[JiPod]

I was looking through the threads and couldn't find anything "up-to-date" regarding iTunes data compression when ripping CDs.

Very simply, for iTunes 8 (and newer), for a given bit rate setting, SQ wise, is AAC VBR "better" than AAC CBR?

Thanks in advance.

 

[paaj]

isn't VBR encoded with the bitrate that it needs -up to- the given bitrate? CBR uses this bitrate constant so should be better. Or is VBR average?

Ripping CD's is best done to ALAC, then you can transcode to whatever lossy format you like without worrying about quality.

 

[Currawong]

VBR is, as a general rule, supposed to be more efficient. What paaj said as well about ripping to ALAC first.