MP3s vs cd quality/flac

Not only plastic disc. No need in high end system, with more or less good headphones you can hear the difference, if you are not deaf. 

Old debate...
I would say mainly what Mr. ProgFreak say, i.e. from 256kbps and up, veeeeery few human beings can distinguish CD from mp3. If they tell you they can, they are LIARS. Science tells you that.

Codecs are compared not by their 'audio quality', but by their effeciency. In other words, at a constant compression rate or a constante bitrate, which format yields the better quality.
But that doesn't mean the two codecs cannot become equivalent at high bit rates. Actually, the difference between them becomes simply too thin to distinguish.

Still, a few nuances are required here:
- There ARE crappy encoder/decoders.
- It all depends on the CONTENT. Some music can be encoded at 128kps without anyone being capable of hearing the difference between mp3 and CD, and another track can be distorted by a 160kbps encoding.

I am used to encoding at 320kbps, but that isn't absolutely necessary...
For my music, I use OGG. The best encoding there is in my opinion.

^^ Maybe not exactly *liars*, but nevertheless probably people who have heard some difference between some tracks at some point and ever since committed themselves into believing that mp3 is inferior.

A real listening test to that effect is actually quite difficult to do - I haven't done a real double blind test either. I derive my conclusion from the various documented listening tests that have been done, plus the fact that I can hear a clear difference at 128kbps even on bad systems, and I think I can hear some difference at 192kbps, but I have never heard any artifacts with the 256kbps+ files that I normally use.

Mr ProgFreak wrote: WalterDigsTunes wrote: NotAProghead wrote: Mr ProgFreak wrote: That means that even on very high end audio systems, you normally cannot tell a properly ripped 256kbps mp3 from the CD source. If it is so I wonder why record companies still produce CDs.  Because I'm not going to pay money for a file. Exactly ... never mind the actual music, the plastic disc is what's most important.

Zeroes and ones are not worth real money that requires actual work to obtain. High-quality physical objects that contain music that you can rip at the bit rate you desire and that function as permanent back-ups with perfect sound forever? A smart investment.

Probably the best thing about mp3's is that, while CD's and vinyl records will eventually wear out or brake, as long as the internet exists mp3's will be available. And the internet will never die.

wow, so many conflicting opinions. Well, I don't plan on not buying cds. I think I am going to definitely delve into the mp3 thing. If it sounds like crap but I like the music I'll just buy it on cd. I think that for most of the so called classics and prog cds I'll still buy the cd when possible but for more casual or just stuff I want to hear just so I can say I heard it I'll buy on mp3 though hopefully nothing under 200 kbps. 200 is still decent right? ;)

WalterDigsTunes wrote:   Oh, and you can always sell that CD for money whereas the 0s and 1s are money that's been wasted forever.

MP3 is fine at 128kbs for most rock/pop stuff. I prefer to rip CD's at 320kbs. Hard drive space gets cheaper all the time so It's no big deal. Plus 4.5 gigs on a data DVD is a lot of music storage. I did listen thru nice headphones to some classical piano pieces at 128kbs or even 256. I could hear the softer piano notes as they decay give a sort of digital "ffffffft" sound. But then I don't listen to classical much. Anyone should be happy with 320kbs.

Mr ProgFreak wrote: WalterDigsTunes wrote: NotAProghead wrote: Mr ProgFreak wrote: That means that even on very high end audio systems, you normally cannot tell a properly ripped 256kbps mp3 from the CD source. If it is so I wonder why record companies still produce CDs.  Because I'm not going to pay money for a file. Exactly ... never mind the actual music, the plastic disc is what's most important.

Good MP3 (maximum variable bitrate) is excellent for me. Less than that, problems appear.