Should I Go ALL 320kpbs?

[MoreWattagePlz]

I have a 2005 4-door civic (it was a bit of a hand-me-down). I just installed a Pioneer 7100bt HU and front speakers ( Alpine 600S ). I plan to move the coaxials to the back when I can buy components with an amp for the front doors, and I plan to add a subwoofer with an amp as well. I’m gonna do all this as soon as I have like $1200, but for now I’m stuck with what I have.

I have a friend who drives a BMW M4 with a 12-speaker sound system (bastard) and he swears by 320kpbs. I’ve started paying more attention to bitrate. Because I’m missing the lows on my system, some songs will not sound good no matter what until I get a sub… but I’ve noticed that some songs that are 320kbps come through with real nice layering of sound, and the sound on the ones below 300kbps varies but it could be for a slew of different reasons… btw I listen to mostly rap/hip-hop

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

Will I always see an improvement in quality if download 320kbps songs to replace ones with lesser bitrates? Or is it possible that, on my limited system, lower bitrates may actually sound better because my 2 speakers cant handle too much sound detail? Also is there a noticeable difference between CBR and VBR? thanks

Edit: just realized I keep using "kpbs" and "kbps" interchangeably... good job Rookie

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[*SlappinAzz*]

fuck that shit, A real man listens to 96 kbps

 

[mk_ 10+ year member]

Sure won't hurt. 320kbps files will be larger, so if space is of concern, keep that in mind. I'd imagine you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 320kbps and 192. There's usually a noticeable difference between 128 and 192, so I usually keep 192 as my absolute lowest bitrate. But like I said, there's nothing wrong with going 320kbps, it all depends on the recording anyhow. A poor recording with 320 bitrate is just going to sound like a really good poor recording, if that makes any sense.

 

[MoreWattagePlz]

Sure won't hurt. 320kbps files will be larger, so if space is of concern, keep that in mind. I'd imagine you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 320kbps and 192. There's usually a noticeable difference between 128 and 192, so I usually keep 192 as my absolute lowest bitrate. But like I said, there's nothing wrong with going 320kbps, it all depends on the recording anyhow. A poor recording with 320 bitrate is just going to sound like a really good poor recording, if that makes any sense.

it makes sense... I know there are other variables, I just wanna eliminate the obvious potential causes for bad sound quality

I have my iTunes sorted by bitrate now and it seems about 1/3 of the music is below 190kbps.. However, there are a bunch of songs that are VBR that fall in the range of 160-190, would they still be decent quality? VBR just uses a lesser bitrate when there's nothing complex going on right, so does that mean you can have a song in 160VBR that sounds as good as 320 CBR?

btw file size is no issue, the HU plays nice with my iPod and my iPod holds 80GB //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

EDIT: actually "does that mean you can have a song in 160VBR that sounds as good as the same song in 190 CBR?" would make more sense

 

[mk_ 10+ year member]

I wish I could say that I'm an expert on constant and variable bitrate, but I would be lying. I honestly believe that you wouldn't be able to tell much difference between the two, constant or variable, respectively. Back in the mid 90's when I started downloading mp3s 128kbps was acceptable. As I grew older, got a car, and stereo, I could tell the difference between 128 and 192 no problem. As I said before I would stay 192 and above CBR or VBR. Once you get into the double digits bit rates(96kbps and lower) sound quality is compromised a lot, and will be noticeable to the trained ear.

You will run into problems where you can only find that song in lower BR, so you'll have to make due, but these days you can usually find what you want in the quality you want. Hell I remember looking all over for some songs and only finding it in like 48kbps, I was just so happy to get it I didn't even care //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Michael

 

[thisistiny 10+ year member]

I agree with everybody above. Keep the minimum to 192kbps. I try to get everything at 320kbps if possible.

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

All of my dubstep is 320

Everything else is V2 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

Private trackers ftw //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[MoreWattagePlz]

OK thanx for the tips guys. I'm also battling sibilance on some songs, like when there are "S" sounds in lyrics and the speakers sound like snakes... I'm just wondering what I can do there... just play with my equalizer? I dont wanna do that all the time, especially if it's only a problem for certain songs... are there any mp3-editing/ equalizing programs that i could use to modify the frequencies of songs? I know it sounds like a lot of work but I like tinkering with this kind of stuff

 

[mk_ 10+ year member]

You might want to back off the equalizer in the higher frequency range, I know exactly what you're talking about, used to give me headaches.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

MP3s are a waste of time...

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

320k for everyday

wav files for serious listening

 

[AllenH427 10+ year member]

Yep, I'm on the same page as everyone else. I attempt to get everything in 320. The main difference from 320 and the lower bitrate you go in the highs and the lows. The cymbals sound more "pixilated?" and the bass just isn't nearly as clean. Like metal and dubstep, I shoot for 320 all the time. Anything else, I try to also hit the 192 minimum.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

OK thanx for the tips guys. I'm also battling sibilance on some songs, like when there are "S" sounds in lyrics and the speakers sound like snakes... I'm just wondering what I can do there... just play with my equalizer? I dont wanna do that all the time, especially if it's only a problem for certain songs... are there any mp3-editing/ equalizing programs that i could use to modify the frequencies of songs? I know it sounds like a lot of work but I like tinkering with this kind of stuff

MP3-Gain is a program you can use that will tell you if a song is in clipping range and will equalize all the songs so that they are the same volume throughout the entire collection.

 

[ssmith1092]

so is there any difference from a mp3 320kpbs and the same song on the actual cd

 

[hatedonmostly 5,000+ posts]

so is there any difference from a mp3 320kpbs and the same song on the actual cd

Yes. mp3s of any bitrate are compressed; that is, a lesser quality than a CD. However, 320 is the closest you can get to lossless on a mp3; an mp3 of the highest bitrate.

Will your ears be able to tell the difference between the two? Probably not.