AAC vs MP3

markbot · 09-21-2010, 09:42 PM

I recently started using an ipod after many years of non-apple music players. I was surprised to realize that the Zune software is vastly superior to itunes. Shocked!

Also, Amazon.com mp3s are a lot cheaper than iTunes music....sometimes half price for the same album.

I have read that AAC is supposed to be superior to MP3....definitely at low bit rates. However, my thinking is that beyond 200kbps encoding they must be virtually indistinguishable. right? Of course, my thinking is that if I buy an MP3 version I don't want anything second rate since price really isn't that big of a deal for me since I really don't buy that much music to begin with. I also don't want to buy CDs because they take up too much space.

Do you think Amazon mp3s are just as good as itunes AAC files for a high quality sound system?

kindlekitten · 09-21-2010, 11:21 PM

I started out with a sony zen which was great until I washed it ;o(. since then I have had several Zunes. at first I just downloaded my cd's, then graduated to the Zune store, and have finally been using Amazon and being REALLY happy about not having to get entire CDs.

I think the sound is awesom and have had my Zune hooked up to some pretty spectacular speakers and never had any sound isssues (except from CD recordings)

HarryT · 09-22-2010, 05:22 AM

I have a pretty good HiFi system, and with my decidedly middle-aged ears I can't hear any difference between a 320kbit MP3 file and the original CD. When you can't hear any difference, then to my mind, there is no difference.

harakiri · 09-22-2010, 05:54 AM

check out

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=idx

its the reference!

These people know MP3/AAC inside out

In my opinion the AAC Apple produces in iTunes sound decent. I am not impressed by their MP3's. For that I would use LAME to encode (256kBit VBR)

But I am getting older so my hearing is getting worse ....

MrPLD · 09-22-2010, 09:21 AM

Of course, there's also ogg-vorbis which is in a similar realm to mp3 but without the ugly patent issues.

Most of the stuff I have here is 320kbit~VBR encoded and I cannot distinguish it from CD most of the time (though I do wish we had a better common standard than CDs now because quite honestly the dynamic range can be exceeded due to questionable post production work).

Paul.

CyGuy · 09-22-2010, 09:31 AM

All of my music is MP3 @ 320k. The quality is very good, perhaps not as good as CD, but close. The main advantage of using the MP3 format is the versatility. I can play MP3's on my computer, my phone, in my car, even my eBook reader plays them. I simply can't see any reason why I would want any other format...

harakiri · 09-22-2010, 10:13 AM

Actually all modern devices play AAC files as well.

Since Apple abandoned DRM with iTunes Plus format I can buy stuff at iTunes, copy it to a SDHC card and play it on my car audio system

Same is true for my Nokia phone or the Sony 505 reader ....

09-21-2010, 09:42 PM	#1
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	AAC vs MP3 I recently started using an ipod after many years of non-apple music players. I was surprised to realize that the Zune software is vastly superior to itunes. Shocked! Also, Amazon.com mp3s are a lot cheaper than iTunes music....sometimes half price for the same album. I have read that AAC is supposed to be superior to MP3....definitely at low bit rates. However, my thinking is that beyond 200kbps encoding they must be virtually indistinguishable. right? Of course, my thinking is that if I buy an MP3 version I don't want anything second rate since price really isn't that big of a deal for me since I really don't buy that much music to begin with. I also don't want to buy CDs because they take up too much space. Do you think Amazon mp3s are just as good as itunes AAC files for a high quality sound system?

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09-21-2010, 11:21 PM	#2
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I started out with a sony zen which was great until I washed it ;o(. since then I have had several Zunes. at first I just downloaded my cd's, then graduated to the Zune store, and have finally been using Amazon and being REALLY happy about not having to get entire CDs. I think the sound is awesom and have had my Zune hooked up to some pretty spectacular speakers and never had any sound isssues (except from CD recordings)

09-22-2010, 05:22 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I have a pretty good HiFi system, and with my decidedly middle-aged ears I can't hear any difference between a 320kbit MP3 file and the original CD. When you can't hear any difference, then to my mind, there is no difference.

09-22-2010, 05:54 AM	#4
harakiri Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 464618 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kindle Oasis 2	check out http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=idx its the reference! These people know MP3/AAC inside out In my opinion the AAC Apple produces in iTunes sound decent. I am not impressed by their MP3's. For that I would use LAME to encode (256kBit VBR) But I am getting older so my hearing is getting worse ....

09-22-2010, 09:21 AM	#5
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Of course, there's also ogg-vorbis which is in a similar realm to mp3 but without the ugly patent issues. Most of the stuff I have here is 320kbit~VBR encoded and I cannot distinguish it from CD most of the time (though I do wish we had a better common standard than CDs now because quite honestly the dynamic range can be exceeded due to questionable post production work). Paul.

09-22-2010, 09:31 AM	#6
CyGuy Avid Reader Posts: 769 Karma: 7777778 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: PocketBook 902, Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, ASUS TF700, and Cybook Gen III	All of my music is MP3 @ 320k. The quality is very good, perhaps not as good as CD, but close. The main advantage of using the MP3 format is the versatility. I can play MP3's on my computer, my phone, in my car, even my eBook reader plays them. I simply can't see any reason why I would want any other format...

09-22-2010, 10:13 AM	#7
harakiri Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 464618 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Germany Device: Kindle Oasis 2	Actually all modern devices play AAC files as well. Since Apple abandoned DRM with iTunes Plus format I can buy stuff at iTunes, copy it to a SDHC card and play it on my car audio system Same is true for my Nokia phone or the Sony 505 reader ....

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