.m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

[Jams]

I would think that if I were converting an .m4a file to an .mp3 file that there would be further compression but I did this yesterday and the file sizes were unchanged after conversion. Does dbpoweramp convert from one of these compressed formats to the other without further compression? It's counter-intuitive but sure would be great.

Thanks-
Brian

[LtData]

Re: .m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

I'm not sure if it directly converts or not, but I do know that you are losing quality converting from one lossless format to another. And most .m4a files and all .mp3 files are lossy.

Edit: woops, fixed it.

[jtbse]

Re: .m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

I And most .m4a files and all .mp3 files are lossless.

LtData....you meant to say "lossy" instead of "lossless" right? :smile2:

[Jams]

Re: .m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

I'm not sure if it directly converts or not, but I do know that you are losing quality converting from one lossless format to another. And most .m4a files and all .mp3 files are lossless.

Right, I assume you mean lossy not lossless. But if there is a loss in quality which I would equate with stripping more bits away, why would the file sizes be nearly identical? That would say to me there was no further compression.

[LtData]

Re: .m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

Ewps, fixed the error.

Well, its similar to the situation where if you take a 128kbps mp3 file and convert it to a 320kbps mp3 files. You get a larger file but the quality of the file itself is the same. The situation is similar here: you get approximately the same file size but you still lose quality.

[Jams]

Re: .m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

Lt. Data - Thanks! Makes sense. Not that I am doing it often I just wanted to share a few files with someone who doesn't use .m4a.

[LtData]

Re: .m4a converted to .mp3 - no data loss?

Well if they have or use Winamp or iTunes or Quicktime, they can play .m4a files just fine. Just an FYI.