I have just tried downloading music from itunes and then burned a cd. Is this as good as cd purchased from retail store. Quality sounds fine but I dont know anything about retaining sq and playback. Is their any settings that might improve quality in windows and does a good sound card do anything? Any pointers? Thanks
Recording CDs
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Hi,
I suppose the only way you'll get anything really close to CD quality is if the files downloaded were 'lossless'. MP3/lossy files by their nature are compressed and therefore are not of the same quality as a CD. Note that MP3s encoded at high bitrates (320k) are not bad at all - but ulitmatly and this is my opinion in fairness, the quality will be exposed on a decent hifi system.
Theoretically at least and in my general experience, lossless files are of an acceptable 'high fidelity' quality - I rip in WAV but am experimenting with FLAC. It's then down to how you play them back and on what. For my portable player, I then transfer at 320k and live with the smaller amaount of files I can travel with. You'll need about 700mb space for an album ripped in lossless - so a lot of space is required.
I've never purchased MP3s online. I'd much rather buy the CD and rip my own MP3s. I believe that iTunes supplies files that have a 128k bitrate but I read somewhere that they are planning to present files in AAC lossless. Just in time for everyone to buy new, higher capacity iPods!
V.Vincent.
I don't want the world. I just want your half.- Bottom
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Originally posted by AllorocTheoretically at least and in my general experience, lossless files are of an acceptable 'high fidelity' quality - I rip in WAV but am experimenting with FLAC. It's then down to how you play them back and on what. For my portable player, I then transfer at 320k and live with the smaller amaount of files I can travel with. You'll need about 700mb space for an album ripped in lossless - so a lot of space is required.
V.
iTunes sell 128kb/s tracks, but as you mentioned, they're going to sell "hi-def" soon...
I myself buy the CD, rip to FLAC and +/-224 kb/s(VBR) mp3 and will use the mp3 playback in iTunes......the album information retrieval is just tooooooooo convenient to pass.....Regards :T,
Boom....a.k.a...."The Box"- Bottom
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Originally posted by nick77I have just tried downloading music from itunes and then burned a cd. Is this as good as cd purchased from retail store. Quality sounds fine but I dont know anything about retaining sq and playback. Is their any settings that might improve quality in windows and does a good sound card do anything? Any pointers? Thanks
I also store thousands of single mp3 tracks on my laptop and play these back through a low-end Creative 16-bit soundcard. I don't expect the quality to be great and it isn't. I keep these songs for their interest value, not their superior audio quality. A better soundcard doesn't make much difference. However if you store your music in a lossless format on a computer a superior soundcard will make a big difference. Many people in this forum will tell you that the combination of a lossless format on a computer plus a high quality soundcard is just as good as a CD.
Nigel.- Bottom
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I seldom listen to music thru the soundcard on my PC but when I do I use the jetAudio player - I think it just sounds better, believe it or not.
However, where I get the real benefit of lossless is when I stream to my Soundbridge M2000.
I have two of them abou the house and they work a treat. I've been contemplating a Slim Devices Transporter but it's quite expensive. I'd like to try before I buy so someday perhaps.
V.Vincent.
I don't want the world. I just want your half.- Bottom
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