Sony MDR-1AM2 with Mac mini - can't hear a difference mp3/Flac

[macster]

Hello. I have a Sony MDR-1AM2 headphones that have frequency response from 3 to 100000 Hz, I'm using it on Mac mini 2020. 

 

After some tests, I found that I can't hear a difference between 128/320MP3 and Flac files. I also can't hear a difference between Apple Music, Tidal Master, Spotify, Deezer lossless quality.

 

I've tried to switch this setting, but it doesn't help (see the attachment). I had a music school background, so I believe that my ears should be able to hear small details of the music. There are some websites on the web that allows you to listen to 3 tracks (128/320 MP3, as well as "original" file) to choose the best blindly, and some people online saying they can guess 100% what is what. In my case, it's about 3/9.

 

It leads me to think that there is could be some problem with the quality of sound that mac mini produces. What you can suggest to me to improve that? I can buy an external sound card, but I have no idea which one, plus, I don't want to spend much money on that… Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Rexp]

On 2/3/2021 at 10:28 PM, macster said:

Hello. I have a Sony MDR-1AM2 headphones that have frequency response from 3 to 100000 Hz, I'm using it on Mac mini 2020. 

 

After some tests, I found that I can't hear a difference between 128/320MP3 and Flac files. I also can't hear a difference between Apple Music, Tidal Master, Spotify, Deezer lossless quality.

 

I've tried to switch this setting, but it doesn't help (see the attachment). I had a music school background, so I believe that my ears should be able to hear small details of the music. There are some websites on the web that allows you to listen to 3 tracks (128/320 MP3, as well as "original" file) to choose the best blindly, and some people online saying they can guess 100% what is what. In my case, it's about 3/9.

 

It leads me to think that there is could be some problem with the quality of sound that mac mini produces. What you can suggest to me to improve that? I can buy an external sound card, but I have no idea which one, plus, I don't want to spend much money on that… Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Try using Tidal on your smart phone, difference between mp3 and lossless should be clear on well recorded albums like this one:

https://tidal.com/album/82450700