For your music collection, better an mp3 audio file or a lossless file? Let’s see the differences together and what format to choose
In the transition from analog music (vinyl records, cassettes, and other similar media) to digital music (audio CDs, mp3 audio files, etc.) experienced a few decades ago, compression algorithms have played a critical role. To avoid taking up too much space on the data storage media (when the transition hit the core, each byte of available space was worth so much gold) it was necessary to develop algorithms that would help compress the file size without overly affecting the audio quality. .
It was during these years that names such as mp3 audio files, WMA files, WaV files, and OGG files began to circulate with some frequency in musical environments (and not) around the world.
Lossless vs. at a loss
Over the years, the panorama of audio formats expanded dramatically and there was the curious formation of two opposite blocks. On the one hand, in fact, the so-called lossless files (literally lossless) were to be ‘concentrated’, while on the other side of the musical ‘Iron Curtain’ were the lossy files (literally lossy). As the names suggest, the difference between one format and another is due to the possible loss of musical information.
Phonometric comparison between lossless files and mp3 audio files
Lossless files guarantee (and guarantee) the same sound depth and quality as an audio CD, while lossy files (such as mp3 audio files) reduce the size of a music track in the order 10 times at a partial cost sound quality. For example, if a lossless file takes up 40 megabytes, an mp3 audio file of the same song will be just over 4 megabytes.
Bitrate issue
What makes the difference between the two audio file formats is the bit rate used in the analog to digital conversion process. When we talk about bit rate (sometimes also written bit rate) we mean the number of bits that can process in the unit of time. In music, the bit rate measures the amount of data contained in each second of the audio track: the higher the value of the bit rate, the better the quality of the music.
In an mp3 audio file, this value can range from 32 kbps (kilobits per second) to 320 kbps. However, in a lossless file, there is no compression, and with a bit rate of around 1,411 kbps, the audio quality is comparable to that of an audio CD. According to the numbers, therefore, lossless files are better than mp3 audio files, ensuring deeper, true-to-original sound. However, as experience teaches us, numbers are not always everything.
Slimming differences
The reality of events appears to be quite different. The human ear, in fact, would not be so sensitive as to notice differences between an excellent quality mp3 audio file (with 320kbps bit rates) of a lossless file.
To understand this, just run one or more ABX tests. Such a test consists of cross-comparing two known files (called A and B) and two unknown files (X and Y, which are the same as A and B but with a different bit rate). At the end of the test, two pairs of files must be formed, matching the originals with the relative modified files. If you are using an mp3 audio file with a high bit rate (320 kbps or slightly lower), even the ear with the most musical training will not be able to distinguish the differences.
Despite this, a music file made up of lossless files still guarantees a substantial advantage over a file made up of mp3 audio files. The first, in fact, can be converted to other audio formats without this leading to a loss of quality; Conversions of a lossy file, on the other hand, will cause further loss of music information and deterioration of audio quality.
