atrac transparent bitrate

[pomj]

While many of you are praising atrac3/atrac3+ quality at low bitrates my question is at what bitrate is the atrac file inseparable from a lossless file?

Googling this subject has given me the impression that lame has it's sweetspot at approx. 196kbps and nero aac has it at approx. 160 kbps.

cheers

[pata2001]

The only way to know is to do ABX listening test yourself. Some people will find 64kbp transparent, some will find 132kbps transparent. Most people find 128kbps AAC to be transparent. Do your own ABX instead of reading other people's highly subjective opinions.

[grenert]

For me, ATRAC3 132 is not transparent. ATRAC3+ 256 is transparent. I haven't tried anything in between because of limited device compatibility with those bitrates.

LAME MP3 at VBR2 (same as alt preset standard) is transparent to me.

I found Nero AAC at a VBR rate around 160-170 was transparent.

But like pata2001 said, you really have to test yourself, since it's your system, your ears. These numbers can give you a starting point.

[dura_]

For me, ATRAC3 132 is not transparent. ATRAC3+ 256 is transparent. I haven't tried anything in between because of limited device compatibility with those bitrates.

X2!

[pomj]

Do your own ABX instead of reading other people's highly subjective opinions.

Isn't that the purpose of a forum to discuss and exchange views and opinions?

I have an opinion in this matter and I was surprised that I had to go so high in bitrate with atrac until it was transparent to me. For me atrac somehow lacks sparkle/air (I don't know how to describe it) if you compare it to nero aac. Hoever this is very subtle and you (I) won't notice it when on the move.

So I wanted to see if others have a different view (maybe my hearing isn't the best in the world) and I'm grateful for the responses I've got

[navsimpson]

Yeah - in terms of lacking sparkle, I find that LAME tracks sound much more detailed in the high-end (whisper, cymbals, reverb etc.) than ATRAC. Back to back, ATRAC 352 and LAME VBR 0 sound pretty much the same to me, but LAME is basically half the size.