I'm ripping some of my CDs into iTunes for my new iPod.

What's the best format, for best sound on my iPod:

AAC

AIFF

Apple Lossless

MP3

WAV


Variable rate or automatic?

Is 256kbps high quality enough, without sacrificing too much space?


Sorry for all the questions, but I've had no time to play with the new iPod, due to work, work, work,...

Any obnerite expertise is truly appreciated.


Cheers,

audiobill

i usually rip at something like 192kbps/vbr mp3s. supposedly their aac format is better but not all my friends use itunes so i want to keep them as mp3s.

WAV will give you the best sound, but the files will be friggin' huge. Apple Lossless should give you the exact same quality for about 1/3 the size if it does what it's supposed to do.

I use 192k too. It's not perfect, but what you're going for is a trade-off between quality and (less) quantity, so you have to draw the line somewhere. I like being able to fit a shitload of songs on my computer/iPod, so I go with the 192.

If you try the Apple Lossless let me know what you find out.

if you want to save space, 128 aac is for you.
if you want portability between applications, 192 (or more) mp3 is what you want.
if you value sound quality, apple lossless is for you.
dont even think about wav and aiff, theyre useless.

Apple Lossless might drain your battery a lot quicker than the MP3 or AAC files would, aside from being much bigger in size. But I might just be making that up.

unrelated to the first post, i just ripped a bunch of cds on my friend's itunes and can't get them onto her ipod in this apple lossless format. has anyone else had a problem like this?

My friends don't all use iTunes either, but I rip mp3s at 160 kbps. I think that sounds good enough and I have a somewhat discriminating ear.

Use mp3, you wont be able to tell the difference between them and aac listening on headphones

and that way you're more compatible with other non apple users

bill knows I'm a VBR ~192 MP3 guy.

All depends on where you do most of your playing. I listen to my iPod most in the car, which has a lousy signal-to-noise ratio. Any audible imperfections from ripping at 128K are masked. If you like to turn off all the lights, put on headphones and crank Sigur Ros, you may want to rip at 192 or higher.

Thank you, all, for your suggestions.

I've decided that I will go 256 VBR mp3, just because I like to listen to some of my music on my grado and sony studio cans.

As far as Lossless goes, I tried it with an album but it took up way too much space for my liking -- it sounded great, however.

Thanks, again.

Cheers,

audiobill

well played, audiobill. well played.