Posted by Broadway Blue on 11/04/06 18:35

Mark A wrote:
> I read the archives, but assuming that one has the newest version of
> an iPod (80 GB Video) and latest iTunes software (7.02), which one of
> these is the best quality. All music is imported from CD's
>
> MP3 - 320 kbps (stereo), VBR (highest quality setting), Sample rate
> (choice of 44,100 or 48,000 kHz or Auto)
>
> AAC - 256kbps (stereo), VBR, Sample rate (choice of 44,100 or 48,000
> kHz or Auto)
>
> AAC - 320 kbps (stereo), No VBR, Sample rate (choice of 44,100 or
> 48,000 kHz, or Auto)
>
> Note that with AAC, I cannot select 320 kbps with VBR using iTunes
> software.

It's very doubtful that you would need a 320kbps VBR AAC file anyway!
All of your examples are at the er.. high end, and are not needed for a
good sounding file. Try and encode one track imported from a CD with all
three of your suggestions, and see which one you prefer. As that's the
option to choose - what your ears tell you what sounds the best. But all
three files would sound good I'd say, and you might not notice any
difference between the encoded files and the actual CD track at those
bitrates.

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