iPod Is there really much difference in the sould quality.....

[marc55]

I plan on getting a dock and listening to my iPod through my home stereo system, and am wondering if most folks can tell the difference between music ripped with iTunes Plus VS high quality?

I would think the plus would double the storage space required?

Insight appreciated; Thank you

 

[TMRaven]

What is 'high quality'?

 

[marc55]

What is 'high quality'?

In my itunes 10.5 under import settings, there's high quality(128kb) and itunes plus (256kb)

 

[TMRaven]

So you're basically asking if a lot of people can perceive the difference between 128 and 256kbps mp3 files? Yes, quite a lot of people can. When you start delving into 256 or 320kbps mp3 vs a lossless wav rip of a cd, it becomes harder to tell.

Naturally it all depends on how trained your ears are, and the gear you're using.

http://mp3ornot.com/

This is a nifty site to see whether or not 256kbps would benefit you.

 

[wirawee]

In addition to the kind of equipment you are using, it could also be a function of the kind of music you listen to. Typically, classical and jazz can sound much better at higher bit rates than some popular music, depending on how it is mastered. Let your ears be your guide.

 

[alust2013]

It definitely does make a difference, but the difference varies by song. If you have pop type music, the difference is pretty small, but if you get into music like jazz or stuff that has a really wide dynamic and/or treble and bass range, the difference gets pretty big, as wirawee said. It also depends on the quality of the speakers. Through apple headphones, I couldn't tell you which was which, but with my sennheiser HD555s, it's pretty easy.