The BASE MiniMax Image VAE achieves lower pixel reconstruction error and DeltaE, indicating closer numerical agreement with the original input.

The HDR VAE demonstrates a different reconstruction profile:

• increased gradient energy

• increased high-frequency energy

• higher structural similarity

• stronger saturation changes

• enhancement-oriented reconstruction behavior

The HDR VAE behaves as an enhancement-oriented reconstruction operator rather than a pixel-preservation model, producing measurable changes to image characteristics during reconstruction.