Is Anyone Still Collecting The Hard Stuff?

[Arvestaked]

Isn't the bit rate of CD Audio 4 times that of the highest achievable bit rate of mp3 (320, I think)? Edited September 29, 2005 by Arvestaked

[Proud EXPAT]

Isn't the bit rate of CD Audio 4 times that of the highest achievable bit rate of mp3 (320, I think)?

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CD Audio is at 1411 kbps (KiloBits Per Second)

 

MP3s in internet swapping are usually between 128-192 kbps.

 

"Acceptable" MP3s are between 128-192 kbps in internet swapping.

 

But depending on how anal you are you can still hear artifacts below 192 kbps in MP3 compression.

Edited September 29, 2005 by Proud EXPAT

[Sip]

Isn't the bit rate of CD Audio 4 times that of the highest achievable bit rate of mp3 (320, I think)?

 

Yes but you can't compare those bit rates directly as it's like comparing apples to oranges. On a CD, the data is stored in raw form. MP3s compress the data like crazy and throw away a lot of stuff. So a 320 Kbps mp3 can potentially store a LOT more useful audio information than just a raw data stream.

 

As an example, take DVDs for example (mpeg-2). The dolby digital surround sound (5.1) data stream is something like 448 Kbps which is much less than a raw CD data rate. But I doubt anyone would argue that CDs sound better than DVDs (well, except for Mr Proud).

[Proud EXPAT]

Yes but you can't compare those bit rates directly as it's like comparing apples to oranges. On a CD, the data is stored in raw form. MP3s compress the data like crazy and throw away a lot of stuff. So a 320 Kbps mp3 can potentially store a LOT more useful audio information than just a raw data stream.

 

As an example, take DVDs for example (mpeg-2). The dolby digital surround sound (5.1) data stream is something like 448 Kbps which is much less than a raw CD data rate. But I doubt anyone would argue that CDs sound better than DVDs (well, except for Mr Proud).

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Your sarcasm makes you a major loser. And no I wouldn't necessarly argue that CDs sound better than DVDs. If the main source is recorded at 16-bit / 44.1kHz then it makes no difference if that recording was thrown onto a CD or a DVD (if of course both are burned using lossless encoding/decoding.)

 

But these days most studios are recording at 24-bit instead of 16-bit. Plus up to 192kHz and not 44.1kHz like audio CDs. This means greater dynamic range. An audio CD can not read more than 16-bit / 44.1kHz but a DVD can. DVD-Audio has other pluses such as surround sound capability.

 

Therefore a DVD-Audio can hold greater quality in recordings than an audio CD. And although some would say audio CDs are good enough, there is still a difference in regards to the lack of quality, in particular obvious artifacts in higher frequencies leading to a ringing sound (which you would hear in a CD but not in an analog source such as a record/vinyl) and of course the lack of warmth.

[Arvestaked]

Anything beyond 44.1k is almost useless. Most sound engineers can't detect a difference between 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kKz sample rates, or beyond for that matter. Edited September 29, 2005 by Arvestaked

[Proud EXPAT]

Anything beyond 44.1k is almost useless. Most sound engineers can't detect a difference between 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kKz sample rates, or beyond for that matter.

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I can no problem

[Azat]

I am no expert on Audio nor do I have a perfect ear(many do and it is scary how much they spend on audio equipment to get great sound) however I would say that a good quality MP3 file is better than a CD as most CD players do amplify some of the sounds of the electric motor into the speakers and when I burn MP3 from my PC I cant hear the motor(well maybe the CPU fan is drawnening the motor noise. )

[Arvestaked]

I can no problem 

 

And I don't believe you.

Edited September 29, 2005 by Arvestaked

[Sip]

Your sarcasm makes you a major loser. And no I wouldn't necessarly argue that CDs sound better than DVDs. If the main source is recorded at 16-bit / 44.1kHz then it makes no difference if that recording was thrown onto a CD or a DVD (if of course both are burned using lossless encoding/decoding.)

