UW store music file quality

[revolver9]

I have some mp3s from years back that I encoded with iTunes that I have now encoded with LAME and they sound better as there is more space in the music. It really does make a very worthy difference. I don't think it takes a spectacular system to hear the difference, but still some decent equipment (and affordable). The evidence is in the volume. Most people would draw a conclusion from sitting at their comp or driving down the road with surrounding noise. Who likes to turn up Moaner or Banstyle at home? At 256 and above or with a good VBR the music will attain that crystal clarity. I think it's also dependent on your hearing and although mine is not the best I am still lucky to have great hearing (puzzling as I think back to shows and events)

Also I still think the VBR analysis through iTunes is flawed. LAME VBR is amazing though. And constant bit rate of 256 and above I don't think iTunes and LAME are noticeably different.

[stimpee]

Originally Posted by revolver9

I have some mp3s from years back that I encoded with iTunes that I have now encoded with LAME

... well just as the LAME encoder has improved over the years, i'm sure the iTunes one has as well. And as the results i posted above suggest, it has improved at low bit rates. If it improved at 128, then its for sure better at 192. I dont think Underworld would accept it otherwise and we would have noticed. Why not take the iTunes encoded 192 and take the WAV and encode it at 192 with LAME and do your own listening test?