Debunking the higher the bit rate the better the sound quality myth

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by shawnmmcc
Kuci - you've got to file and sort all the damn files you rip.

No I don't. WMP puts them in folders by album and by author.

That still takes time, plus all the manipulating, etc. It may only take two minutes per CD - but if you have 500 CD's, you're at 1000 minutes. Tha is over 16 hours. I am including taking the CD from the its case or binder, putting in the computer, going through your menus, removing and restoring aforementioned CD, and then naming the folder or subfolder you have put the music in.

Nope, because I only do it while doing other things at the computer, or reading. I have a big stack of CD cases on the desk, and every so often put a new disc in.

[MikeH]

I've got a tv card in my pc. I do the ripping whilst watching TV.

[Nostromo]

Originally posted by MikeH
I have tried it, my former drummer has a recording studio and he did me a blind demo on his system as part of an argument about mp3s on our website. Blind comparison of:

CD
High bitrate MP3
Low bitrate MP3

Even I could tell the difference.

I didn't do my tests with MP3s, but with AACs. They're supposed to sound a lot better than MP3s.

[MikeH]

It gives you better compression not necessarily better sound quality.

ps. all mine are at 128K 'cause my computer isn't good enough to tell the difference and I can just put the CD in my stereo!

[Ecthy]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Per M.I.T , 224 is cd quality MP3, however a superior sound card is needed, 192 is just as good. 160 acceptable. 128 is crap.
So anything over 192 is overkill. All my mp3's are 192, for this reason.

128 is fully sufficient. It's also a matter of your stereo, and the Line-Out of your sound card, and the cable bla bla.

Good ol'128

Most mp3s you 'acquire' nowadays are 192 though.

[Nostromo]

Originally posted by MikeH
It gives you better compression not necessarily better sound quality.

ps. all mine are at 128K 'cause my computer isn't good enough to tell the difference and I can just put the CD in my stereo!

All mine are at 224 Kbps, just in case it sounded better. I don't listen to Cd's anymore. When I buy a CD, I immediately rip it. My stereo sucks big time (the CD's skip) and I dont want to disturb the neighbors. And MP3 are way more convenient than CD's.

[Atahualpa]

See, actually this is one reason why it's total crap to encode in that high quality... unless you spend a fortune in high quality audio reproduction hardware you're notice jack difference. Of course if you don't matter the disk space...

Since I am sure I'll never be doing this in my life, I had chosen to go with 160kbit mp3

[reds4ever]

Any over 128 and I stuggle to tell the difference, anything over 196 and I just can't (the test was to much bother though!)