Posted by audiohead on 10/18/05 20:43

NRen2k5 wrote:
> Yes and no.
>
> It's all an issue of "bitrate". A WMA at 128 will be the same size as an
> MP3 at 128.

They're not the same size. The WMA at 128 (protected or unprotected)
is slightly larger than MP3 at 128. AAC>WMA>MP3 at 128/44.100.

A WMA at 64kbps will be half the size of an MP3 at 128kbps.
> A WMA at 96kbps will be three-quarters the size of an MP3 at 128kbps.
>
> WMA performs better at low bitrates than MP3 does. So if you're going to
> use WMA at all, you might as well be using it at 48kbps or 64kbps.

At 48 or 64 WMA does perform better, but sounds horrible. WMA at 96 is
only slightly better.

> Higher than that, and you might as well use MP3 because it performs
> equal or better.
>
> - NRen2k5
>
> Paul Watt wrote:
> > Hi,
> > I've managed to get about 250 mp3s at 128 on my 1 gig creative zen nano
> > plus. Would i be able to get much more on if I converted all my tracks to
> > WMA? Would there be much loss of quality? Would it be worth the effort?

It's not worth the effort unless you want to degrade your music. The
compression algorithm used in MP3 is superior to that used in WMA. Buy
an iPOD or other AAC compatible portable and use AAC at 128 for overall
better sound quality.
> >
> > TIA
> >
> > Paul

[Back to original message]