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What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances file size
to quality?

I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting images to
JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?

"Acetyldehyde" <> wrote in message
news:a1z_b.28128$...
> What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances file
size
> to quality?
>
> I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting images
to
> JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?

I'd think that most people (esp if downloading over dialup) would use
between 160 or 192kbit. Those playing through high-end stereos would
generally use something higher.

Worm

"Worm" <> wrote in message
news:403ad5d6$...
> "Acetyldehyde" <> wrote in message
> news:a1z_b.28128$...
> > What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances file
> size
> > to quality?
> >
> > I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting images
> to
> > JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?
>
> I'd think that most people (esp if downloading over dialup) would use
> between 160 or 192kbit. Those playing through high-end stereos would
> generally use something higher.
>
> Worm
>
>

Yep 192 for me!

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 16:16:58 +1300, Worm wrote:

> I'd think that most people (esp if downloading over dialup) would use
> between 160 or 192kbit. Those playing through high-end stereos would
> generally use something higher.

Those playing "through high-end stereos" would use CDs purchased in a
store - full PCM RedBook audio.


Lennier

--
"When dealing with the Religious Right one should remember that 'truth'
is not a part of the rules of their game."

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 15:53:27 +1300, "Acetyldehyde"
<> wrote:

>What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances file size
>to quality?
>
>I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting images to
>JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?
>

160 - 192. Reduce file size (around a meg on average) by using VBS
(variable bit rate). Quality also affected by other settings and
codec. In CDEX, with Lame codec, you can select q=0 Very High
Quality. It takes a bit longer to encode but supposedly does a better
job.

Worm wrote:
>>I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting images
>
> to
>
>>JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?
>
>
> I'd think that most people (esp if downloading over dialup) would use
> between 160 or 192kbit. Those playing through high-end stereos would
> generally use something higher.

Most you find available on the p2p networks is 128, and often ripped with errors
amd all.

Even at 192, the difference is still there sometimes, anything I rip myself I
rip the whole CD to a single wav, compress it with flac, and then edit the
cuesheet to have the new filename. bit for bit accuracy in about 3-400 megs per
cd, with the ability to write an exact copy if needed.

On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 15:53:27 +1300, "Acetyldehyde"
<> wrote:

>What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances file size
>to quality?
>
>I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting images to
>JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?

192kbps is the sweetspot. A lot of Kiwi's use 128kbps, but for anyone
that cares it sounds like ****, especially on alt.rock music. Just
make sure you use a good codec, such as lame. A **** codec @ 192kbps
might give a poorer result than a good codec @ 128kbps.

The warez scene (where they are typically fussy as they want to be the
best) seems to be drifting towards variable bitrate at the moment. I'm
still not convinced that this is a good thing.

Lebowski wrote:
> "Worm" <> wrote in message
> news:403ad5d6$...
>> "Acetyldehyde" <> wrote in message
>> news:a1z_b.28128$...
>>> What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances
>>> file size to quality?
>>>
>>> I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting
>>> images to JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?
>>
>> I'd think that most people (esp if downloading over dialup) would use
>> between 160 or 192kbit. Those playing through high-end stereos would
>> generally use something higher.
>>
>> Worm
>>
>>
>
> Yep 192 for me!

160kb/s for me, I don't have big HDDs and I find (on my admitedly less than
state-of-the-art) stereo they sound fine. 128 sucks.
--
~misfit~

GraB wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 15:53:27 +1300, "Acetyldehyde"
> <> wrote:
>
>> What is the generally accepted best bitrate for MP3 that balances
>> file size to quality?
>>
>> I understand that 20% compression (or 1/5) is best for converting
>> images to JPG. Is there an MP3 equivalent?
>>
>
> 160 - 192. Reduce file size (around a meg on average) by using VBS
> (variable bit rate). Quality also affected by other settings and
> codec. In CDEX, with Lame codec, you can select q=0 Very High
> Quality. It takes a bit longer to encode but supposedly does a better
> job.

I use EAC (Exact Audio Copy) with the Lame plug-in and get excellent
results.
--
~misfit~

> > I'd think that most people (esp if downloading over dialup) would use
> > between 160 or 192kbit. Those playing through high-end stereos would
> > generally use something higher.
>
> Those playing "through high-end stereos" would use CDs purchased in a
> store - full PCM RedBook audio.
>
>
> Lennier
>

High quality MP3 + a good sound card does an ok job. Nothing really seems
to compare to DVD Audio at 192KHz/24bit though

Steve