|
MP3 Decoder Review - Real
Jukebox
Real
Jukebox by Real Networks -- Review
courtesy of David Robinson
| Decoder
Source: |
http://www.real.com/jukebox/index.html?src=downloadr
|
| Version: |
2; build 1.0.2.340 ©
1995-2000 RealNetworks Inc.
|
| Settings: |
none
|
| Similar
products: |
Real Jukebox plus
costs $29.99 and offers more features. Grades below are
for playback / CD recording performance. |
| Verdict: |
Good
/ excellent |
| VBR: |
All
/ All |
| Full
file: |
Sometimes
/ Always |
| Major
Flaws: |
none |
| Minor
Flaws: |
Playback:
high frequency errors, clips end off file, low level accuracy
CD-writing: no problems |
| Output
level: |
correct |
| 1-bit
relative accuracy: |
Good
/ Excellent |
| 1-bit
absolute accuracy: |
Poor
/ Excellent |
"The jukebox software provided by
the people at real.com
is available for free - if you download the Basic version, rather than
the plus version, which costs $29.99. Be warned: the basic version is
increasingly difficult to find on their web site, but it is there.
On playback, Real Jukebox sometimes clips
the ends off files, gives slight high frequency errors on many files,
and has poor low level accuracy (see the 16-bit
LSB test). These things may or may not be audible. It also
inverts the waveform - a few people claim to be able to perceive this.
When writing to CD, Real Jukebox decodes
mp3s faultlessly on-the-fly. My only concern is the use of
"Track-at-once" mode: this inserts a 2-second gap between the
audio tracks on the CD. There is also a consensus that it is better to
write audio discs in disc-at-once mode: all "real" CDs are
mastered in an equivalent manner to disc-at-once. However, I've yet to
find a CD player that rejected track-at-once discs, so this concern may
not be relevant.
In conclusion, for high quality playback
you must look elsewhere. However, for on-the-fly CD-writing from mp3
files, Real Jukebox does an excellent job."
--
Review courtesy of David Robinson
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