My friend and I sat and blind tested (two files randomly sorted in a playlist with a search bar) and I was allowed to play certain sections over again and I got the MP3s every time within a maximum of two comparisons. I’m not some “golden ear” type, although I am sensitive to high frequencies and wear ear plugs a fair amount to deal with noisy places. It’s just a case of knowing what to listen for.
Could I spot MP3 in a completely random ABX? Probably not, but with testing conditions where I can control the playback of segments of tracks I choose? Absolutely, and you could too.
