Is iTunes CD quality?
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9,711
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From: Evansville,IN
Is iTunes CD quality? I know little to know nothing about audio stuff.
I have downloaded music in the past from.....other sources...and the quality has not that been that great especially through the PS3.
What is CD quality and what should I look for in the way songs are recorded?
Thanks.
Jason
I have downloaded music in the past from.....other sources...and the quality has not that been that great especially through the PS3.
What is CD quality and what should I look for in the way songs are recorded?
Thanks.
Jason
In short, MP3 is no where near CD quality and the lower bit rate, the lower the quality of sound. My understand is that in car, 128/192 kbps is okay since a car by nature is a poor environment for music. At a minimum you should probably record/download music at 192kbps, although most/many people use 128kbps.
Do a Google search on music bit rates, kbps, music compression and CD quality - it's way too complicated for me to try to explain.
Do a Google search on music bit rates, kbps, music compression and CD quality - it's way too complicated for me to try to explain.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Even an average user can here compression artifacts in a 128K encoded MP3 file if they listen carefully. They are generally disguised by the noisy environment in a car but you will notice a lack of depth in the bass portions and a lack of clarity in high frequencies.
192K is a good compromise bit rate that retains the majority of the original music information while still providing enough compression to save significant storage space. This is considered "near CD quality" and should be sufficient for use in a car or with earbuds.
256K is good enough that most people can't distinguish the MP3 from the original source. This is generally labeled "CD quality" although it is still possible to hear the occasional difference from the original source.
The highest bit rate in the MP3 standard is 320K. Anyone who claims they can tell the difference between a 320K MP3 and the original source anywhere other than a music studio is just fooling themselves. There are small losses from the compression that can be seen on an oscilloscope but the compression algorithm is designed to make them inaudible to the human ear.
192K is a good compromise bit rate that retains the majority of the original music information while still providing enough compression to save significant storage space. This is considered "near CD quality" and should be sufficient for use in a car or with earbuds.
256K is good enough that most people can't distinguish the MP3 from the original source. This is generally labeled "CD quality" although it is still possible to hear the occasional difference from the original source.
The highest bit rate in the MP3 standard is 320K. Anyone who claims they can tell the difference between a 320K MP3 and the original source anywhere other than a music studio is just fooling themselves. There are small losses from the compression that can be seen on an oscilloscope but the compression algorithm is designed to make them inaudible to the human ear.
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Some home receivers and mobile audio HUs have DSP capabilities that "enhance", or try smooth over the effects of compressed formats. I have found some of these, while not perfect, to have an improving effect. I generally do not like any kind of DSP effects or manipulation on the sound output, but these "compression restorers" I actually have come to like. Here's the description of it on my Pioneer DEH-6200BT:
"Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever
This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality. "
"Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever
This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality. "
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11 Second Club
iTrader: (14)
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From: Michigan (Macomb or Lansing)
No, mp3 is a lossy codec, meaning it is designed to lose information.
Use something like FLAC (free loss-less audio codec) if you want to keep cd quality.
However, itunes definately has some good equipment and people that know what they are doing so they generally sound about the best they can sound at those bitrates.
Use something like FLAC (free loss-less audio codec) if you want to keep cd quality.
However, itunes definately has some good equipment and people that know what they are doing so they generally sound about the best they can sound at those bitrates.
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Verdad Gallardo Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Yes, MP3 is a lossy compression technique but it's more than that. The algorithm is designed to remove portions that people are unable to hear. The human ear is not digital or even linear in its ability to distinguish sounds so even though the losses can be seen on a 'scope, they can't be heard at higher bit rates. It's only when getting down to higher compression (lower bit rates) that the ear can distinguish between compressed and uncompressed sources.
I only use VBR (variable bit rate), 320, or I use FLAC files that have been converted. My buddy has some really good software that he uses for conversion to MP3 from FLAC. He is able to remix certain aspects of the file as well to enhance things in the original that were lacking. For instance alot of 80's metal lacked midbass and depth. Sounded kind of thin. He enhances certain instruments and things to make it sound a bit more full. I have a pretty extensive music library.
11 Second Club
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From: Michigan (Macomb or Lansing)
Since we are talking about it, the common MP3 codec known as LAME had some guidelines/configuration made by hydrogenaudio that should be pretty decent. VBR 256-320 is probably the way to go
My pops (audiophile) always told me my Ipod was a piece of crap and the sound quality was terrible lol. He even told me the sound quality from CD's even isn't that great. He says the best sound you will get is out of tapes.
