[csshih]

I try to get 320 kbps, but there are some 128s in my collection.

 

[Gothamm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILikeMusic /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, these threads are really amusing to those of use who lived through the days of analog audio where there actually was a significant difference between the various types of sources available. These days good DACs and modern encoding schemes provide such uniform consistency that people strain to imagine differences that most of the time aren't really there. I guess it just comes from a need to quantify things, no matter how small (or even nonexistent) any real differences are. I've never seen a single real (meaning properly-conducted and blind) test where even trained listeners using high-end equipment could easily resolve high-bitrate compressed tracks from the source, yet somehow you commonly read of people here claiming to be able to easily and casually discern the difference. Think about it.

Interesting. This has definitely gotten me thinking. I think 128 kbps sounds good, but still use VBR, even though i can not tell the difference. I guess i don't have the "golden ears" eh?


I donwloaded some FLAC files, and compared them to 128 kbps. Could barely tell the difference.

 

[Taikero]

I personally notice a stark difference between FLAC and 128 kbps. FLAC and 192 is still there, but drastically less annoying and mostly acceptable. FLAC vs. 256 kbps is mostly transparent, and I can usually only pick up differences in the most "active" music files.

FLAC and LAME V0 VBR are virtually transparent to me, although I must admit I haven't ABX'd any of these results yet. It's just what I've noticed when listening to music, as I usually only check bitrates when I notice something "off" with a track.

Eventually I'll have to do some ABXing to find my real transparent VBR setting. I'm guessing it's probably somewhere between V0 and V2, maybe V3 if I'm overestimating my abilities.

 

[Signal2Noise]

MP3 @ 256 kbps VBR on both iPod and Zune. I find this a good compromise between audio quality and battery life. I may go to 320 or even lossless once I get my SE530 tomorrow and give them a run-through.

 

[wuwhere]

128 to FLAC. But mostly 192 to 320.

 

[walkingman]

V2 to V3 for my portable needs. Battery life is more important than whether I can tell a difference between lossless and lossy.

FLAC for archiving.

 

[earthpeople]

MP3 at 320kbps or apple lossless.

I have a couple 256 and 192ers though.

 

[Headphile808]

ALAC/AAC & MP3 128-320kbps on PC & ALAC on iPod.
Good Luck & Happy Holidays

Headphile808

 

[ethan961]

256 AAC, 256+ MP3 and ALAC.

 

[chinesekiwi]

256kbps (-q8) Ogg Vorbis for portable, FLAC (when I can; you know what I mean) on computer.

 

[raelamb]

ALAC only. I just don't understand how people who populate this Board could listen in anything less

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raelamb /img/forum/go_quote.gif ALAC only. I just don't understand how people who populate this Board could listen in anything less

Seriously?? Please don't start that.

 

[Mr Pink57]

FLAC on my PC and I use VBR 320 .mp3 for portable as the size of the file reduces drastically.

How much smaller is an ogg vs a FLAC? If I could go to another lossless format and keep a .mp3 size that'd be great.

pink

 

[Vladislav]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gothamm /img/forum/go_quote.gif Interesting. This has definitely gotten me thinking. I think 128 kbps sounds good, but still use VBR, even though i can not tell the difference. I guess i don't have the "golden ears" eh? I donwloaded some FLAC files, and compared them to 128 kbps. Could barely tell the difference.

Don't fret. I'd estimate about 1% of people who say they can hear the difference to be able to actually hear the difference between FLAC and a good vbr. It's not so much golden ears' as people loving their placebo.

If you can barely tell 128kbps then v2 vbr should more than cover you.

I store my music in FLACs but for portable listening it gets converted to v2 vbr. No need to waste space since I know I can't hear the difference between a good mp3 and lossless.

 

[berniebennybernard]

Apple Lossless on the PC for both listening and backup/archival usages.

320kbps on the iPod.