Better SQ through amplification?

[phergus_25]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ypoknons I would sort-of agree - with the UM-1's and no amp the 192's a fine experience indeed but if you ever upgrade, and this is head-fi, it could get a little icky. I'd recommend LAME VBR -V2 or maybe -V4 because re-ripping if a huge pain, especially if you're stuck somewhere without you're CD's.

Thanks, I tink that I'm gonna look into that.

 

[Febs]

With respect to bitrate, be highly skeptical of anyone who says "you need to use a minimum of bitrate X." I am certain that there are people who can hearing encoding artifacts even at relatively high bitrates (although the number who can do so is undoubtedly much lower than the number who claim to be able to do so). Even so, none of those people can tell you what you can or cannot hear.

Recent versions of the LAME encoder can reach perceptual transparency at significantly lower bitrates then most people would have you believe, particularly if you are using the -V presets. The -V presets are highly tuned VBR settings that can achieve perceptual transparency for most people at settings that are the equivalent filesize as a CBR file of roughly 132kbps.

For a relatively low storage device like a Nano, there are most likely options that will be better for you than 320kbps MP3 or even 192kbps CBR MP3. (By "better," I mean more space efficient without sacrificing any perceptible quality.) I suggest that you try using Foobar's ABX comparator. If you're going to use MP3, get LAME 3.97b2, and rip a couple of samples to both .wav and to -V5 --vbr-new. ABX the two to determine if you can tell any difference. If you can, then move on to -V4 --vbr-new and test again. Continue lowering the -V number until you can't tell a difference, or until you decide that whatever difference is perceptible to you is not worth the difference in size.

Good luck!

 

[Chri5peed]

Xin wil freely repair anything hes made, regardless whose fault it was or even if you're not the original owner.

 

[phergus_25]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs With respect to bitrate, be highly skeptical of anyone who says "you need to use a minimum of bitrate X." I am certain that there are people who can hearing encoding artifacts even at relatively high bitrates (although the number who can do so is undoubtedly much lower than the number who claim to be able to do so). Even so, none of those people can tell you what you can or cannot hear. Recent versions of the LAME encoder can reach perceptual transparency at significantly lower bitrates then most people would have you believe, particularly if you are using the -V presets. The -V presets are highly tuned VBR settings that can achieve perceptual transparency for most people at settings that are the equivalent filesize as a CBR file of roughly 132kbps. For a relatively low storage device like a Nano, there are most likely options that will be better for you than 320kbps MP3 or even 192kbps CBR MP3. (By "better," I mean more space efficient without sacrificing any perceptible quality.) I suggest that you try using Foobar's ABX comparator. If you're going to use MP3, get LAME 3.97b2, and rip a couple of samples to both .wav and to -V5 --vbr-new. ABX the two to determine if you can tell any difference. If you can, then move on to -V4 --vbr-new and test again. Continue lowering the -V number until you can't tell a difference, or until you decide that whatever difference is perceptible to you is not worth the difference in size. Good luck!

Thanks, I think that deciding by ear is best

 

[mnhnhyouh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by phergus_25 Thanks, I think that deciding by ear is best

I think that *is* what Febs is saying. To ABX some files is to compare them by ear, but the crucial difference is that you do not know which you are listening to.

There is a mountain range of evidence out there suggesting that your knowledge of what you are listening to will allow you to tell the difference.

On a Foobar ABX test you will listen a few times to the .wav file (call this one A), then to the (say) 192k file (call this one B). Then you will be randomly presented with one but you wont know which it is. You have to decide, by ear, which it is.

This will happen a few times. You will then be presented with a stastical chance of your being able to tell them apart.

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