128kbps AAC OR 160 kbps AAC

[cheerup347]

i know, at the end of the day, this is my choice but i want to know what other people think.

what do use?

do you use HIGHER! than 160?

let me know

[zip22]

whatever you use, go to custom, and choose VBR

[TheJosher]

192kbps VBR mp3 for me.

Josh

[cheerup347]

what will VBR do?

am i better using 128 or 160 if i use vbr?

thanks

[wyneken]

Originally posted by TheJosher
192kbps VBR mp3 for me.

That's what I use, except for AAC instead of MP3.

I used to always encode with LAME at "alt-preset standard," which averages around 180-210 VBR. But the iTunes AAC encoder is really good (the MP3 encoder is not, and hasn't been updated since 2001) so I mostly use that now.

VBR means variable bitrate, which means that the encoder will use a higher bitrate on more complex musical passages, and a lower rate when things are quiet and simple.

Try some listening tests. Encode some music at different rates and see if you can hear any difference.

[mnhnhyouh]

When you do listening tests think about which headphones you are using.

If you are using the supplied ones, or similar cheap low quality ones, think about if you might decide to upgrade at some later time. If you might, and dont want to rerip your music then go for 192k vbr mp3, preferably not made using the old mp3 codec supplied with iTunes.

A different ripping program will give you better results.

EAC is one such program, free to download, and you can find the link in my sig. Make sure that whatever one you do use, you update your mp3 codec with the latest, there is a link to the LAME one in my sig as well.

And VBR is much better.

h

[TheJosher]

Yes, iTune's AAC encoder is very good. The only reason I use LAME/MP3 is because of compatability. My sister has another MP3 player, and it'll only play mp3/wma files, so its nice to just have a format that'll play in them all.

Josh

[mnhnhyouh]

And besides Sony's first attempt at a HD DAP, all of them, I think, play mp3.

Without alternate firmware, only iPods play AAC. Will the iPod always be the best? While some fanboys will say it will, the honest answer is we dont know.

h

[Marshy]

I use FLAC.

[evoGage]

I would choose 128k AAC. It actually is not bad at all in terms of sound quality. I know higher bitrates are better but for the average listener 128k AAC is perfect.

[kornchild2002]

In my opinion, 192kbps VBR iTunes AAC is overkill. The purpose behind the AAC format was to introduce high sound quality (ie equal to high bitrate mp3's) without having the high bitrate. Once you go up to 192kbps and higher, the differences between iTunes AAC and even the iTunes mp3 encoder are slim to none. Most of the time, the average person probably would not even hear the difference between a 192kbps VBR iTunes mp3 and 192kbps VBR iTunes AAC.

That is why I recomend going with 128kbps VBR iTunes AAC or 160kbps VBR iTunes AAC. Do some blind ABX tests with a program called foobar2000 and it will probably take you a few attempts just to succesfully ABX 128kbps VBR iTunes AAC and the source CD.

Use VBR, with this option enabled, the iTunes AAC encoder's bitrate will increase or decrease from the target depending on song complexity. I also wouldn't worry about the incompatibility of the AAC format. Almost all of Sony's flash and hard drive portable mp3 players now support the AAC format (using Nero's AAC encoder, iTunes AAC encoder, and Sony's AAC encoder). Additionally, these newer players are supporting AAC right out of the box without firmware updates. Other portable mp3 player manufacturs will soon follow. There was once a Philips DAP that supported AAC (it was out when the 3rd gen iPod was released) and there are a few RCA players that support AAC. Additionally, more and more car CD decks are being released that support AAC playback via a iPod connection or support AAC data CD's.

Man, this thread was old but I missed it. Hopefully the OP found a solution that worked for them.

[Galley]

192Kbps VBR AAC