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View Full Version : 128kbs MP3 vs. 96kbs WMA?


Akalon
December 15th, 2001, 23:45
Is there a noticable difference in sound quality between these two formats? Because I was thinking about converting all my mp3's to wma's as they take up less space.

Is there a website that compares the two or something?
trenzterra
December 16th, 2001, 00:44
I don't notice any difference, and I don't think they will notice too. Note that however 96kp mp3s won't play on mIRC's splay command.
Coolin
December 16th, 2001, 03:03
Microsoft's website suggests some bull---- about Windows Media sounds like CD Quality at 64kbps. That's almost as gay as their claim of DVD-Quality video at 500kbps.

MP3 at 128kbps is slightly superior than a 96kbps WMA.
Here's an article that compares them: http://www.litexmedia.com/article/

I suggest using OGG Vorbis. It doesn't come with all that baggage about digital rights and crap and is completely open. It is currently at RC2 and has sound similar to that of WMA. When it reaches 1.0, I'm sure .ogg will own .wma.

Anyway, if you must use .wma, then I suggest using version 8, as it has better sound than version v1,2, or 7. (WTF did MS do with v3-6?)
Coolin
December 17th, 2001, 21:24
Heh, I guess my words are the "end all" type aren't they? ;)
niv
December 17th, 2001, 21:26
The answer is WMA bull----s its frequency. It may reach 44 khz, but it fills it up with noise and crap at lower bitrates (96 kbps and lower). MP3 is still the best format. 200-220 Kbps VBR MP3 is optimal. OGG vorbis is recommended. There are winamp plugins for it, and you need to convert using a drag and drop program on Win9x/NT machines from WAV to OGG.
Coolin
December 17th, 2001, 22:19
Originally posted by Hayama-kun
The answer is WMA bull----s its frequency. It may reach 44 khz, but it fills it up with noise and crap at lower bitrates (96 kbps and lower).I'm no audiophile, but I think a 32kbps MP3Pro or a 32kbps Real Media File sounds nicer than its Windows Media counterpart. The sound seems just so much clearer. Apparently, according to survey's I'm in the minority.
niv
December 17th, 2001, 22:30
Originally posted by Coolin
I'm no audiophile, but I think a 32kbps MP3Pro or a 32kbps Real Media File sounds nicer than its Windows Media counterpart. The sound seems just so much clearer. Apparently, according to survey's I'm in the minority.
Lower frequency. Less garbage.
Coolin
December 17th, 2001, 23:45
I can't wait until OGG RC3 comes out.
I'll encode with that and get killer quality.