[Mr.T]

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
.com...
Just download EAC or CDEX (freeware), and convert the CDs to digital
files. Both products include digital file comparison utilities that
will tell you whether or not they are identically the same.

Well, maybe.

While the two discs should be *virtually* identical, it's likely they
won't be *absolutely* identical--in other words, a byte-by-byte
comparison of the two files will probably fail.

Almost certainly. A few extra bytes of silence here and there will throw off
a simple file comparison, and an inaudible change of volume level will
thwart any simple attempt, even if you can ignore all gaps.


I'm no expert on CD audio, but I know enough about the process to know
that since CD-DA has a higher error tolerance than data CDs (CD-ROM,
etc.)--a lower level of error detection and correction--it's possible
for errors to make it through the drive into the bitstream. Small
errors, but errors nonetheless.

Still, Arny's right; the two files should be, let's say, something like
99.9% identical. Thus demolishing many myths about audible differences
between CDs due to pressing locations, etc.


Nope, CD's are remastered so often for different pressings that there is NO
guarantee they will even be close, ESPECIALLY when the original was an
analog recording.

For the latest NEW release CD's, there will be NO difference in sound
quality however, (regardless of whether you can actually make byte for byte
identical extractions), since they are all sourced from the same digital
file without further editing until the CD is re-released sometime later.
Then all bets are off.

MrT.