime encoder was updated to 7.9.8.3 without any quality improvements
  • AAC encoder by Fraunhofer from Winamp was updated from 1.04 to 1.08
  • New AAC encoder by Fraunhofer from Android Open Source Project was added
  • Musepack MPC was added

 

Resulting list of contenders:


AAC VBR@112.0 (Winamp 5.666) - VBR, AAC LC

  • AAC Encoder v1.08 (Fraunhofer IIS) from Winamp 5.666: Variable Bitrate, Preset 4
  • The encoder is also available as CLI utility and can be downloaded from https://github.com/tmkk/fhgaacenc

AAC VBR@118.4 (iTunes 11.1.3) - TrueVBR, AAC LC

  • iTunes 11.1.3.8 or QuickTime 7.7.4 AAC Encoder via qaac 2.30 (CoreAudioToolbox 7.9.8.3): qaac -V63 ref.wav
  • The encoder is included in such Apple products as iTunes, QuickTime, Safari; though not all of its features can be reached through these applications. For greater flexibility the CLI utility qaac can be used
  • download from https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/

AAC VBR@117.5 (NeroRef 1540) - CVBR, AAC LC

Vorbis VBR@119.4 (Xiph 1.3.3)

Opus VBR@115.7 (libopus 1.1)

  • encode: opusenc --bitrate 96 ref48.wav (44.1/16 -> 48/24 by Audition CS6)
  • The encoder operates at 48kHz only, so for other sample rates (as in our case) resampling is required. Some good quality resampler is already integrated into the codec but we used the external one from Audition CS6; the complete test files production chain: reference test files 44.1/16 -->> 48/24(Audition CS6) -->> opusenc -->> decode by foobar2000(48/32) -->> 44.1/32(Audition CS6) -->> test files production
  • download from http://opus-codec.org/downloads/

mp3 VBR@113.7 (Lame 3.99.5) - MPEG-1 Layer 3, VBR

AAC VBR@110.9 (libfdk 3.4.12) - MPEG-4 AAC LC, VBR mpc VBR@123.3 (SV8) - Musepack

 

In addition to usual live ratings on 128kbit/s page there will be detailed results of this test when corresponding ratings reach 1% accuracy (example of the detailed report is in the previous 96 kbit/s listening test).

***

SoundExpert reminds you that final conclusion about audio quality of any device added can be made only after finishing corresponding listening test. So we encourage you to take part in testing. SE ratings exist only thanks to visitors like you. Testing is short and easy, visit our Testing Room for simple 1-2-3 instruction.

Please, remember, downloading test files from SoundExpert you will not necessarily get the ones of the newly added codecs. SoundExpert testing is blind testing – you don't know the device you test. This is the only reliable way of getting true audio quality ratings, free from any cheating and various human senses other than perception of sound quality. After you have sent your grade you will see the device you tested.

Best regards,
SE Team.

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