Blind Test: mp3 vs. 24bit

(1) the build quality and matched resolution capabilities of your audio system  will be a key decisive factor in weeding out the winning contender from the pretender (.Its not just the dac ...its the whole shebang  including cables). I recently upgraded the ICs from the dac to the amp to a CARDAS CLEAR model and the improvements were graphic:. ( stop the sibilents and that digital "raw edge". an improved soundstage , more slam,  punch and dynamics. )

2) the quality of the recording and skill of the recording engineer in mastering the digital recording is a key factor across all versions.
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(3) no need for me  to go to a 3rd party blurb ... I have an assortment of  of the same digital recordings in various bit rates to give me the direct shoot-out test results. [  (i) mp3, (ii) 16/44, (iii) 24/96 and (iv) 24/192 ]. 

My take: Not even close...In any case the audio performance improvements are progressive:in lockstep with the bit rates.
- The better the bit rate recording played on a high-end system  the better the  audio resolution and performance.
- At the extremes it is graphic.  

I downloaded the files and they are all identical WAV files none of them are MP3s so there is no test to take.

"So far, the results are surprising"

I’m not surprised.

Although many people apparently find 128kps indistinguishable from CD, for me once I get past 192kbps it becomes extremely difficult to tell any difference.

Not to say it also defeats the purpose of
enjoying the music.

Listening to music should never be about straining to hear minute differences, should it?

It’s quite a large file (190mb), so I might have a go later on my PC.