BMW - nickel and diming us??

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09-20-2005, 09:43 PM

#11

swajames

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Quote:

Originally Posted by donv' date='Sep 20 2005, 06:35 PM

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that music files inveitably are compressed to some extent. Thus, if, for example, the source is a CD, then the compressed version will lose something in relation to the original. Of course, it might be hard to hear the difference depending on the quality of the sound system.

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Absolutely right, but at 192 KBps or higher (assuming you're using AAC encoding), I would fully expect the compressed version on the iPod to be virtually indestiguishable to *most* listener's ears from the original CD when played in the car. I normally stick to 320 KBps AAC encoding and it works well. If anyone is interested Apple also has a lossless encoder which reduces file size by about 50% from the size of the original CD audio AIFF file. To my ears I can't really tell CD audio from apple lossless from 320 KB AAC, but I listen to mainly rock which compresses pretty well. For some other music styles (esp. classical) it can be more obvious if you're using a lossy format such as mp3 or aac. Just my 0.02.

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09-21-2005, 05:21 AM

#12

m630

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..agreed, using 320KBps setting or lossless should ensure virtually no degradation of the source...if you start with a true digital source, 44.1kHz to 48kHz (CD - DAT), you should not be able to hear any difference

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09-21-2005, 05:24 AM

#13

m630

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Quote:

Originally Posted by EBMCS03' date='Sep 21 2005, 12:24 AM

Ya I'm not happy that the E90 gets a LOT more than the E60 as base / standard especially the 330 but on the other hand the 545 nor the 550 gets them and options are TWICE as much!!!!?

What gives???

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...they think if we can afford to pay say 65K, whats a few more thousands to make the E90 seem like a bargain :thumbsdown:

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09-21-2005, 06:02 AM

#14

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Quote:

Originally Posted by m630' date='Sep 21 2005, 08:21 AM

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I am not familair with the apple specific compression, but I think with a decent audio system (home or auto), you definitely can hear the difference between mp3 and cd. As Apple is apparently doing, there is lossless compression (MKW for one) which allows for shorter dowmload times without loss of quality. If you visit some of the downlowd sites, there are very spirited discussions on this topic. One site has even adopted the slogan "Friends dont let friends download mp3's.

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09-21-2005, 06:05 AM

#15

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09-21-2005, 07:17 AM

#16

fred1976

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To my opinion, the discussion about sound quality of compressed files might actually be endless in a similar way that there is a discussion between common picture takers with a 3Mp camera and semi-pro or pro with Digital Reflex having an 8Mp+ resolution. It appears obvious that the quality will increase if you increase the amount of information. But it is also true that the player reading these info, the environment where these info are read and the "reader" himself should be follow the same quality criteria to obtain the best you can. In case of a cd/mp3/ipod format audio player mounted in a car, the environment is obviously deteriorated and the earing capabilities of anyone won't be able to distinguish differences except if they are obvious (in case of scratch on you mp3 cd f i ). The fact that the car is a bmw, even with the very nice sonic isolation, does not totally empeach to hear sounds such as the wind, the pavement/tire contact. Therefore, I would say: You can hear an mp3 without trouble, even on an non HiFi system.
At home, it is another story. That's why formats such as SACD or DVD audio exist. These are approaching the analog wave form of the original sound and this the best you can do to reproduce a sound with the highest fidelity.

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09-21-2005, 04:53 PM

#17

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As someone said here earlier, MP3s encoded with the proper settings using LAME are indistinguishable from redbook (that's CD). AAC is a newer lossy codec, but Apple doesn't really encode it optimally for the tracks it distributes on the iTunes store.

Anyway, the main issue you're going to run into with the iPod headphone jack is that it's pretty lousy quality - that's going to do more to harm the sound than any loss from compression.

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09-21-2005, 05:28 PM

#18

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Quote:

Originally Posted by UUronL' date='Sep 21 2005, 07:53 PM

As someone said here earlier, MP3s encoded with the proper settings using LAME are indistinguishable from redbook (that's CD).? AAC is a newer lossy codec, but Apple doesn't really encode it optimally for the tracks it distributes on the iTunes store.

Anyway, the main issue you're going to run into with the iPod headphone jack is that it's pretty lousy quality - that's going to do more to harm the sound than any loss from compression.

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And, iPod/MP3 player electronics will not be a plus in general--particularly in a very good sound system. Maybe OK in an auto sound system.

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09-21-2005, 06:47 PM

#19

EBMCS03

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Quote:

Originally Posted by m630' date='Sep 21 2005, 06:24 AM

[quote name='EBMCS03' date='Sep 21 2005, 12:24 AM']Ya I'm not happy that the E90 gets a LOT more than the E60 as base / standard especially the 330 but on the other hand the 545 nor the 550 gets them and options are TWICE as much!!!!?

What gives???

[snapback]172999[/snapback]

...they think if we can afford to pay say 65K, whats a few more thousands to make the E90 seem like a bargain :thumbsdown:

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[/quote]

HUH?

EXACTLLY! at $65K and I dont get L7 as standard on their "top end" car, nor MP3 is.... uhhhh

<span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>TO HELL with BMW NA...</span>

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09-21-2005, 08:43 PM

#20

swajames

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Quote:

Originally Posted by UUronL' date='Sep 21 2005, 05:53 PM

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Apple advertises iTunes tracks as being 128KBps AAC but in reality many tracks available on the ITMS are actually encoded at a (sometimes much) higher bit rate. The audio hardware in the iPods is amongst the best of the portable players, a fact not lost on a few of the UK hifi enthusiast magazines inc What HiFi who consider the iPod mini (RIP) to be the best of a strong bunch. Try running a dock connector to get a line level signal from iPod as I agree the headphone jack might be a weak link (but that's relative).

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