Idk but all his tapes sounded 100x better than any CD/MP3 I've ever heard. He's got several ridiculous sound setups in the house. All he uses is older stuff from the 80's.
Idk but all his tapes sounded 100x better than any CD/MP3 I've ever heard. He's got several ridiculous sound setups in the house. All he uses is older stuff from the 80's.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9,711
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From: Evansville,IN
I think everyone has a song or songs, that they really like for whatever reason. If it's because the song means something to you or you just want to beat the **** out of your system.
With the larger external usb drives I think you could get close to CD quality. For example, I would rather have 50 songs that are super good quality than 1000 songs that are....ehhh ok.
With the larger external usb drives I think you could get close to CD quality. For example, I would rather have 50 songs that are super good quality than 1000 songs that are....ehhh ok.
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From: Havertown, PA
i use VBR 320 for all my mp3s...lets just say if you heard my songs in my camaro or 4runner you would be blown away..im an engineer for a radio station...256 - 320 is def the way to go without a doubt..oh and yes itunes songs are cd quality if not better then...they're digital...same with napster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Digital doesn't necessarily equate to quality. CD discs, MP3 files, AAC files, AIFF files, even WAV files are all digital by definition but their sound quality can vary immensely.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9,711
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From: Evansville,IN
I hope I don't get banned for bumping my own thread.
For having a decent system in my car I can say "some" Itunes songs are CD quality and "some" ARENT!
Apparently 256k means different things to different people.
For having a decent system in my car I can say "some" Itunes songs are CD quality and "some" ARENT!
Apparently 256k means different things to different people.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9,711
Likes: 999
From: Evansville,IN
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From: Massachusetts
Use AAC if possible, not MP3. MP3 is literally a standard developed in the 1980s. Use 160Kbps or higher AAC - 224-256Kbps would be even better, though not necessary for a portable player. For MP3, try to stick to 192Kbps minimum with the higher quality VBR suggestions above being even better. Personally, I am a fan of Ogg Vorbis but it's unfortunately not supported on most consumer equipment - mostly just PCs and Android phones. There are some other devices here and there that support it as well as modified software/firmware (e.g. Rockbox) for some gadgets, but for the most part, AAC is the best bet for a non-crappy lossy audio codec.
P.S. CD quality is indeed not perfect but it is quite good, and a cassette tape WILL NOT match it. Analog can be okay, but tapes are not okay. Even with a brand new type III (metallic) tape, you aren't going to get the quality of a CD. And then there's the fact that they degrade over time, and that they are super annoying to use...
P.S. CD quality is indeed not perfect but it is quite good, and a cassette tape WILL NOT match it. Analog can be okay, but tapes are not okay. Even with a brand new type III (metallic) tape, you aren't going to get the quality of a CD. And then there's the fact that they degrade over time, and that they are super annoying to use...
FLAC is essentially "CD quality". You need to download some codecs to play those files. They are also very large. FLAC is an acronym for "Free Lossless Audio Codec". More info on FLAC here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FLAC
I have a small FLAC collection. I used to feel pretty comfortable blasting it through my house setup.
Most of my music is in 320kbps MP3... And having been the person ripping the music from CD to MP3, I'm apparently one of the few that can notice the difference between a 320kbps track and the same track played through the same equipment from a CD instead of a computer. The CD player used was a Denon DVD player, and the computer used was a PC with a SoundBlaster Audigy 2 with and without using the SoundBlaster equalizer software. All of this was connected to a large speaker array and blasted at well over 110dB for countless hours. To me, the compression artifacts were noticeable. Annoyingly so? Not really, but CDs seemed a tiny bit crisper, yet clearer. Not having any neighbors helped a lot.
I'm a very mild audiophile. If you don't know what that is or care about sound quality, then you're probably fine with some high-bitrate AAC or MP3 files.
I have a small FLAC collection. I used to feel pretty comfortable blasting it through my house setup.
Most of my music is in 320kbps MP3... And having been the person ripping the music from CD to MP3, I'm apparently one of the few that can notice the difference between a 320kbps track and the same track played through the same equipment from a CD instead of a computer. The CD player used was a Denon DVD player, and the computer used was a PC with a SoundBlaster Audigy 2 with and without using the SoundBlaster equalizer software. All of this was connected to a large speaker array and blasted at well over 110dB for countless hours. To me, the compression artifacts were noticeable. Annoyingly so? Not really, but CDs seemed a tiny bit crisper, yet clearer. Not having any neighbors helped a lot.
I'm a very mild audiophile. If you don't know what that is or care about sound quality, then you're probably fine with some high-bitrate AAC or MP3 files.