This paper aims to examine perceived clarity in MQA encoded audio files compared to their unprocessed state (96-kHz 24-bit). Utilizing a methodology initially proposed by the authors in a previous paper, this study aims to investigate any reported differences in clarity for three musical sources of varying genres. A double-blind test is conducted using three groups—expert listeners, musicians, and casual listeners—in a controlled environment using high-quality loudspeakers and headphones. The researchers were interested in comparing the responses of the three target groups and whether playback systems had any significant effect on listeners’ perception. Data shows that listeners were not able to significantly discriminate between MQA encoded files and the unprocessed original due to several interaction effects.

Authors: Generale, Mariane; King, Richard; Martin, Denis
Affiliations: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology, Montreal, Quebec, Canada(See document for exact affiliation information.)
AES Convention: 144 (May 2018) Paper Number: 10000
Publication Date: May 14, 2018 Import into BibTeX
Subject: Posters: Audio Coding and Quality
Permalink: https://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=19396

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