In another recent thread requesting a demo of the difference, I mentioned that there is a problem doing that because the demo will become a compressed MP3 file for the Internet. The process of creating a file with loss and compression would likely eliminate the subtle differences.

You need a good set of ears, good playback equipment, and a good listening environment to hear the difference. Then you mix your project knowing it will sometimes be played back on a system where the difference does matter (though unfortunately and increasingly on those where it doesn't).

I'm one of those geeks who had an audiophile card from stereo review magazine in the early 1970s. I'm also a pro player and arranger/composer. I can hear the difference easily on some instruments like acoustic piano, acoustic guitar and drums (notably cymbals) even though my high range hearing is limited to about 12k Hz like many of the rest of the social security crowd around here. I work with the best possible sound because it makes a difference to me what the quality of my product is. This is true even though what I use BIAB for primarily is composer's demos for other musicians with whom I work, but I do add the occasional BIAB instrument to a commercial recording.

BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.