Music,  Technology

HIFI Diary: Can’t Tell the Difference Between MP3, Lossless, and Hi-Res? Try the Golden Ears Test

03/14/2023 /

HIFI: From Beginner to Cremation Series

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Today, a new friend of the BLOG owner asked: when listening with headphones, they cannot tell the difference between different audio formats or different file sizes. Is this an issue with the headphones, or an issue with the listener?

Looking back, the BLOG owner realizes that many friends may have experienced similar self-doubt—wondering whether their ears are “wooden ears” (untrained) or if their equipment isn’t good enough. How can you quickly troubleshoot and test this? Here, the BLOG owner recommends the Listening Test webpage provided by KLIPPEL.

I. Introduction to the Test

The test provided by KLIPPEL is a double-blind test with a very straightforward methodology. The webpage continuously plays two audio clips, A and B, of the same recording at different distortion levels for you to audition. All you need to do is select which clip has the greater distortion. Through multiple rounds of testing, you will clearly discover the resolution limit of your entire current system (including your hardware equipment and your ears).

II. Operation Guide

Although the website provides a Chinese language option in the top right corner, the BLOG owner found that the option does not work in practice. Therefore, here is a simple step-by-step guide. First, click the “Start Listening Test” button on the home page to enter the formal test page.

This option primarily affects how the final report is generated. The first option, “6 inch driver”, refers to a 6-inch driver commonly found in speaker systems; the “full range speaker” option below refers to a full-range driver, commonly used for headphone systems.

For stimulus selection, various music tracks or test sweeps are available. Generally, selecting “Music J.Stone” or “Music T.Chapman” is sufficient. Choosing the first option is recommended, as human hearing is typically more sensitive to female vocals.

Next, click “Play selected stimulus” once to verify that the webpage loads the audio file properly. If you cannot hear the audio, you may need to switch to a different browser. After clicking, select your playback hardware from the drop-down menu below. From top to bottom, the options are: Loudspeakers, Headphones, Laptop Speakers, and Smartphone / Tablet Speakers.

The final option asks whether you have prior experience with the “Klippel” listening test. If this is your first time taking the test, select “No”; if you are already thoroughly familiar with the testing process, you can select “Yes”. Once selected, click “Start Test” at the very bottom to formally begin the test.

III. Testing Guide

Upon entering the test, you will see the page shown above. Click “Play Sample A” or “Play Sample B” to listen to both audio samples. Once finished listening, select the option below corresponding to the sample with greater distortion, and click “Send Answer” to submit. This process will repeat for multiple rounds until you can no longer distinguish the difference between A and B, or until all test material is exhausted. Upon completion, the webpage will automatically generate a report.

At the end, you will receive a chart similar to the one shown above, representing your audible distortion threshold range, along with an evaluation of your personal listening ability for reference. This test result is a composite outcome of three factors: your hardware equipment, your physiological hearing condition, and your personal listening experience. If you have doubts about your gear’s performance, you can switch equipment and re-test; through systematic comparison, you can arrive at the answers you seek. By the way, the image above shows the BLOG owner’s own test results using a $1.50 (9.9 RMB) Yuandao earphone plugged directly into a laptop while drafting this article, provided here for your reference.

P.S.: In addition to the test site provided by KLIPPEL, there are several other Golden Ears listening test sites, which the BLOG owner has compiled below. Further suggestions are welcome.

1. Listening test from the NPR website: Click here

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