Can you tell the difference between 128/192/320kbs?

[~K+]

It means both file size and sound quality.

For use on the computer, really, 192kbp or 224kbp is fine to me. If I'd really want it that high in quality, I'd go buy the CD to hear things lost in mp3. The file size for 320kbp files is just too big for me. 128kbp is bearable if I can't find anything better, like some others have said, it can be fairly noticeable between 128kbp and 192kbp, but not so much after that.

[CREA.tive]

well i can't tell the difference between 192 and 320. but i know that 128 sounds AWFUL

[doushiyou]

Sometimes I can tell. It depends on what it's ripped with.

[stardusties]

What's VBR and CBR? and what are the differences?

[Halla]

VBR stands for Variable Bit Rate and CBR for Constant Bit Rate.

I tried explain them a bit but try wikipedia if this is confusing lol :

on 192 CBR mp3 the bit rate always stays at 192 . on VBR mp3 the bit rate varies according to the mp3 , more sounds higher the bitrate. on the more silent parts of the mp3 the bit rate is lower. The idea behind VBR is to save in file sizes & and there are different quality VBR around. some are for example from 128 kbps ~ 224 kbps and some could be from 192 kbps ~ 320 kbps.

[stardusties]

Originally Posted by Halla

VBR stands for Variable Bit Rate and CBR for Constant Bit Rate.

I tried explain them a bit but try wikipedia if this is confusing lol :

on 192 CBR mp3 the bit rate always stays at 192 . on VBR mp3 the bit rate varies according to the mp3 , more sounds higher the bitrate. on the more silent parts of the mp3 the bit rate is lower. The idea behind VBR is to save in file sizes & and there are different quality VBR around. some are for example from 128 kbps ~ 224 kbps and some could be from 192 kbps ~ 320 kbps.

coooool!!! ^^- sooo... get what it does and how it does...but i don't know how it would sound like....do you have examples of the same song in both CBR and VBR?

[Rins-chan]

Originally Posted by stardusties

coooool!!! ^^- sooo... get what it does and how it does...but i don't know how it would sound like....do you have examples of the same song in both CBR and VBR?

Maybe I can find one. After I ripped my CDs again to VBR mp3s I used to delet the CBR ones...
But I will have a look. Should not be too much work to rip one song once more in CBR and VBR quality.

ja ne

[Kakeru]

Originally Posted by Halla

VBR stands for Variable Bit Rate and CBR for Constant Bit Rate.

I tried explain them a bit but try wikipedia if this is confusing lol :

on 192 CBR mp3 the bit rate always stays at 192 . on VBR mp3 the bit rate varies according to the mp3 , more sounds higher the bitrate. on the more silent parts of the mp3 the bit rate is lower. The idea behind VBR is to save in file sizes & and there are different quality VBR around. some are for example from 128 kbps ~ 224 kbps and some could be from 192 kbps ~ 320 kbps.

Hehe I think that's very well-explained.

To add to that...VBR assigns the "right" amount of bitrate to each second of the song...so if at that second the music/sound is more complex/layered, it will have a higher bitrate to fit all the elements. In contrast, if that second is just some simple bit, the bitrate will be lower. The advantage of VBR is that it's resource efficient. As opposed to CBR, which you have the same bitrate to every second, including places where the music is simple or even silent, VBR corrects for that. Therefore the file size of VBR mp3s is usually smaller (compared to like, 320kbps).

I prefer VBR myself, just 'cause it's cool to see the bitrate go up & down while you listening to a song. xD (haha not)

[sexysaucestar]

Halla, I definitely did not know about that stuff ^^; Thanks for the information

[Mad_Cactuar]

I dont know, but I'd use either 128 or 320, and 320 is a lot better. I think that by using a low bitrate, high notes and loud noises have that annoying scratchy sound to it which is unbearable?

[Calico]

I can tell the difference between 128 and 192, but after that I'm lost.

Personally, the higher the KB, the more annoyed I get because that's more space and more time for it to download. Oh well.

[LacusClyne]

yes. sometimes i can tell the difference. especially when i'm using my headphones.

[ohsixthirty]

not really...it all sounds basically the same to me.

[Hazuki]

128KBS are staticy and you can't really hear the song unless the volume is up pretty high.

Usually 192 is good, and I usually have those instead of the 320. 320's are the best though. Good quality music =D

[spookshow]

I notice the difference between 128 and 192 -- especially when I have the volume up

A little bit.

[elepop]

Nope. And sometime, the 320 kpbs doesn't sound loud as the other. I convert all my songs in 128 kbps for less place for my computer and iPod. I don't see the difference.

[HELVENEUE]

i see a BIG diffrenece. i listened to my copy of EXODUS by Utada on 128 for months, then for some reason, i decided to rip it at 320 and it sounds WAY diffrent. now i have all my songs at 320 (most of them) and they all sound alot louder, actually...

[elepop]

Originally Posted by HELVENEUE

i see a BIG diffrenece. i listened to my copy of EXODUS by Utada on 128 for months, then for some reason, i decided to rip it at 320 and it sounds WAY diffrent. now i have all my songs at 320 (most of them) and they all sound alot louder, actually...

"About you" was one of my only 320 kbps song and the volume was really low compared to the rest of my songs. I always had to turn up for this song, then turn back down for the rest.

[bulmasman]

The difference between 128kbs and 192kbs is so distinct that i sometimes half to turn off 128 mp3's. 192 is perfect for me, decent quality and reasonable file sizes. I don't see the need for file sizes to reach 12-15mb when you get almost the same quality for for files half the size.