 

But these days most studios are recording at 24-bit instead of 16-bit.  Plus up to 192kHz and not 44.1kHz like audio CDs. This means greater dynamic range. An audio CD can not read more than 16-bit / 44.1kHz but a DVD can. DVD-Audio has other pluses such as surround sound capability.

 

Therefore a DVD-Audio can hold greater quality in recordings than an audio CD. And although some would say audio CDs are good enough, there is still a difference in regards to the lack of quality, in particular obvious artifacts in higher frequencies leading to a ringing sound (which you would hear in a CD but not in an analog source such as a record/vinyl) and of course the lack of warmth.

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Who's twisting things around now?

[Sasun]

I like cassette tapes, there is a distinctive bacground noise on tapes which improves music When CDs first came out I didn't like them because they didn't have that noise.

[DominO123]

Anything beyond 44.1k is almost useless. Most sound engineers can't detect a difference between 44.1kHz, 48kHz, and 96kKz sample rates, or beyond for that matter.

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Believe me when I say, that I can differenciate them. (but not for all musics)

[vava]

Vinyl. At 33 RPM. Pops & crackles and all. All the way.

[Sip]

Well, you're a MAC guy aren't you? So maybe you can try retroplayer out and see how you like it

[Proud EXPAT]

Vinyl. At 33 RPM. Pops & crackles and all. All the way.

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Nostalgia. I agree.

[Anileve]

Is anyone still concerned with buying legitimate music CD's? All I hear about from people is mp3's and file swapping and burned CD's. If I know that the music of a band is worth being in my collection, I'll go and buy the CD. Otherwise, it's just not in my collection. I need to have the actual CD, the artwork, the liner notes... if I happen to have burned music or mp3's I don't view it as owning the music and I'll throw it away after a while or go and buy the friggin' CD. I'm a collector. I can't help it. Having a bookcase of CDs to obsess over is fun. And I also feel guilty if I'm not paying the artists for their work, however wealthy some may be. And I like going into a record store knowing I'm going to spend a certain amount of money and running through the isles. Good stuff. And not much compares to the feeling of walking out of the store with that bag.

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Well, I am like you in some ways. I have a load of mp3's that I've downloaded and a few CD's that I had to buy. I am a Cafeteria Music Consumer, that is, I pick and choose which music deserves an honorary slot in my CD tower and which I can deal with in mp3 format. The only music I consider worth purchasing is jazz and classical. I just love the look of the album art, as if it's a story on its own, and an authentic feel of the disk. One additional item in my collection, which I find to be a necessity that I will invest in the future is "Kind of Blue" by Miles, which I have in the mp3 format. Otherwise, it's rather expensive for me to buy any sort of music I just feel like listening to, especially if I am not sure that all of the tracks are to my liking. So, I sample the music, and if I like it I buy it.

 

By the way, recently I got into Vinyl, I just looove the sound of static, they have a soul that CD's and mp3's lack. I need to purchase a record player and I have no clue about them, can anyone recommend?

 

I am like you when it comes running through the isles when it comes to bookstores. I can't just walk in and out, I get lost there for hours, the main reason why I go to bookstores by myself. Can't be bothered with someone rushing me. CD's are sealed and inaccessable, but a book you can sample.

 

And this is my new friend, the size of my index finger and light as a feather. I use it for my Spanish listening.

 

http://onlinestore.cowonamerica.com/index....WPROD&ProdID=12

 

Don't like Ipods. Don't like anything that is highly popular, even if it hurts me, just can't stand the herd-like following.

Edited October 1, 2005 by Anileve

[Sip]

By the way, recently I got into Vinyl, I just looove the sound of static, they have a soul that CD's and mp3's lack. I need to purchase a record player and I have no clue about them, can anyone recommend?

 

Try this if you use winamp. It's free

[Anileve]

Gee, that's great! Thanks Sip, but since I am not really familiar with that technology why don't you try inserting some Vinyls in there first and then tell me how it works...Oaf....