mp3 decoder tests

  Conclusion  

Decoders tested

If you are interested, please refer to the complete list.

Results

The following decoders pass all essential tests:

• ACM 1999
• CDex
• Lame
• Media Jukebox
• Real Jukebox only when writing CDs
• Siren Jukebox
• Ultra Player
• Winamp v2.22
• Winamp 2.7
• The Winamp mpg123 plug-in

• All Winamp versions between 2.23 and 2.65 would fail our tests - see the Winamp v2.62 test as an example.
• If you use ID3v2 tags on your mp3s, you may have problems with CDex and Lame.

Conclusion

To play or decode mp3s correctly, choose one of the following:

You could use Winamp 2.22 or the Winamp mpg123 plug-in, but since Winamp 2.7 works correctly, this is a more convenient (and full featured) choice.

Every other piece of software we tested failed at least one of the essential tests.

Burning mp3s to audio CD

With modern fast PCs, it is possible to decode an mp3 file and burn it onto audio CD at the same time. Several CD writing packages offer this feature, called "on-the-fly" decoding. The alternative is to decode to .wav first, then burn these .wavs onto audio CD. The end result is the same, but this process takes longer, and requires enough free hard disk space to store the .wavs. However, it may be more reliable than "on-the-fly" decoding on slow PCs, and allows you to edit and normalize the .wavs before burning them to CD.

No packages offering "on-the-fly" decoding were perfect. Here is a list some CD-writing packages, together with their problems.

• Easy CD Creator Deluxe 4 clips the end off many files, and costs around $99.
• HyCD makes slight errors above 16kHz, and has poor low level accuracy.
• Media Jukebox actually decodes to wav internally BEFORE writing to CD. It works well, but is no faster than decoding externally using other software. Not true "on-the-fly", but easy for the novice. No decoding faults.
• MusicMatch Jukebox was not tested writing CDs, but its decoder makes an audible error with a particular lame encoded tone sweep.
• Nero has slight high frequency errors, and costs $49.
• Real Jukebox records the CDs in track at once mode, giving a 2 second gap between tracks. No decoding faults.
• Windows Media Player 7B would not work with my CD writer, so could not be tested. The decoding engine is excellent, so it may write CDs perfectly.
• WinOnCD can't handle VBR files, exhibits the 100Hz bug, and gives high frequency errors. More recent versions may have fixed these problems. It costs $59.

Real Jukebox and Media Jukebox are both good choices if you don't want to spend any money, and are quite easy to use. If you already own Easy CD Creator Deluxe 4, and don't mind the last 1/20th second being clipped off your files, then that is a good choice too. For CDs that really matter, I still decode to .wav first.

FAQs

Frequency Asked questions are answered in the general FAQ and at the end of each individual test.

[ Introduction ] . [ Tests ] . [ Overall Results ] . [ Conclusion ] . [ FAQ ] . [ Links ]

Essential Tests: [ Full Decode ] . [ VBR compatibility ] . [ 8191+ / 100Hz bug ] . [ Objective sound quality ] . [ 16-bit accuracy ]

Optional Features: [ 24-bit accuracy ] . [ ID3v2 compatibility ] . [ Corrupt file recovery ] . [ Free Format compatibility ]

[ contents list ] . [ test methodology ] . [ encoders ] . [ decoders ]

Copyright 2000 David J M Robinson. All Rights reserved. You may not re-publish any information or content from this site without the authors' express permission.