Mp3 or Cd

[darron016]

I havent bought a CD in over 6 years...

[neo_styles]

I havent bought a CD in over 6 years...

Neither have I. If you don't own the CD, just try to download stuff that's encoded at 192kbps or higher. Look into having a torrent client if you don't already use one. I prefer utorrent.

[SourDeez]

Haven't seen this unless I check the block for downconverting on the iPod's settings menu. Does it have to do with the internal DAC?

I thought it did that by default, converts them into 192 AAC or some ****

[Bettr n' Revrse]

Too much of a pain in the ass to down load all that shit then covert it all to 320 so I just use CD's

[Alrojoca]

2 things:
1 make sure you are not using the headset jack to listen to your iPod and connected to an aux port. If you are not using a USB iPod cable and port on the HU you are not hearing what you should be hearing.

2 Once you hook up your iPod to the computer, click on the music section of your iPod, select the song, right click check info and that will tell you the file size, if it's 128k AAC stereo, no good. 256- 320k, good-best.

I agree, EQ on iPod, off, some tracks, and type of music no matter what setting you use, it will sound bad due to the poor quality recording or the type of music.

[neo_styles]

I thought it did that by default, converts them into 192 AAC or some ****

That's if the option to compress on transfer is enabled and I think you can adjust what it compresses down to. IIRC, it's 160 AAC and it's pretty awful. Like I said, I'm running 320CBR now and the difference is definitely apparent, especially with dynamics and space

[darron016]

2 things:
1 make sure you are not using the headset jack to listen to your iPod and connected to an aux port. If you are not using a USB iPod cable and port on the HU you are not hearing what you should be hearing.

2 Once you hook up your iPod to the computer, click on the music section of your iPod, select the song, right click check info and that will tell you the file size, if it's 128k AAC stereo, no good. 256- 320k, good-best.

I agree, EQ on iPod, off, some tracks, and type of music no matter what setting you use, it will sound bad due to the poor quality recording or the type of music.

Of course I use the AUX and the headphone jack.. There is no other way to listen to IPOD


All my songs look to be 128 and sample rat 44 100hz

[VWBobby]

If you want to use an iPod in your car, use a USB adapter direct to the head unit. This is the only way to avoid what is already a loss (using an mp3 player).

This was all discussed about a month ago:
MP3/Ipod vs. C.D.?

No, CD's are not compressed 320Kbps. No, 320K is not CD quality. Yes, you can hear a huge difference between 192 and 320K. MAYBE you won't be able to tell driving down the road at 60mph with the road noise. However, when there is little road noise, yes I can hear a difference in my car. Definitely different in the home.

The only way to compress music is to remove information or abbreviate sound information in the areas where the codec determines is inaudible.
If you are listening to a 192K or 320K MP3, try turning it up and see if you can hear the digital garbage that comes through. It will sound like a weird robotic crackle sound, especially on higher pitched sounds in quiet passages. You will not hear it on loud songs usually, only the quiet parts. Also, the bass and treble has been cut below 25Hz and above 20Khz. Especially the closer you get to 20Khz. This is why Kenwood and other manufactures have "expanders" for MP3 playback, to help get back some of the sound information that was lost in encoding. Lots of manufactures have come up with circuits or software to help improve the quality of MP3 playback, but it is still just a band aid for the problem (sound loss).

[gckless]

If you want to use an iPod in your car, use a USB adapter direct to the head unit. This is the only way to avoid what is already a loss (using an mp3 player).
This was all discussed about a month ago:
MP3/Ipod vs. C.D.?

No, CD's are not compressed 320Kbps. No, 320K is not CD quality. Yes, you can hear a huge difference between 192 and 320K. MAYBE you won't be able to tell driving down the road at 60mph with the road noise. However, when there is little road noise, yes I can hear a difference in my car. Definitely different in the home.

The only way to compress music is to remove information or abbreviate sound information in the areas where the codec determines is inaudible.
If you are listening to a 192K or 320K MP3, try turning it up and see if you can hear the digital garbage that comes through. It will sound like a weird robotic crackle sound, especially on higher pitched sounds in quiet passages. You will not hear it on loud songs usually, only the quiet parts. Also, the bass and treble has been cut below 25Hz and above 20Khz. Especially the closer you get to 20Khz. This is why Kenwood and other manufactures have "expanders" for MP3 playback, to help get back some of the sound information that was lost in encoding. Lots of manufactures have come up with circuits or software to help improve the quality of MP3 playback, but it is still just a band aid for the problem (sound loss).

This. Use USB for sure. By using the headphone jack, you are then using the shitty iPod DAC, which you don't want to use. That's where all those sound EQ's are applied. You don't have those with USB, it's digital to the HU and then uses the DAC in the HU. While your Kenwood probably doesn't have the best DAC in it, it's miles better than an iPod.

Also, lossless FTW.

[Alrojoca]

Exactly, funny how we try to solve a problem and overlooked the main sources, like I said before, USB will give you the best sound and digital integration and sound. 2 issues, 128 k stereo files and headphone jack output to aux. if you need to use the aux port, buy one of these iPod iPhone Dock Connector Male to 3 5mm Plug Cable Mm | eBay it will give you much cleaner and better sound than the headphone jack.

[Roth]

Of course I use the AUX and the headphone jack.. There is no other way to listen to IPOD


All my songs look to be 128 and sample rat 44 100hz

And there's your problem, especially when you combine the two. You might actually prefer the digital compressed (nasty) sound of poorly encoded mp3's though. Many people have grown up with them and when they hear clean sounding music, it just sounds "off". Just play and listen to what you enjoy.

[SourDeez]

No, CD's are not compressed 320Kbps. No, 320K is not CD quality.

Since when are cd's not 320kpbs?

[T.I.K.]

Don't mess with any software that claims to normalize your volume. ESPECIALLY Sound Check on iTunes.

That being said, there's no difference audibly between CD and 192Kbps MP3. I go for 320 just for good measure. You may want to look at re-ripping your discs to 320 and see if there's a difference, but CD should theoretically come out on top since it's as uncompressed as you can get without tape or vinyl.

How awesome would it be to have a turntable input for your car though? haha

[SourDeez]

How awesome would it be to have a turntable input for your car though? haha

Wouldn't be very hard as most of them are analog so probably 1/4 TRS or maybe XLR. I could fab up some type of aux > 1/4 TRS no problem.

[darron016]

I only have an AUX port so how would i connect my IPOD through USB?

Also if I use the USB my songs will still be 128 so how would it make a difference?