[MGX1016]

I have been listening to Shoutcast radio via Winamp.

There are mainly 2 different codecs.

AAC+ / MP3.

MP3 I only lsitent o 128 bitrate
AAC+ has 16 to up to like 80 on some.

There is only 248MP3 and a few 192MP3.

I have onboard sound + X-530's (coming)..

Which is the best to listen to?

 

[aaronman]

Well the >192mp3 is going to be the best. But the low bitrate AAC is definitely better than low bitrate mp3. HE-AAC can go as low as 64kbps and still sound kinda decent.

 

[MGX1016]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronman Well the >192mp3 is going to be the best. But the low bitrate AAC is definitely better than low bitrate mp3. HE-AAC can go as low as 64kbps and still sound kinda decent.

Wait so should I listen to the like 16bit AAC+?

 

[aaronman]

What is the bitrate?

 

[MGX1016]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronman What is the bitrate?

16

Or like 24bit or 64? or even 80..

Don't you have shoutcast?

I would tell you what sounds better but I am on my rite-aid and it all sounds the same.. I can't wait for my X-530s!!

 

[TrAncE XD]

wow, those are really really bad sound qualities!

I listen to FLAC music which has 1000+ bitrates usually :]

 

[MGX1016]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrAncE XD wow, those are really really bad sound qualities! I listen to FLAC music which has 1000+ bitrates usually :]

Where can I get some of that?

 

[aaronman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGX1016 16 Or like 24bit or 64? or even 80.. Don't you have shoutcast? I would tell you what sounds better but I am on my rite-aid and it all sounds the same.. I can't wait for my X-530s!!

Almost all music that you listen to is in 16bit. That is the resolution, not the bitrate. For example, a standard mp3 that someone (shame on them

) would download off of kazaa would be a 16bit 128kbps mp3 file. The bitrate is 128kb and the resolution is 16bit. Don't ask me what that means though because I have absolutely no clue how to explain it

So when I say that HE-AAC sounds good all the way down to 64kb/s (whereas mp3... you never want to hear them below 128kb/s) but the resolution is still at 16bit.

 

[aaronman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGX1016 Where can I get some of that?

Ripped directly off of a CD.

 

[MGX1016]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronman Almost all music that you listen to is in 16bit. That is the resolution, not the bitrate. For example, a standard mp3 that someone (shame on them ) would download off of kazaa would be a 16bit 128kbps mp3 file. The bitrate is 128kb and the resolution is 16bit. Don't ask me what that means though because I have absolutely no clue how to explain it So when I say that HE-AAC sounds good all the way down to 64kb/s (whereas mp3... you never want to hear them below 128kb/s) but the resolution is still at 16bit.

It's shame on the RIAA. Most people that download illegally just hate the RIAA and rather pay artists money for good instead of RIAA keep them wallets fat..

BUT besides that..

Where can I get some good quality music? Itunes?

 

[aaronman]

iTunes is only like 128kbps low complexity AAC. Which is okay, but not great (hell, I use it just because my ipod is already completely filled but that's not relevant right now). For high bitrate/lossless audio, you are going to need to get the original CD. I don't know of any legal way to obtain lossless music from the internet. Torrents are the only place they exist as far as I know.

So it looks like buying the CD is your best bet. Bookmans ftw

 

[MGX1016]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronman iTunes is only like 128kbps low complexity AAC. Which is okay, but not great (hell, I use it just because my ipod is already completely filled but that's not relevant right now). For high bitrate/lossless audio, you are going to need to get the original CD. I don't know of any legal way to obtain lossless music from the internet. Torrents are the only place they exist as far as I know. So it looks like buying the CD is your best bet. Bookmans ftw

I am not / will not buy a CD until the RIAA is gone. I don't want to pay 10$ for 2 good songs.. RIAA pressures artists to make 13 songs or so and only 2-3 are actually half decent..

There are legal cheap sites..

What about something like Napstar (monthly price for unlimited songs)..

 

[aaronman]

Napster is a great value. I don't know much about their format, but it has to be acceptable sound quality. It definitely won't be as awesome as lossless but most people cannot tell the difference. Even though I can tell the difference, I don't mind compressed mp3/AAC audio at all. It just doesn't bother me.

So if you want a bunch of cheap music legally.... Napster

 

[MGX1016]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronman Napster is a great value. I don't know much about their format, but it has to be acceptable sound quality. It definitely won't be as awesome as lossless but most people cannot tell the difference. Even though I can tell the difference, I don't mind compressed mp3/AAC audio at all. It just doesn't bother me. So if you want a bunch of cheap music legally.... Napster

I know Napster is like DRM'd but is removing that DRM illegal?
Does it make quality lower?

 

[soloz2]

the higher the better. if you can find lossless that's even better!

 

[JoeUbi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2 the higher the better. if you can find lossless that's even better!

It depends on the format too... For some reason, FLAC sounds better than WMA Lossless.

 

[adam144]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrAncE XD wow, those are really really bad sound qualities! I listen to FLAC music which has 1000+ bitrates usually :]

Same, FLAC is awesome but I have 6 albums in my My Music folder and they all come up to 1.87GB.. lol.

Excellent quality though