256 kbps vs 320 kbps

I have my songs on a music website that allows what they refer to as "Super Hi Fi" mp3's,
I've always used 256 kbps because I heard it will play on more players, but now I'm questioning if that is true. I would like to change my settings to Super Hi Fi or 320 kbps. I changed to that bit rate under "custom settings" but there are other varibles and I'd like to know which is best or which have pros and cons. Should I click or unclick on "Use Varible bit rate encoder (VBR) At presentit is checked.
Then there is "Normal" or Joint Stereo". What's the difference? At present I have "normal" setting
I'm using MP3 encoder. Is Apple lossless better? What id Aiff encoder. I have quality set to highest and 44.100 KHz. I want the best possible sound quality but will it be too fast for some computers. I want it to play as universally as possible but I also want the best quality. Someone told me 256 kbps is the best compromise - lose a little quality but gain more playability on more puters. Thank you for your help!
(This applies only to my original songs created on GB and exported to itunes, not to imported songs.)

the_official_noah wrote:
how many 320 kbps M4A's would take up 8 GB, and how many 256 kbps would take up 8 GB?
You would get 1/4 more with 256kbps. (100 songs @ 320 = 125 songs at 256)
Also, would I be able to tell a difference betwen the two with my Apple EarPods?
No. Doubtful you could tell the difference between 256 kbps AAC and 128 kbps AAC using earpods and iPhone.
Perhaps if you were sitting it a soundproof room and doing nothing else but paying specific attention to the music. But everyday use, you won; notice.

Similar Messages

  • What is the difference between 256 kbps and 320 kbps, as far as storage is concerned?

    how many 320 kbps M4A's would take up 8 GB, and how many 256 kbps would take up 8 GB? Also, would I be able to tell a difference betwen the two with my Apple EarPods?
    thanks,
    noah
    Message was edited by: the_official_noah

    the_official_noah wrote:
    how many 320 kbps M4A's would take up 8 GB, and how many 256 kbps would take up 8 GB?
    You would get 1/4 more with 256kbps. (100 songs @ 320 = 125 songs at 256)
    Also, would I be able to tell a difference betwen the two with my Apple EarPods?
    No. Doubtful you could tell the difference between 256 kbps AAC and 128 kbps AAC using earpods and iPhone.
    Perhaps if you were sitting it a soundproof room and doing nothing else but paying specific attention to the music. But everyday use, you won; notice.

  • Is 320 kbps mp3 that 'bad' for the battery?

    I just found this page - http://forums.ilounge.com/digital-audio-formats/45277-128kbps-aac-question.html and got a bit worried since kind of all my mp3 files is in 320 kbps... Is it really true that the battery will drain power dramatically fast??? compare to lets say 192 kbps or 128 kbps ACC
    What would the difference be in battery time??
    Any opinions?
    Thanks
    Message was edited by: Felix J
    null

    Felix J wrote:
    Hello
    I am asking this question in this forum since this forum is meant (from what I have understood) to support those customers that already bought an Apple product. Why I believe this, is because I needed to add my ipod nano ID number, I guess to ensure I really own an legit Apple product.
    Thanks for your reply anyway.
    Message was edited by: Felix J
    True. However, you want answers that is beyond what is already published in the link you posted.
    Does 24 hours 'include' all music formats AND bitrates that you can possibly play on the ipod nano?
    All the music formats _that are listed in the spec link._ Anything beyond that, ask a Genius specialist. iPod Nano is not even a year old yet. There has not been any additional music format added yet.
    Registering your product has nothing to do w/the questions you are asking. If your serial # takes, then you know you have a legit Apple product. If not, return it.

  • AAC Encoder at 320 kbps...

    Hello all,
    I'm new to the forum. I've had to erase my hard drive and ipod of everything so I've lost over 3,000 songs and have to re-import all of my music
    The question is: I am assuming AAC Encoder at 320 kbps is the absolute best sound quality that I am going to get? I will be playing my music through my vehicle speakers and I want near CD sound quality!!!
    The other question is: What can you tell me abou the other selections of encoders for importing?... I've searched the forums and haven't found anything, nor did I find a itunes manual.
    Thank you all!!!

