[RushNerd]

Look the whole point of headphones (im guiding my "headphone" reference toward neutral, studio based cans) is hearing EVERYTHING in it's unadulterated nakedness.
This is why, with top-notch, extremely revealing phones listening to an inferior source is just painful; you can hear everything.

Some HP's are forgiving to a lossy source, but the fact is the detail, closeness, soundstage, and scope that the stereo headphone experience brings, every bit of source goodness counts.





Then again I still consiter 44.1Khz/16-Bit a highly flawed medium for preserving an artists work :S

 

[RunOfTheDill]

It is just not reality to have my music library and have flac. I'm sitting with about about 1k albums, 15k songs, 100 gigs, and averaging about 256k. If I was to go flac that would be like a tb of music which is just way to much. Would i love to go flac with everything, yes, but then i would also have to deal with the conversion into itunes.

 

[paaj]

I can enjoy it... if necessary.

when is it necessary?

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

So, outside of ripping your own music where can you get lossless audio files free of DRM? I know that iTunes has some things, but AFAIK there isn't anyplace that offers lossless DRM free music to purchase.

 

[koshman]

@ RunOfTheDill: FLAC encoded music takes up between 3 to 4 times the space compared to 256k lossy. ~350GB instead of 100GB is not SO bad...

As for iTunes conversion Rockbox is your friend if you have an older iPod.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DisgruntledVirus /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, outside of ripping your own music where can you get lossless audio files free of DRM? I know that iTunes has some things, but AFAIK there isn't anyplace that offers lossless DRM free music to purchase.

iTunes went to 256kbps and dropped DRM a couple of months ago.

It's hard to believe this subject could possibly generate this much commentary. 128kbps or less? Pretty evident on the right track. 256kbps? You might be able to hear it if you knew exactly what to listen for and zeroed in on those passages/artifacts, but it is highly unlikely that anyone can pick it out while actually listening to the music. 356kbps? Anyone who thinks they hear this is fooling themselves. In the service of good manners, I'll add MHO, but it's really not. It has been demonstrated repeatedly, in the listening test that must not be mentioned on Head-Fi.

Phelonious

GrumpyOldArts.com

 

[iriverdude]

I'm ripping to OGG Q6 for my iriver- I was going to use Q9 (300-400kps) but wanted to put more music on. But I can definietly tell between any mp3 bitrate and lossless on the speaker system. I just don't like what Mp3 does to the sound.

 

[Detritusdave]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DisgruntledVirus /img/forum/go_quote.gif So, outside of ripping your own music where can you get lossless audio files free of DRM? I know that iTunes has some things, but AFAIK there isn't anyplace that offers lossless DRM free music to purchase.

Boomkat - Your independent music specialist

There's nearly always a flac equivalent there to the mp3 album on sale.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Detritusdave /img/forum/go_quote.gif Boomkat - Your independent music specialist There's nearly always a flac equivalent there to the mp3 album on sale.

Unfortunately they don't have a lot of the music I'm listening to

Within Temptation
Lacuna Coil
Red
Poets of the Fall
etc.

I will keep them in mind though to look for music. Thanks!

Phelonious- I didn't realize iTunes went to 256kbs and did away with DRM. Thanks for that info

 

[chinesekiwi]

Yes, but not as much as the lossless.

 

[mrbrad]

I prefer the original CD, but still enjoy compressed on my iPod. Compression is at least 192, all new stuff is 256.

 

[squall343]

yes but i would definitely prefer lossless format if possible

 

[ecclesand]

I get most of my new music from EMusic where the downloads are typically 256 or higher. I listen to metal and they have an excellent selection. I tried to tell the difference between mp3 and cd and couldn't on just about all of the CDs I tested. I definitely don't have golden ears, but I still enjoy the music.

 

[s4nder]

I can listen to lossy formats just fine but I keep wondering if and how the tracks would be better lossless. Luckily I have almost no lossy music.

 

[Ra97oR]

For me its the music that matter the most, good quality sound =/= enjoyment.