[Bush2000]

Seen that. AAC rules over WMA. AAC tends to fare better under subjective listening tests of various music types. Also, the graph of AAC output compared to the original looks better than WMA's, being a closer the original, plus WMA has a sharp cutoff at 14KHz.

I honestly can't say which format is better, since I haven't spent any time evaluating them; however, 14K is a reasonable place to start thinking about cutting off, since higher frequency sound is probably going to be distinguishable only to dogs...

[antiRepublicrat]

I honestly can't say which format is better, since I haven't spent any time evaluating them; however, 14K is a reasonable place to start thinking about cutting off, since higher frequency sound is probably going to be distinguishable only to dogs...

I'm sure that's why Microsoft chose 14K as the cutoff -- that's sound not too many will miss, although the audiophiles who do hear it won't be very happy. It's the same compression reason Fraunhofer chose their cutoff, but we all trash MP3 for it. AAC cuts off at about 20K.

Still, you should try them together. In addition to more accurate audio reproduction, the AAC just sounds clearer.

[Swordmaker]

I honestly can't say which format is better, since I haven't spent any time evaluating them; however, 14K is a reasonable place to start thinking about cutting off, since higher frequency sound is probably going to be distinguishable only to dogs...

Good response, Bush. However, when I was much younger, hearing tests showed I could easily hear up 18kH and there are music overtones in that range that add quality to music. However, now, with my 55 year old ears... even 14kH might be pushing it...

[CFC__VRWC]

I honestly can't say which format is better, since I haven't spent any time evaluating them; however, 14K is a reasonable place to start thinking about cutting off, since higher frequency sound is probably going to be distinguishable only to dogs...

Then why do manufacturers routinely make speakers that respond up to 20,000 Hz? And I'm not talking about high-end audiophile stuff, either. I'm talking about average-quality speakers designed for the mass market. Why build in that capacity if no one will notice it?