    WAV and AIFF both are uncompressed audio formats.
    WAV is mainly used on the Windows platform and AIFF on the MAC platform.
    These formats can be read and edited by virtually all players and audio editors.
    There's one disadvantage. They produce huge files of about 10 MB/minute of audio.
    To reduce file sizes, people invented compression techniques.
    Some of them succeeded in creating a codec (encoder/decoder) that will retain all audio information but reduce the file size to about half the size of WAV and AIFF.
    Examples of these are Apple Lossless and FLAC (not supported by iTunes).
    Your iPod (except the iPod Shuffle) supports WAV, but it will quickly fill up with those huge files.
    Like Chris suggested, you should rip a song at different bit rates and try to determine what is best for your situation.
    It all depends on your ears (hearing) and your playback system.
    In my car, I can't even hear improvements above 128 kbps AAC.
    M

  • Why doesn't itunes have 320 kbps listed for ripping audio tracks from CD as one of the default options?

    Now I know you can ignore the defaults and create custom settings for ripping audio from CD's, but I'm curious why the good folks at apple didn't add 320kbps as a default. I figured it would be a default option since 320 kbps seems to be the standard for good quality when it comes to CD rips.
    Am I wrong here? Anyone have any ideas?

    Apple hasn't stated why it's not a default option.
    Suggestions here -> http://www.apple.com/feedback

  • Exporting into wav and/or 320 kbps  aac...

    i'm using garageband '08 and i'd like to export song into disk in wav format or at least in aac but at 320 kbps.. for the latter i saw that you can set that (personalize) but once i select 320kbps it returns into aac-good quality at 64 kbps...
    what can i do?
    thanks
    m

    You have to convert it in iTunes afterwards.
    Right. Once you've exported from GB to iTunes at best quality you can use the Import Settings button on the General panel in iTunes Prefs and set it to WAV encoder. Then right-click on your track and choose Create WAV Version.

  • HT5085 I'm a laptop DJ using virtual DJ. My tracks cary from 128 to 320 kbps. So i decided to purchase iTunes Match. After a few hours of matching my library from iTunes I've still got track 128kbps. I can't seem to get iCloud either.

    I'm a laptop DJ using virtual DJ. My tracks cary from 128 to 320 kbps. So i decided to purchase iTunes Match. After a few hours of matching my library from iTunes I've still got track 128kbps. I can't seem to get iCloud either.

    Match does not change anything in your library.  To get the new (uograded) copy for songs that match, you have to delete the original and download the matched copy.
    See more info here:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1711

  • Loss of bitrate when converting from 256 kbps to 128 kbps

    Hi everyone,
    I had over 800 MP3s of various bitrates which I converted to 256 kbps AAC format in iTunes, in order to standardise them all, then deleting the originals. However, I was then told by a friend that if I simply reconverted the new ones to 128 kbps but still saving them in AAC format, I would save on half the disk drive space. Since memory is at a premium on my computer, I did just that but the results in iTunes show that the songs have since turned out in various different bitrates again, ranging from 99 kbps to 103, 105, 107, 123 etc. The settings in Preferences are as I left them, AAC Encoder with High Quality (128 kbps). I realise that this is not such a big issue in terms of listening and playback but I am curious as to why iTunes has decided to dictate the individual bitrate for each song despite my settings. Any comments or feedback would be much appreciated, thanks!

    Greg, I don't think you will notice a big deal of a difference.

  • Brand new 5G 30 GB stutters on various different 320 Kbps mp3's  2G not

    I just got a new 5G ipod, I also have a 2G 10 Gb ipod.
    I love the device but noticed that, while playing 320 Kbit files the ipod stutters and jumps a fractions pf a seconds at random mp3's But it allways does this in the same place.
    So plaing the track again gets a jump at the same time. Playing the track with foobar2000 on windows XP the track does not skip neither under itunes as under winamp. it only stutters on my ipod.
    playing the same file on my 2G 10 Gb ipod if fine NO PROBLEMS
    playing the same files on my 5G 30 Gb ipod STUTTERING
    What could this be ?

    1970Steven wrote:
    thanks for the help!
    localhost/K:/The Nextwave Sessions - EP/04 - Montreal.mp3
    Still no idea where I went wrong?
    Well at this point you've shown me where iTunes thinks the file should be, but not where it actually is... I asked for both halves of the equation to see why it's not working and recommend a course of action.
    Do I take it that your general storage pattern is K:\<Album>\## - <Name>.<Ext>? If so my script FindTracks should be able to locate "lost" tracks, provided they are still there.
    Obviously not having a backup that you could restore is another mistake.
    Rolling backup to old build of iTunes, or uninstalling & reinstalling the current one, won't fix a logical problem within the library. Restoring a backup of the database might. Most iTunes updates upgrade the library schema and a copy of the old library is made in the Previous iTunes Libaries folder. It should be possible to replace the current library file with an older copy at which point it will be upgraded again. Normally this is successful, though you lose data such as recent ratings, playcounts and imports.
    tt2

  • ITunes 10 stalls on playback with Library on USB (2 and 3), OS X 10.8.2 2.6 GHz intel i7, MP3 320 kbps, playback is fine using internal SSD...

