Expert: Cleggsan - 12/5/2011

Question
Dear Sir,

I would like to ask whether there is really a quality mismatch between a classical piano CD and mp3?

Suppose I buy a CD by pianist Lang Lang and convert the files into 320kbs MP3, does it sound the same on the same audio system? Or is the CD still better than mp3?

The reason I ask is some say although on theory, the audio quality of MP3 is reduced, but our ear cannot hear it. And that 320kbs MP3 is just the same as CD.


Is it true?

Pls note that here I want to compare classical music only. Perhaps pop/rock music would sound perfect on MP3, but how about classical piano music?


Thank you.

Answer
MP3 audio format is a lossy compression scheme.  It uses the characteristics of the human ear to use a rule of compression that eliminates certain musical components that are below the threshold of hearing by the average human ear.  CD, on the other hand, is a lossless system.  It converts the original analog signal to a digital format without any compression or elimination of sound energy.

Can you hear the difference when compared side by side on equal basis?  It depends on the listener and the equipment level but most people CAN hear the difference.  For example, when listening to music through typical PC or Mac loudspeaker systems or via headphones from a pocket player the fidelity of the playback systems is such that the audible difference between a CD and MP3 music program is likely not to be particularly noticeable to most listeners.

However, when playing back recordings on true high fidelity systems the difference in sound quality is demonstrable and quickly discerned by even a novice listener.  That has been my experience.

Piano is one of the most difficult instruments to record and to catch the true natural sound.  MP3 recordings are not comparable to a good CD in overall quality in my opinion.  I always think of MP3 as "portable" or low-fidelity sound quality.

Hope this helps.