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Is there a noticeable difference between 128 kbps and 256 kbps? - Page 2

post #16 of 27
2/22/09 at 12:34pm
yes there's a difference, whether i would upgrade or not is a different thing altogether.
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post #17 of 27
2/22/09 at 12:36pm
My music once was ripped @ 128AAC thanks to the default iTunes settings when I first got into the world of iPods. After visiting Hydrogenaudio and experimenting with various formats I have settled on Lame 256kbps VBR (using EAC). There is a noticeable difference b/w the two. I however did not find much, if any, audio improvement from 256 to 320.

Mind you I don't purchase and/or download any mp3 songs unless Amazon becomes available in Canada or Zune Marketplace begins to offer the Zune Pass to Canadian customers. If I like something I'll buy the CD and rip myself.
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post #18 of 27
2/22/09 at 1:46pm
I hear a difference, but it could just be my brain playing cruel tricks on me.
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post #19 of 27
2/22/09 at 6:02pm
With MP3s I definately hear the difference. 128 CBR is unacceptable. 128 VBR just tolerable. 256 VBR sounds very good.

But try it yourself. Take a couple of your favorite songs that you have in 128 and listen to them again in 256 versions. Can you tell the difference? And is it enough of a difference to justify the upgrade?
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post #20 of 27
2/22/09 at 6:10pm
Lossless or bust, everything else is a compromise in sound quality.
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post #21 of 27
2/22/09 at 6:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by roebeet View Post
Personally, I wouldn't upgrade to 256kps AAC at all, assuming they're still charging 30 cents per song, and only allowing an upgrade of an entire collection.
You can now upgrade per song. I been upgrading a few select songs my wife bought on itunes. Everything I've added was always ALAC using CDs.
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post #22 of 27
2/22/09 at 6:40pm
absolutely yes.
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post #23 of 27
2/22/09 at 8:47pm
^ What he said, especially with revealing cans/iems 256 is pretty much a no artifact zone (unless it's in the recording) and the highs are better than 128.
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post #24 of 27
2/22/09 at 8:54pm
I notice the difference very clearly, 128k is unlistenable for me. I use MP3 Variable V0 when I need to save space, which averages a bit over 256k for most recordings while still being small in size.

Although everything else is FLAC for general listening and ALAC for AppleTV and portable use.
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post #25 of 27
2/22/09 at 9:23pm
Thread Starter 
Well, now that I've listened to some 256 kb songs, I think I can hear a certain level of difference. 128 kb being "unlistenable" is definitely a huge stretch for me (it's perfectly good for casual listening, and most of the time when I'm listening to music, I'm "casually listening"), but I agree that quality is a lot more important in classical (symphonic, orchestral, etc) music than in certain others. Any music that contains a lot of subtlety, really.
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post #26 of 27
2/23/09 at 11:01am
128 kbps is just dull lifeless.
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post #27 of 27
2/23/09 at 11:06am
absolutely yes.... 128kbps CBR is just noise in my ear
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