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xrayjames
10-25-2011, 09:40 AM
Usually, I prefer to buy a CD, but I do come across some music/artists that I don't mind downloading their music (legit, from their site). My question: are 320kbps MP3 files burned as an audio CD equivalent to the sound on the actual CD?
mfdgame
10-25-2011, 10:20 AM
Usually, I prefer to buy a CD, but I do come across some music/artists that I don't mind downloading their music (legit, from their site). My question: are 320kbps MP3 files burned as an audio CD equivalent to the sound on the actual CD?

Mp3 is lossy so they will never sound the same and you would just be burning that lossy soundwave to a CD. Depending on your stereo, you may not hear a diference but I certainly can with mine. since 320 is the top of the mp3 spectrum it should sound decent but I would never pay for an mp3. For me its a hard copy or if its not available I buy a CD from another group since I feel like Im being royally shafted.
Rat44
10-25-2011, 10:39 AM
MP3's are useful for getting the music out there and portability but I myself would never pay for it in that format.
The music I purchase online as downloads is limited to FLAC only.
Pentium100
10-25-2011, 11:08 AM
My question: are 320kbps MP3 files burned as an audio CD equivalent to the sound on the actual CD?

In theory - no, mp3 quality is lower. In practice - you may or may not be able to hear a difference and if you do, you may or may not get annoyed by it.

Download a mp3 encoder (like LAME) and encode some of your music from CD to mp3, then try to hear the difference between them and you'll know.
xrayjames
10-25-2011, 11:11 AM
Thanks for your replies everyone; you have cleared that up for me.
ke4mcl
10-25-2011, 11:44 AM
one more twist. your DAC (sound output device) is everything. a 320k MP3 on a good DAC is pretty amazing.
xrayjames
10-25-2011, 01:16 PM
This will make a neat experiment; the CD I purchased online came with a 320kbps MP3 download version. As soon as I get the CD in the mail, I can do a comparison since my SACD player can play MP3s as well.
Warped Bezel
10-25-2011, 07:03 PM
I was thinking that in all the 8 years I have had Qwest/CenturyLink, have I ever downloaded at 320kbps?

Almost sure my Schwinn is at least 320 kbps uncompressed.

If my Schwinn does get compressed an ambulance will be called...

Hope your experiment fares well, James.
Pentium100
10-25-2011, 07:35 PM
Almost sure my Schwinn is at least 320 kbps uncompressed.

So, 22kHz, 8 bit stereo (352kbps)?
vidguy
10-25-2011, 08:02 PM
Depends on the music.
Pop, Rock seem to handle compression well, my theory is realatively lower dynamic range, and the generaly consstant pattern of sound, makes it easier to *hide* artifacts.

Jazz, classical, music with a large dynamic range, and a varied pattern of notes, seem to show the artifacting more.

So, if you like Ultravox, or Van Halen, you might think it sounds the same as the source, and if you like Miles Davis, you may hear the difference.
Warped Bezel
10-26-2011, 12:16 AM
So, 22kHz, 8 bit stereo (352kbps)?

YES! Mono WAV file! That is PERFECT!
xrayjames
10-26-2011, 06:48 PM
I miss Linda :(
Warped Bezel
10-27-2011, 02:52 AM
I do too but I've got a lot of pictures of her and I'll have to locate the fan site where I got them for you...

I look long enough and she becomes a bit of a personality extension sometimes.

We never had anybody that cute in school (well, maybe a couple but if they look that way at 45 it's rare or something).

Especially after having six children and an dominating first husband.

STORYTIME (nope).
xrayjames
10-29-2011, 03:32 AM
My next question is: is there anything to be gained sonically from converting a 320kbps MP3 to an audio CD format?
LesX55
10-29-2011, 03:56 AM
Only that the CD should sound better played via a good HiFi
vidguy
10-29-2011, 08:36 AM
My next question is: is there anything to be gained sonically from converting a 320kbps MP3 to an audio CD format?

Not from the conversion process itself, however your SACD Player has a better DAC than your MP3 player, then that's an improvement.

However, it's also true that a better DAC may reveal the artifacts inherent in lossy codecs such as MP3.

If your goal is high quality digital streaming, you'll get the best results from high quality lossless codecs, such as FLAC
xrayjames
10-29-2011, 08:38 AM
So, then is FLAC to CD audio closer to the actual redbook CD sound?
Pentium100
10-29-2011, 09:19 AM
So, then is FLAC to CD audio closer to the actual redbook CD sound?

FLAC is exactly like the original. You can compare it to "zip" or "rar" compression - you get the exact same document that you put in, same with FLAC, that's why its compression ratio is quite low.

There is no difference at all between the original .wav file, and the .wav file you get after decompressing FLAC.