MP3's degraded SQ???

[Blad09]

Pretty green to this whole topic. Just wondering the differences in mp3 files opposed to say an original recording on a cd. I'm gonna be using an mp3player/ ipod for all my music through a Premier DEH-P930 via AUX in (ip bus cable to RCA) and want to make sure I'm not wasting my time cuz I won't do it if its gonna sound like shit. Most of the music that will be put on the mp3 player are cd's that I own, but I would like to be able to download new music once in a while. Also, what's a good free music download site. Thanks for any help.

[ttocs]

mp3s are a compressed music format. There will be loss of sq associated with that but the chance of most people noticing is pretty small if it is a higher quality mp3. I don't download music so can't help there.

[Eric D]

Enjoyment of MP3s has been directly related to system quality for me. In my vehicle I can listed to MP3s any time I am driving and they are great.

The same is not true for my home stereo. When I listen to the same MP3s on it they sound like junk. CD is the way to go for my home setup.

Several years ago I had a pretty nice car stereo setup, and on it MP3s sounded awful as well. Again, CD was the only way to go.

If you have a really great car stereo, I doubt you will enjoy listening to MP3s over CDs.

[Lowcountrypsulion]

I've had mixed results with MP3s. For example, last Christmas I received the big Led Zepplin box set and promptly ripped each CD into the MP3 format using a moderate conversion level (to keep the file size down).

I could definitely tell the difference between "Good Times, Bad Times" playing directly from a CD in my Alpine 9884 and the MP3 file of the song playing through my Sansa Sandisk MP3 player.

Although, maybe that had more to do with the fact that I was using an external MP3 player connected to the auxillary output of the Alpine. I'm not entirely sure.

[Blad09]

I will be using an external player as well, via AUX in. So I guess the only way to really know if I like it or not is to try. Maybe I'll sacrifice some memory and convert at the highest rate and go from there. Thanks for replies!
No one on the download sites?

[00goobs]

I've noticed a difference in sound going from an iPod to a creative zen. On the same download, the iPod was clearer/louder. I do believe the iPod cable is direct digital to an iPod ready head unit, as the eq and volume settings have no effect (hopefully)...

I try to download 320k bitrates when I can for mp3s...

A friend uses USB as it sounds way better than through his head unit than using anything on the aux port.

[Blad09]

I have heard/read that USB is the way to go for the best SQ I just don't know if there is any way for me to connect via usb. Its an old pioneer premier and the only inputs(that I know of) are RCA through a "IP Bus cable" as an AUX. We'll see! Thanks!

[ttocs]

using the processor in the deck would almost always be better then using an external mp3 players, going though its amp and then into the deck for further processing.

[Blad09]

The deck isn't mp3 compatible. Is there any way to bypass the (external) mp3 processing? I would think not. Maybe its time for a new deck, but the features on the deck are awesome and looks good too. I guess I could just keep haulin 300+ cd's around lol.

[ttocs]

I use my satalite radio more then anything else. The only place I use mp3s yet is on my phone with headphones while working here/there on projects.

You would need to find a way to get the raw data off of your mp3 player before you could hope to use a higher quality processor to transfer it and not to many have an optical or any data outputs. If it had an optical output it could be done, but again I really don't think the portables are made for something like this for sq. They are about convinience more then sq, the form followed the function there....

[mrblack]

I used to be skeptical but after years of experience I have to say that I consider high quality MP3 rip to be virtually indiscernible between its original CD counterpart on most levels, especially newer tracks that have little to no fidelity left to them anyways... Some minor artifacts may be able to be picked out under various rare circumstances, however if we're talking a high quality LAME encoding, even the pickiest ears wouldn't be able to faithfully A/B the two without extensive knowledge of the original track's qualities.

Now with that said, it has already been mentioned that the biggest drawback to MP3 playback is the quality of hardware reproducing the signal. You're never going to get super high fidelity noise free sound out of a cheap piece of hardware, well almost never. Luckily there are some options. For a few years now Alpines decks have been able to link directly to an iPod and receive the audio data digitally, thus bypassing any cheap hardware used in the MP3 player. Other manufacturers have started to follow suit as well, and if you can find a quality deck with this option I would consider this the best way to go.

Or If you're like me and stuck with a super old high end deck with digital capability, the Cambridge Audio ID100 coupled with an iPod / iPhone might be of interest, however this unit looks best suited with home systems and would take a nice install to make it sturdy in a mobile environment.

If you're truly going for high quality while staying up to date with the newest equipment, I'd shoot for a large late generation iPod and use lossless or high bitrate encoding coupled with a decent deck such as a newer Alpine model that has nice DAC's and can bypass the really cheap ones in the iPod.

[soth]

If you're going to use MP3's then rip them at a constant 320kbits. Don't know if any players can actually play flac or ape, but it would be nice though. I can tell a difference between 128 vs 320 for sure, but from cda to 320kbit not really.

Kevin

[finbar]

I have heard/read that USB is the way to go for the best SQ I just don't know if there is any way for me to connect via usb. Its an old pioneer premier and the only inputs(that I know of) are RCA through a "IP Bus cable" as an AUX. We'll see! Thanks!

Something like this .........
http://www.amazon.com/Metra-AIP-RCA-Ipo ... B000WUH5A6
might help.

[Francious70]

I can most definately tell a difference between mp3's of ANY quality and original CD quality if I know the song.

Cymbals get muddied and tinny, and bass is lackluster.

But it seems to be the way music is headed FTW, so get used to it.

[Blad09]

I have heard/read that USB is the way to go for the best SQ I just don't know if there is any way for me to connect via usb. Its an old pioneer premier and the only inputs(that I know of) are RCA through a "IP Bus cable" as an AUX. We'll see! Thanks!

Something like this .........
http://www.amazon.com/Metra-AIP-RCA-Ipo ... B000WUH5A6
might help.

YEP. Exactly!

I can most definately tell a difference between mp3's of ANY quality and original CD quality if I know the song.

Cymbals get muddied and tinny, and bass is lackluster.

But it seems to be the way music is headed FTW, so get used to it.

I feel like I can hear the diff as well, just don't know if its in my head or environment (road noise)or what.
Great feedback! Thanks All

[Nils]

I can most definately tell a difference between mp3's of ANY quality and original CD quality if I know the song.

Cymbals get muddied and tinny, and bass is lackluster.

But it seems to be the way music is headed FTW, so get used to it.

This is just to get crappy small dockingstations so sound "outstanding" Also called "loudness war"