Free · browser-based · nothing uploaded
Online ABX & blind audio comparison, level-matched
Comparing audio by ear is skewed by two things you can't switch off on your own: you can see which option is playing, and the louder one reflexively sounds better. PickFav removes both, right in your browser.
PickFav is a free tool for blind, level-matched audio comparison. Load two or more versions — microphones, mixes, takes, preamps, plugins — and rank them without seeing labels or being biased by volume. It all runs locally; no audio is uploaded.
What is an ABX test?
An ABX test is a blind listening test that proves whether the difference between two sounds is actually audible. You're played a known A and a known B, then a random X that is one of them — and you say whether X matched A or B. Repeat it over many trials and the hit rate tells you, statistically, whether you can really hear the difference. It's the standard tool for settling "is this difference audible, or am I fooling myself?" questions — for codecs, converters, cables, and gear.
Blind preference vs. ABX discrimination — what PickFav does
ABX answers can you tell them apart? PickFav answers a closely related question: which one do you actually prefer, with the biases removed? It runs a blind, level-matched preference comparison — you rank the variants over several passes without knowing which is which, and only then reveal the labels. Same enemy (sighted and loudness bias), aimed at the choice you usually care about in practice: which mic, mix, or take wins.
A strict ABX identification mode (hear A, B, then guess a hidden X) is on the roadmap. Today PickFav is about honest, blind preference — see how it stacks up as a browser-based foobar2000 ABX alternative.
Why level-matching is non-negotiable
Even a fraction of a decibel of extra loudness makes a version sound "fuller" or "better," which is why uncontrolled A/Bs are nearly worthless. PickFav level-matches every variant by RMS to the loudness of the quietest one — so every gain is attenuation only and the output can never clip — and hides each variant behind a label (A / B / C…) that reshuffles every pass. What's left is your real preference, not the louder or the expected option. (More on this in the level-matching guide.)
How to run a blind comparison
- Load your audio. Drag in two or more files (WAV, MP3, AIFF), or load the built-in four-microphone demo.
- Choose your settings. Keep level-matching on, pick instant-switch or sequential auditioning, and set how many blind passes to run.
- Rank blind. Labels stay hidden and reshuffle each pass — listen, compare in place, and pick the best of what's left.
- Reveal. Identities unmask and your passes aggregate into Borda points, average rank, and a pass-consistency score — so the winner is the one you genuinely preferred.
FAQ
Is PickFav free?
Yes. PickFav is free to use, with no account required. It runs entirely in your browser.
Does my audio get uploaded?
No. Decoding, level-matching, and playback all happen locally via the Web Audio API. Your files never leave your machine.
Is this a true ABX test?
Not exactly. PickFav runs a blind, level-matched preference comparison — you rank variants without seeing labels or being biased by volume. A strict ABX discrimination test (hear A, B, then identify a hidden X) is a related, planned mode.
What audio formats can I compare?
WAV, MP3, and AIFF, including a built-in PCM fallback that decodes WAV and AIFF even where the browser won't.
Can I use it for a microphone shootout?
Yes — mic shootouts are the original use case. See the microphone comparison guide. It also works for mix revisions, preamps, plugins, rooms, and vocal takes.
Can you hear the difference between a 320 kbps MP3 and a WAV file?
Often you can't tell — but the only fair way to find out is a blind, level-matched test, because expectation and even tiny loudness differences will fool you. Load the MP3 and the WAV into PickFav and pick your preference blind. This is a preference comparison; to prove audibility statistically — a hit rate over many trials — use a strict ABX test such as the foobar2000 ABX Comparator.
How do I A/B two preamps or plugins fairly when one is louder?
Loudness-match them first, then compare blind — otherwise the louder one wins on volume alone. PickFav does both automatically: it level-matches every variant by RMS (attenuation only, so nothing clips) and hides which is which behind labels that reshuffle each pass, so you judge the sound, not the level or the name.