Actually it's from a 2007 AES conference, not the JAES, so I'm not sure
it's peer
reviewed...but anyway:
"Which of the Two Digital Audio Systems Best Matches the Quality of the
Analog System?"
http://www.hitech-projects.com/hera/people/aarts/papers/aar07pu4.pdf
It appears that the formats compared to a live feed (analog) were DXD
(353.8 kHz/24) and
44.1/24, both in surround, using a blind comparison protocol. Two
additional listening
conditions were tested : one where the A/D signal bandwith was 100 kHz
(thanks to special
microphone 'super-tweeters') and the other where bandwidth was limited to
20kHz. The authors
say their results show that listeners 'more often than not' identify the
hi-rez audio (and
not
the 44.1 kHz audio) as being similar in quality to the analog feed...but
only when the
bandwidth is limited! In other words, only the initial sampling need be
done in hi-rez, the
listening can (and SHOULD) be done in 'standard rez', to achieve the
analog-like effect.
Their test setup and signals must be seen/read to be believed (the pdf
includes photos).
They're not your typical listener setup, to say the least (compare to,
say, Meyer and Moran's
setup for their SACD vs CD test). Also, I'm having trouble making heads
or tails of their
statistics.
Also being discussed on HA.org
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=55966
___
-S
"As human beings, we understand the world through simile, analogy,
metaphor, narrative and, sometimes, claymation." - B. Mason
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