    All this power in a brand new mac-mini.. and iTunes is constantly stalling playback every 1 - 5 minutes (only when the iTunes Library is on external drives)..
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    Energy Saver control panel indicates that "Put hard disks to sleep when possible..." is unchecked..
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        (if the stall occurred only in between songs that would be acceptable)
    Can we get an iTunes patch for this ???

    Came across this article:
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    Removed the 5 IOFirewire files removed from System/Library/Extensions and rebooted. Startup up within seconds!
    Haven't used the firewire in a while, but I don't recall having any issues with it previously.
    This worked, so I'm happy. Hopefully it sticks.

  • Is it possible to download songs at 320 kbps from i_Tunes store?

    Is it possible to download songs from the i-Tunes store at 320kbps or do they only sell 256kbps. I do my own music mixing with Ableton & prefer to use only 320kbps songs for quality of broadcast. If so... how do I do this? Thanks folks.

    No. Tracks are available from the iTunes Store only as 256kbps AAC.
    Regards.

  • I'm Sorry, 320 kbps vs. Lossless.  No contest.

    Hello, I just started my music collection (digital anyway) and while importing I ended up using the Lossless format.
    I can completely tell the difference....maybe its what I listen (folk, acoustic) but I can tell a difference b/w the highest mp3 settingn and lossless.
    Am I nuts?

    Some people can tell the difference, and it may depend upon the kind of music, the encoder. Also age. Did you truly run a blind test?

  • How detailed does iTunes Match scan?

    Above mentioned question is meant in the following way.
    I had many files converted to 320kbit/s already a few years ago. On some of them you can clearly hear that the quality is not that good, btw the CD had scratches and there are skips and so on.
    Does iTunes Match also find out about a bad auditory quality even if the rate is 320kbit/s or does it just check what the rate is?
    The question came up when I saw that iTunes searches for bad files and upgrades them to 256kbit/s, which is yet less than my rate.
    Thanks for any qualification.
    Rgds
    To

    The quality of matched music is going to equal to that produced from a good CD rip whether its 256 Kbps or 320 Kbps. Most people will not be able to tell the difference.
    If you have good 320 Kbps rip then you don't need to upgrade. If the tracks are matched, you will have access to your music on your iOS devices at 256 Kbps. Tracks uploaded will be as per original file - 320 kpbs will play as 320 kbps.
    If you have tracks that have a bit rate lower than 256 Kbps and are match, you can delete original and download 256 Kbps version.
    As mentioned in previous post, you are unlikely to get a match where the original has faults. If you do get a match, you can upgrade it to the matched version.
    Jim

  • High line attenuation

    I had BT Broadband activated on 30th June and am coming to the end of the "settlement" period. However, the connection has never been above 352kbs(downstream). I am connected directly into a Broadband ADSL master socket which a BT Engineer fitted at the end of 2005 when I was told I would not be able to receive Broadband at the time. I re-ordered with BT last month to establish whether I could now receive broadband before trying alternatives (satellite, wifi etc).
    As shown in the stats below, I have a very high line attenuation of 79.6db - (I am located in rural west Wales). From the BT Wholesale ADSL Checker it advised I would get a broadband line speed of 1Mbps on ADSL Max. Estimated line length being 5.0km(direct), 8.2km (by road).
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    Connection Information
    Line state:
    Connected
    Connection time:
    4 days, 01:39:19
    Downstream:
    256 Kbps
    Upstream:
    320 Kbps
    ADSL Settings
    VPI/VCI:
    0/38
    Type:
    PPPoA
    Modulation:
    G.992.1 Annex A
    Latency type:
    Interleaved
    Noise margin (Down/Up):
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    Line attenuation (Down/Up):
    79.6 dB / 31.5 dB
    Output power (Down/Up):
    13.8 dBm / 12.2 dBm
    FEC Events (Down/Up):
    88913 / 2511
    CRC Events (Down/Up):
    243 / 449
    Loss of Framing (Local/Remote):
    0 / 0
    Loss of Signal (Local/Remote):
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    Loss of Power (Local/Remote):
    0 / 0
    HEC Events (Down/Up):
    421 / 257
    Error Seconds (Local/Remote):
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    9th July BT Speedtester 11.15am
    Test1 comprises of Best Effort Test: -provides background information.
    Download  Speed
    107 Kbps
    0 Kbps
    250 Kbps
    Max Achievable Speed
     Download speed achieved during the test was - 107 Kbps
     For your connection, the acceptable range of speeds is 50-250 Kbps.
     Additional Information:
     Your DSL Connection Rate :256 Kbps(DOWN-STREAM), 320 Kbps(UP-STREAM)
     IP Profile for your line is - 135 Kbps

