Can you tell the difference between Lossless and compressed?

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by prerich

Oh, ok...I get it, the optical output of a lossless track compared to the high data rate track over optical as well

No. That's not the comparison. HDMI supports lossless audio. Optical does not. When you play a lossless track and send the output over optical, the player will send the high bitrate lossy codec instead. So, the comparison is between the lossless output over HDMI and the lossy output of the same soundtrack over optical.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by WiWavelength

The lossless and lossy tracks *may* have different levels, mixes, etc. Nothing is guaranteed. If they do, then that is a difference in quantity, maybe quality, too. But it has nothing to do with the lossless or lossy nature of the tracks. Any quantity/quality difference could just as easily favor the lossy track. And that is a part of what makes casual testing by amateurs spurious. They simply lack the resources and expertise to eliminate unwanted variables.

AJ

I edited my post before I saw yours and qualified the differences as perceived or real. I listen to quite a few 7.1 tracks and that can be unfair as there is a mix difference already. I agree with you and BIslander on this point..we lack the necessary equipment to make a scientific ABX comparison, we are at the mercy of the engineers, and that many of the existing variables that exist may be their to create a "house sound" for that company's mixes for retail consumption. Due to our neophyte ability to properly exclude all variables, our experience becomes our standing paradigm (as it always will be with audio). I thank you for you enlightenment as it is obvious that you have worked in the industry before. I will give this discussion over to you due to your greater experience and access to the various test equipment available.

In other words..seems like you have inside info that was previously on a need to know basis (mix differences, variables ect). It's yours man

[prerich]

Originally Posted by BIslander

No. That's not the comparison. HDMI supports lossless audio. Optical does not. When you play a lossless track and send the output over optical, the player will send the high bitrate lossy codec instead. So, the comparison is between the lossless output over HDMI and the lossy output of the same soundtrack over optical.

Yes, that's what I meant, Guess I didn't make myself clear (I know that optical will revert to the core track). So you're saying lossless over hdmi sounds like the core lossy track over optical? I will agree that there are to many variables native to the mix that must be excluded to make an honest comparison.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by prerich

So you're saying lossless over hdmi sounds like the core lossy track over optical?

Yes, in my experience, it's hard to tell which is which.