Import at 320 kbps - overkill?

[ArcticStones]

I’ve been importing all my purchased CDs into iTunes at 320 kpbs, and using the AAC encoder. I realize, of course, that it takes more store space, but I don’t mind. My thought is to preserve as much audio quality as possible. But is this overkill?

I would be interested in hearing opinions on this.

Best regards,
ArcticStones

P.S. Any experts have any elucidating thoughts on the AAC format compared to MP3?

[Las_Vegas]

Any experts have any elucidating thoughts on the AAC format compared to MP3?

Both are "Lossy" compression formats. AAC less so.

[ArcticStones]

How so? Which compression format do you prefer, and why?

[jeffo]

I think that you are doing a good thing there, but it depends on what you are listening to them on. I have almost 500 CDs and have them all on my computer in MP3s (320k) and AAC (320k) and also in the AIF format. alot of people think i am nuts to use that much harddrive space but the reason i do it is i use each format. I have a $2500 system in my car and i can tell a difference between aif and mp3 in the car. I am about to get an ipod so i wanted the aac format for that. i use the mp3s playing on my computers and to bring less cds with me when i take a road trip.

in short i would say that if you have the space then go ahead and rip them at the 320k rate. if you are using good quality equipment then you will get better sound.

[jeffo]

elucidating

BTW, nice 75 point word!

[ArcticStones]

Jeffo, thanks for you, well, lucid thoughts. :)
I’ll continue what I’m doing, undeterred.

...but I’m still not clear on the quality difference (or technical difference) between AAC and MP3. I only know what I’ve heard: that AAC is an Apple compression format which supposedly gives better quality.

...and is it true that you have to download music purchased on iTMS at a far lower resolution than 320? Couldn’t find any information on that on the site.

[trevor]

Both are "Lossy" compression formats. AAC less so.

I agree with everyone's comments so far, but I would like to point out that if you are looking for high quality sound, the "Apple Lossless Encoder" gives you the full quality of the CD with a smaller file size. Again, if you have the space and want good quality sound, look into ALE. Or drink more ale. :)

Trevor

[ArcticStones]

ALE? Drinking more ale sounds like an excellent idea.
As a wise man once said:
"I would rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."

:D

[trevor]

...but I’m still not clear on the quality difference (or technical difference) between AAC and MP3. I only know what I’ve heard: that AAC is an Apple compression format which supposedly gives better quality.

AAC is actually a format mostly from Dolby Laboratories, (with some help from Fraunhofer, AT&T, Sony and Nokia), and can also be known as MPEG4, or mp4. Apple's explanatory page (http://www.apple.com/mpeg4/aac/), Dolby's Press Release (http://www.dolby.com/press/aac_pr_0203_MPEG4.html), a general explanation of AAC (http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/Software/Bringing-Yourself-Up-to-Speed-with-AAC-MP3-and-Digital-Audio/3/)

I'm not sure that I'd always agree that AAC is always better sounding than MP3 at all sample rates and with all source materials, but as a very very general rule of thumb that is true. With some exceptions. Usually.

Trevor

[Gfx]

Like jeffo pointed out, I think it all depends on what you are listening them on. It would depend also on what kind of music you listen, in what environment, etc...

If you have a real audiophile system, and we are not talking about the usual Sony, Pionner or Yamaha stuff but rather what qualifies as medium to real high fidelity from Rotel, Quad, Carver, Nakamichi etc amps/preamps and B&W, Infinity, Martin Logan speakers (those are just a few samples of what's available on the market), then you probably do a right thing. Saying this I would assume that your ear is "trained" to actually hear the subtle differences between usual consumer electronic stereo systems compared to the more "esoteric" ones. If you are in doubt about your ear, maybe you should get one or two of your favorite high quality recordings, one or two that usually sound somewhat "dull" to your ears and the MP3/AAC version of them and go listen to them on some of those high fidelity systems in a specialized store. You just might be surprised to see/hear/feel something you never thought was possible.

You must also take in consideration that the total quality of the sound will never surpass the weakest link in you stereo system. If you have a $50 000 amp/preamp combo but have crapy speakers, your listening experience will not be optimal to say the least. People in those specialized stores are "usually" very helpful and can provide good insight about getting a well balanced system according to the kind of music you listen, the particular environment where the system will be and the music will be played and other stuff like that. I'm sure they will gladly help you "hear" the difference.

I remember once having a friend in one of those stores asking me to listen to a wonderful but pricely ($8000 a pair) set of speakers. Those were driven by a humble medium range (Quad) amp and the CD was one of the early recordings of The Cars (a rather ordinary recording on a usual system). And I remember how I was flaggerblasted! I felt I was sitting just in front of the band.

I've said all this to come to this very little conclusion: Let your ears be the judge and leave a little more room for you futur system improvements (just in case you fall in love with true high fidelity if you haven't already). If you can't here any difference between (after a few sessions... not just in a five minute period) the MP3s/AACs and the uncompressed format, then you might benefit, in terms of hard disk space, to try a more compressed format. But you really should keep those uncompressed one cause I bet you will eventually have something worth to play them on. ;)

As for the difference between MP3 and AAC, beside what one can find on the Internet, I have no valuable information/hints to provide yet... unfortunately. I still haven't compared them and neither have a suitable high fidelity system anymore. But it's just a matter of time and priorities.

I hope this will help...

Regards

[ArcticStones]

This is definitely a great help!

I remember purchasing my first hi-fi system at a quality store that was going out of business about 25 years ago. The store had a listening room where you could push buttons to shift the music to different speaker pairs, some of which cost $ 2000-3000 a pair (expensive at the time).

Suddenly I just heard the room filled with music. But I could no longer hear which speakers the sound was coming from. I went and got the salesman. He pointed out the modestly sized Bang & Olufsen speakers as the source. Now granted, they did not have the kick-in-the-gut bass; but they did make beautiful, pristine sound - which was simply "out there" in the room, not stuck in the speaker box. I paid $ 300 for the pair.

In addition I got a B&O turntable and a Yamaha tuner/amp. What I liked about the latter is that it had a variable loudness control, which meant the music sounded "right" even at fairly low volumes.

I long for a decent system now. I only have a pair of Cambridge Soundworks Creative digital speakers (about $ 120 for the pair 4 years ago).

I love varied music - solo piano recordings of Keith Jarrett, Salif Keita, Jaco Pastorius, Steve Reich, Jan Garbarek, Anouar Brahem, Arvo Pärt and Lou Harrison, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Fairouz, Gregorian chants and Hildegard von Bingen, John Dowland and Meredith Monk, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Wilco, John Mayer, Johnny Cash, Norah Jones, Suzanne Vega, Joni Mitchell, Jordi Savall, Leif Ove Andsnes, Kim Kashkashian, Kronos Quartet, Palestrina, Nancarrow, Miles Davis, Egberto Gismonti, Van Morrison, Lakshmi Shankar, Radka Toneff, Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed, Bulgarian vocal music, Souad Massi, Robert Johnson, Mari Boine, Sinead O’Connor, Peter Gabriel...

Incredible! Each in their own way.

I do look forward to being able to afford a better system. Meanwhile I enjoy the music immensely on the humble speakers that I do have - all 8000+ tracks. And I’ll continue "compressing" at 320 AAC with a good conscience. New and larger disks are cheap.

Thanks again,
ArcticStones :) :)