Music format?

theipodkid · 18 Oct 2011 at 14:11

Hi there,

I'm using SoundMagic E10 headphones that I got today and I'm just wondering what is the best music format? I've always used 320 kbps format but is they anything better than that?

Thank you

Kurisu Makise · 18 Oct 2011 at 14:21

Apple Lossless

it can range from 700kbps - 2000kbps depending on the cd

if you have an ipod classic youl be fine, if you dont then id recommend staying at 320kbps.

theipodkid · 18 Oct 2011 at 14:22

Thank you.

Shamrock · 18 Oct 2011 at 14:41

Even on a classic I'd say going above 320 is just a waste of storage space.

AlfBaxter · 18 Oct 2011 at 17:22

I use LAME VBR (variable bitrate, uses as much data as it needs depending on complexity of the file, up to a maximum that you can set) at the highest setting V0, but V2 or above is more or less indistinguishable from lossless, unless you are listening very carefully through high-end cans. For portable listening V2 is fine, and will use an average bitrate of around 190kb/s IIRC.

Certainly, 320 is a waste of space for portable use. You can test yourself to see if you can tell the difference - download Foobar2000 and use the ABX comparator to blind-test audio files. It's very hard to tell a well-encoded mp3 from a lossless file - much harder than people tend to think.

V4NT0M · 18 Oct 2011 at 21:36

OGG or FLAC.

joeyjojo · 18 Oct 2011 at 22:00

320 was designed to be transparent (indistinguishable on all but the most difficult samples from lossless). Going higher would almost certainly be unnecessary. V0 is similar.

If you've got the space though then why not?

Ksanti · 19 Oct 2011 at 10:33

joeyjojo said:
If you've got the space though then why not?

Because listening to it through an ipod would render the practice entirely a waste of time without using a line-out cable?

OP: Stick with 320. Without a stupidly big library that you never listen to, that shouldn't give you many problems with capacity, and certainly through E10s on an ipod's 3.5mm there will be absolutely no difference in sound quality in comparison to apple lossless.

Lithium · 19 Oct 2011 at 16:55

If you have to ask... I'd say 320 kbps is enough.

Angerer · 19 Oct 2011 at 17:01

Did you purchase your E10's online or?

*Edit* Sorry just wondered where you got them from as there seems to be a lot of moody earphones going about.

Rambaud · 24 Oct 2011 at 11:04

There is an increasing amount of music in 24-Bit (88kHz/96kHz/176kHz) FLAC format.

But the audio files are large - although they can be converted to a lossy format (MP3 or AAC) if space is at a premium.