Mp3 Quality too low

[Greybeard]

What are you using to rip the CDs ?

 

I've been using CDex and Lame's preset standard switch for years now and never suffered poor quality. This is a VBR setting giving ~190kbs.

 

You may have a hardware problem, in which case Exact Audio Copy might be the better ripper to use.

[Ghozer]

ok, im not ripping the CD's, im encoding the audio files from WAV files (I have already put them on CD from wav files)

 

im encoding them using the Fraunhauffer encoder, i also tried Lame and Lame MP3-Pro but still hate the quality

[Greybeard]

I see in your OP you said "encoded CBR, 320kbps @ 96khz (which is meant to be CD Quality)"

 

My understanding is that CD audio is 44khz and I've no idea whether MP3 can handle 96khz.

[Guest]

im using winamp - and i can easily tell between mp3, or CD/others

 

Do an ABX and I'll believe you....this is why I like HA, you'd get banned for saying that without proof

 

Everyone's hearing is different but the older you get the worse it gets, if you've been exposed to loud music etc quite a lot it'll be even worse.

 

If you don't want to properly test it, get a friend to switch between the same track in various formats...i.e. turn off the EQ and switch between WAV and MP3 at various settings but don't look at what is being played and make sure your friend doesn't let you know.

 

Anyways if you don't want to do that, go get FLAC and use that, it's lossless so is the same as the original file. Files will be rather larger than MP3 but if you think you can hear a difference then your only route is to go lossless.

[SpeedwayDan]

i can hear a slight difference in quality but i've never suffered this shhh effect

[Ghozer]

Do an ABX and I'll believe you....this is why I like HA, you'd get banned for saying that without proof

 

Everyone's hearing is different but the older you get the worse it gets, if you've been exposed to loud music etc quite a lot it'll be even worse.

 

If you don't want to properly test it, get a friend to switch between the same track in various formats...i.e. turn off the EQ and switch between WAV and MP3 at various settings but don't look at what is being played and make sure your friend doesn't let you know.

 

Anyways if you don't want to do that, go get FLAC and use that, it's lossless so is the same as the original file. Files will be rather larger than MP3 but if you think you can hear a difference then your only route is to go lossless.

 

I have had my hearing tested, and I have a wider than average range, I can hear from about 12Hz to about 24khz ish (normal hearing is on average about 20Hz-22khz) - I can pick up distortion in alot of things, I can even go into a club with loud music playing, and hear a transformer hum, or interference from cables too close to power supplies etc... Its most annoying...

[chri5]

Take time to install EAC with LAME (you can compress your .wavs). Experiment with all the different LAME settings. I've started using -V1 (VBR 200-250kbit/s).

On my professional monitor speakers a blind test between a even a -V2 (VBR 170-210kbit/s) and a .wav will suprise the most discerning listener.

[chri5]

List of recommended LAME settings.

[Guest]

I have had my hearing tested, and I have a wider than average range, I can hear from about 12Hz to about 24khz ish (normal hearing is on average about 20Hz-22khz) - I can pick up distortion in alot of things, I can even go into a club with loud music playing, and hear a transformer hum, or interference from cables too close to power supplies etc... Its most annoying...

 

Average would be very very lucky to pick up 20KHz....24KHz is higher than most kids can hear and most music will only be producing harmonics and not actual sounds at those sort of frequencies.

 

But seriously read HA, it's your best bet for this sort of question, but please before straight out saying you can easily hear the difference do some ABXing or they won't help. This is why I'm happy with LAME at -V 2 settings as I simply can't tell the difference 99% of the time.

 

Ogg should also give better quality for a compressed format.

[Ghozer]

ok, i'll have a play with the LAME settings and i'll take a read through that site and let you know within a few days..

 

thanks everyone for reccomendations etc!