Whats your favorite way to listen to music?
Maybe you prefer a quiet room with some headphones or listening on vinyl.
One thing is for sure, you dont want to hear some compressed MP3 on your phone, right?
Photo: hurricanehank (Shutterstock)
However, its a myth thatlossless audio objectively sounds betterthan MP3, andmost users cant hear a differenceat all.
In 2014, Gizmodo asked readersif they could differentiate lossless audio from MP3 files.
Over 380 readers commented on the story, many sharing their scores on a simple test.
The average commenter scored 56%, which means it was basically random whether users could hear the difference.
Though it was a small sample size, it confirms whatothers have found.
The main difference between the lossless audio and MP3 is file size.
The problem is these files are large and hard to share on the internet.
MP3s were created to address thatback in 1987, compressing larger files into their most important parts.
Audio engineers work very hard to ensure your MP3 sounds just as good as the original WAV.
You work with audio formats that are a far higher quality than anyone really could tell.
Even if you are listening to lossless audio, your music is still getting compressed if youre using Bluetooth.
Recent trends suggest that68% of consumers use Bluetooth headphones, such asApples AirPodswhich have skyrocketed in popularity.
Perhaps Spotify decided it wasnt worth the trouble.
Origins of The Myth
The belief that MP3 files are inferior stems from the idea of compression.
The term lossless audio also casts a shadow on MP3s, which sound like theyve lost something.
Apple started offeringLossless Audio at WWDC 2021.
However, its unclear if Apples marketing, which tends to bend reality, was effective at all.
Its a beautiful sentiment, but Apple and Amazons Lossless Audio is actually compressed as well.
When theyre played back, an algorithm returns the file to its original size to play at full quality.
But mind you, all of these quality changes are imperceivable to average listeners.
At that point, are you even listening to the music?
A music lover listens to music with his sound system.
An audiophile listens to his sound system with music.
Why Its Pervasive
The lossless audio superiority comes from an honest place.
Its part of the ritual of music, such as listening to vinyl records or having special headphones.
It might be a little difficult, but its a labor of love.
However, part of this is simply marketing.
Churnside says you could do a few simple things to meaningfully improve your audio experience.
If youre hunting for the best sound experience, your MP3 music is probably just fine.
Less is more here, and your listening equipment and environment have the biggest impact on your audio experience.
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