    Hi Welcome a few points the checker is an estimate only and your attenuation 79.6 you are actually at the extreme edge of broadband service changing suppliers would make no difference and cancellation would be expensive
    If you want to say thanks for a helpful answer,please click on the Ratings star on the left-hand side If the reply answers your question then please mark as ’Mark as Accepted Solution’

  • What settings give the BEST audio quality (original audio CD to iTunes)

    Further to my last post, can ya'll PLEASE help me get the bottom of this? I have heard so many different opinions & need to resolve ASAP....
    What pref' settings will give me the VERY BEST audio quality, when importing original audio CD's into iTunes 4?
    File size is of no issue (I have TONS of storage). I aim to import all at the highest quality possible (files need to be "broadcast quality" - for playing through a big PA system). I have been advised to either.....
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    2. Import using AIFF (lossless uncompressed).
    3. Import using Apple Lossless (lossless compressed).
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    Cheers - Sweetamix.

    You are finding out that the answer to this question tough. Everyone has their own opinion on this one.
    I saved the responses to a topic I opened six months ago on this same subject. I saved them and cut and pasted them into one document. Here were the answers I received. Good luck. bob
    Subject: Re: Classical Music & Bitrate
    Date: Sunday, June 26, 2005 11:12 PM
    To: <[email protected]>
    RE: Classical Music & Bitrate
    My experience with classical music (and music in general) is that the higher the bitrate, the better the quality and richness of the music. On the other hand, there is a limit to how much distinction your ears can make, and I think that anything above 192 kbps (mp3 format) is not significantly better (and not worth the larger file size). And in terms of volume adjustment, I personally have not found any need for it.
    RE: Classical Music & Bitrate
    I copied the same CD to my computer in 128, 160, 192, and 320 bitrates, and I couldn't tell a difference between any of 'em. I was listening to them with Grado SR60 headphones too.
    RE: Classical Music & Bitrate
    I’m sure you will get several if not many responses. You may also find they vary with the preference of the individual. However there are some rules of thumb. Generally speaking I think you will indeed find the higher the bit rate brings you closer to the CD sound.
    Certainly, 32-bit rate does not offer very good sound quality. Actually going from 32 to 320 should have been noticeably better, if not…. Then you’re in good shape. Because what you don’t know is there, can’t be missed.
    Also, the bit rate is only part of the equation. What format codec <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=51910> are your songs ripped to.
    Consider the following - iPod: About compatible song formats
    <http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61476>
    MP3 (from 32 Kbps to 320 Kbps)
    MP3 Variable Bit Rate (VBR)
    AIFF
    WAV
    M4A AAC
    Apple Lossless Encoder
    It sounds to me as though your songs may be in MP3 format. As a suggestion you might try ripping your CD’s to 128 AAC format. The general consensus is that AAC is better than MP3. Give it a shot…for the heck of it, and see what you think.
    Finally in the end…..it matters little what we all might think….If you think your sounds are better ripped at a MP3 320 bit rate……Great. If not…experiment, and play around till you find what sounds wonderful to you!
    RE: Classical Music & Bitrate
    Sorry for taking so long to get back to this thread: had two twelve-hour work days in a row.
    I did a Get Info on a typical piece in my iTunes and got this
    Kind: AAC Audio File
    Bit Rate: 128kb (have some at 192 & 2 or 3 at 320)
    Sample Rate: 44.100 kHz
    Profile: Low Complexity
    Channels: Stereo
    Volume: +2.3
    I was troubled that one responder couldn't tell the difference among 128, 160, 192, and 320 bitrates even using Grado SR60 headphones!
    And another seems to be of a similar opinion when he says that I think that anything above 192 kbps (mp3 format) is not significantly better (and not worth the larger file size). Does this apply to AAC format, too?
    However, I am going to continue to add tunes at the 320 bitrate - for a while - because I swear that I can tell a difference when I play them over my car radio via the cassette adapter.

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