bit rates

is there an audible difference between 128 and 160 kbps? also, is there a significant difference in file size between the two?

jeremy

oh, i wish i wish i had an empeg...

The short answer, yes. I, personally, can tell the difference between 128, 160, 192 and 256 - each one has a noticible decrease in the amount of artifacting in each sample - that's the effect where it sounds tinny or has a "digital" effect, mostly in the higher ranges.

For example, the sample that ships with the unit is the worst - it was so bad it I couldn't delete it fast enough. Not because it wasn't good music, but because it was horribly distorted with artifacts.

As for file size, the VBR files I generated in my test were about a meg larger than the ones encoded at 128kb, but the difference in sound quality is well worth the extra space.

Just curious what program you are using to create your mpg files. I am currently using MusicMatch Jukebox with the setting at VBR 100%. Any opinions on that? They sound pretty good to me but then I dont have a very high end sound system.