Best Format

[note]

Hi,

Really new to all this so would like some advice.

I want to rip my CD collection to dbpoweramp and then into MM where I will use the material to listen soley to music on my MP3 player.

Now loads of forums rave about FLAC but is it any better the bog standard MP3 when listened to with an MP3 player?

To be honest I started off the other day trying to get album art along with the music on my Cowon D2+ but gave up as it proved impossible.

Ripping to MP3 and adding art is so easy using the MP3 format.

So at the end of the day is using FLAC really worth the effort and most of all the difference in quality.

Look forward to your response.

Note. :blush:

[Spoon]

Re: Best Format

For portable players you are best with mp3 (maximum bit rate), but that is not to say if you are ripping you rip to FLAC (lossless) then convert to mp3 for the player, that way you will never have to rip again as you have a lossless track.

[Debby747]

Re: Best Format

Hello Note,

While modern hard drives are so big >1000 GB that it is no problem to store music in lossless compressed files as FLAC or WavPack (or pick your favourite), mobile media players are still quite limited at 16/32 GB.

Personally, I find mp3s are great for mobile listening. Test different bitrates to find which you like best in sound/file-size ratio (I got as low as V6, VBR ~120). Lossless is rather overkill with mobile devices as you might not even tell the difference while sacrificing space.

The question is whether you are fond of managing two collections, lossless and lossy, or if you are fine with on-the-fly converting while adding files to your player.

I am glad to have made the step towards FLAC for my at-home-listening (TEAC WAP-2200 connected to USB drive and hifi-stereo).
From FLAC you can go everywhere.

Greetings
D.

[note]

Re: Best Format

Thanks ever so much Spoon and Debby for taking the time and trouble to reply.

Very helpful I can assure you.

One last question please Spoon. Are you say then to rip at 240kbps in VBR. when using MP3 format?

Thanks again to you both for your help.

Regards,

Note. :smile2:

[Spoon]

Re: Best Format

For mp3 you are best using the quality settings (a good trade off with file size against quality), use -V 0 or CBR 320 kbps if you want the best quality.