iPod vs CD's question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 17,709
Likes: 1,219
From: Phila PA, Bonita Springs FL
iPod vs CD's question
For better sound, is listening to a CD better than listening to it on an iPod since on the iPod its a compressed file..???
Discuss.....
Thanks for educating me..
Discuss.....
Thanks for educating me..
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Apple lossless - > Same sound quality.
An average person will hear a difference in 128k mp3s.
A fairly decent listener will hear it at 192k.
Very few people will hear a difference at 256k
Crazy people will hear a difference at 320k
If you think "XM" sounds ok, or that FM sounds as good as CD, then you are fine with 128k
Racer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Most audiophile listeners will look down on listening to an iPod. Although there are settings in iTunes that allow you to adjust the bitrate when you import a cd to it. It does take up more spce in the iPod though. In general, most cd's produced are not that great in the first place, but the general public are happy with the results.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
Lossless is the same as a CD, provided you bypass the built in DAC in the Ipod. CD is still superior as a source if you do not. Lossless is quite a bit superior to 256kbps however. As Kale mentioned some people will notice, some people will not. Depends a lot on your particular system and it's clarity. Your source and your drivers will have influence as well.
If you want to look into some fanatic type people, check out head-fi.org, or is it come. Just google head-fi. People their truly believe that they can hear the difference in their $1000 headphones between $2 interconnects and $500 interconnects. Keep in mind that these are 3-18" in length
However this is the place to pick up a simple plug in connector that bypasses the internal DAC in the IPOD. Warning, you WILL notice a big difference in playback of your MP3's, especially 256kpbs or lower bit rates. Starts to sound more like radio and less like CD.
Fej
If you want to look into some fanatic type people, check out head-fi.org, or is it come. Just google head-fi. People their truly believe that they can hear the difference in their $1000 headphones between $2 interconnects and $500 interconnects. Keep in mind that these are 3-18" in length
However this is the place to pick up a simple plug in connector that bypasses the internal DAC in the IPOD. Warning, you WILL notice a big difference in playback of your MP3's, especially 256kpbs or lower bit rates. Starts to sound more like radio and less like CD.Fej
Pro
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
From: WayTooCloseToNY Northeast PA
If you want the entire MP3 / AAC / Lossless skinny, head to the Hydrogenaudio Forums. Every new or updated algorithm gets scrutinized there first. These guys are nuts, and it can make your head spin. The guy doing AAC for Nero is a major contributor, as are the main players behind LAME.
Personally, It took me up to this past week to get on the iPod bandwagon. My entire collection (1600 CDs or so) is ripped to MP3 using Lame VBR -0 (that's one step below CBR-320). With very high resolution recordings, I can tell the difference compared to CD. I can't say the same for most popular recordings.
Since I just installed a new Alpine W205, I'll be using MP3 for most stuff and full-resolution rips compiled on DVDs for my high-quality CDs like classical and jazz. 6 - 10 CDs will fit on a DVD+R at full resolution with menus.
IMHO, the iPod's built-in DACs and pre-amp stages suck. At least that's what my Grados tell me.
Personally, It took me up to this past week to get on the iPod bandwagon. My entire collection (1600 CDs or so) is ripped to MP3 using Lame VBR -0 (that's one step below CBR-320). With very high resolution recordings, I can tell the difference compared to CD. I can't say the same for most popular recordings.
Since I just installed a new Alpine W205, I'll be using MP3 for most stuff and full-resolution rips compiled on DVDs for my high-quality CDs like classical and jazz. 6 - 10 CDs will fit on a DVD+R at full resolution with menus.
IMHO, the iPod's built-in DACs and pre-amp stages suck. At least that's what my Grados tell me.
