Sorry to dig up this old thread, but I was looking for information about how iTunes Plus compares with lossless audio. Unfortunately no one really addressed the original poster's question.
I realize that mathematically, if you have 3 apples on a table and eat 1, there will be 2 left. Lots of people swearing there are still 3 apples on the table, regardless what science and mathematics are saying. It's really that simple. I'm with ya Naschbac.
But we should be comparing a specific lossy algorithm (iTunes Plus) to lossless compression. There is a technical difference in the sound, but double-blind tests need to be performed to determine if that difference is detectable by human ears.
A similar experiment has already been conducted to compare CD with SACD; the results are interesting. I would like to see the same done with not only lossy compression, but all other links in the audio chain. Results will show that in some equipment there is absolutely no detectable (or technical) difference in what we hear from one inexpensive piece to the next very expensive piece.
Digital cables for example should all produce identical signals from one end to the other. Contrarily, speaker cables produce different signals, but given the same material and thickness the difference I predict would not be detectable by listening. Other results will show that there is a slightly detectable difference (amplifiers maybe? speakers before/after burn-in?), and still others will show that everyone notices the difference (speakers? Bose vs BrandX?).
See now I am off topic :).
I think it would be great to debunk some of the audio myths out there, but I would also like to know if there is any noticable difference between iTunes Plus and lossless compression.
I realize that mathematically, if you have 3 apples on a table and eat 1, there will be 2 left. Lots of people swearing there are still 3 apples on the table, regardless what science and mathematics are saying. It's really that simple. I'm with ya Naschbac.
But we should be comparing a specific lossy algorithm (iTunes Plus) to lossless compression. There is a technical difference in the sound, but double-blind tests need to be performed to determine if that difference is detectable by human ears.
A similar experiment has already been conducted to compare CD with SACD; the results are interesting. I would like to see the same done with not only lossy compression, but all other links in the audio chain. Results will show that in some equipment there is absolutely no detectable (or technical) difference in what we hear from one inexpensive piece to the next very expensive piece.
Digital cables for example should all produce identical signals from one end to the other. Contrarily, speaker cables produce different signals, but given the same material and thickness the difference I predict would not be detectable by listening. Other results will show that there is a slightly detectable difference (amplifiers maybe? speakers before/after burn-in?), and still others will show that everyone notices the difference (speakers? Bose vs BrandX?).
See now I am off topic :).
I think it would be great to debunk some of the audio myths out there, but I would also like to know if there is any noticable difference between iTunes Plus and lossless compression.