Greg wrote:
:Well, the sampling rate for a typical MP3 is about one one-hundredth
:of that for a CD. So, go with MP3s if you like really degraded sound.

: 100:1??? bull****!

I was in error -=- but the compression rate used by iTunes, and as far as
I know *all* online music services, is compressed in the 128kbps range.
That really is quite lossy, and way below the amount of data that a CD
encodes.


I don't have particularly good hearing; I'm hardly an audiophile; and I
don't believe in Monster cables, mopane disks (obww content) on top of my
speakers, or any of the other mystical claims of the audionut world.


But I've heard MP3s of ther sort you czsn download frfom commerical sites;
and I've heard CDs of the same tracks; and there really is an audible
difference, and a big one even to this casual listener.

: MP3 just uses a compression scheme that reduces the file size by about 1/5 -
: 1/10 depending on bit rate.

Yup. And do you think that the 80-90% of data that is lost by this
compression method doesn't result in degradation of the sound?

DAGS on "iPod compression CD", and you'll find a bunch of reports of this
lossyness.

You can save them in WAV at exactly the same
: resolution if you are that much of a purist. The price of disk drives is so low
: these days that this is a reasonable option.


Sure -- but that assumes you start out owning the CD and can choose the
resolution. That is not an option, AFAIK, with any of the online
commercial sites.


: I defy you to tell the difference between a 256 kbs MP3 and CD when played on
: the normal stereo system in the usual home setting.

I can hear it. If you can't -- great. But I can -- loss of
soundstage separation of instruments, loss of treble, etc.


In a moving car with 60 or
: 70 db of background noise your CD "quality" is totally wasted and you can
: probably use 128k or even 64k.


Or 8-track, which has about the same resolution as a typical commercial
MP3.


: 320kbs MP3 is far superior to what you can get from FM radio, Vinyl or tape.

Not so sure there about vinyl. I'm agnostic in the debate, but I've seen
compelling data from audio engineers that a freshly pressed LP has several
times the audio resolution of a CD.

It
: is certainly better than the average stereo system can reproduce. If it wasn't
: so good the RIAA would not have their panties in such a wad over it.


Hunh? They're worried because the MP3 format (at typical resolution) is
prety good, and easy to copy and make avail;able on the web.
Big difference between "pretty good" and "Cd quality".

-- Andy Barss