How does Speex compare to other proprietary codecs?
It’s hard to give precise figures since no formal listening tests have been performed yet. All I can say is that in terms of quality, Speex competes on the same ground as other proprietary codecs (not necessarily the best, but not the worst either). Speex also has many features that are not present in most other codecs. These include variable bit-rate (VBR), integration of narrowband and wideband, as well as stereo support. Of course, another area where Speex is really hard to beat is the quality/price ratio. Unlike many very expensive codecs, Speex is free and anyone may distribute or modify it at will.
