AAC vs. MP3 - Which offers the best sound quality |
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AAC vs. MP3 - Which offers the best sound quality |
 Dec 16 2010, 20:50
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#1
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Group: Members Posts: 1 Joined: 16-December 10 Member No.: 86574  |
I would like to create a music library for my Droid X. Assuming both formats are optimized, which format, AAC or MP3 offers the best sound quality (I'm not archiving my music yet but will use FLAC if I do)? There seems to be quite a debate if any of the comparisons mentioned was done with optimizing both formats. Assuming they were, what is the answer.
If I plan on plugging my Droid X into my stereo at times, does it matter if I choose the insane 320 bit rate or not? Thanks for the help. |
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Dec 16 2010, 20:58
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#2
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 Group: Members Posts: 4136 Joined: 2-September 02 Member No.: 3264 |
Doesn't really matter. I would use about 200kbps VBR for either format if you're concerned about audio quality.
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Dec 16 2010, 21:38
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#3
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Group: Members Posts: 177 Joined: 16-July 03 Member No.: 7820 |
As saratoga has said it doesn't really matter. MP3 is pretty much guaranteed to play anywhere these days, so you may as well go with that. Or, you could use Ogg Vorbis which is also natively supported by Android.
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Dec 16 2010, 22:03
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#4
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 Group: Super Moderator Posts: 9268 Joined: 1-April 04 Member No.: 13167 |
QUOTE (SoundHound @ Dec 16 2010, 11:50)  There seems to be quite a debate if any of the comparisons mentioned was done with optimizing both formats. Assuming they were, what is the answer. In a perfect world assuming both formats were optimized to the best of their potential then I think it's safe to say AAC would come out on top, but we don't live in a perfect world. In the meantime, you should probably conduct your own personal ABX tests. -------------------- Everything sounds the same until it is proven otherwise.
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Dec 16 2010, 22:46
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#5
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 Group: Members (Donating) Posts: 1442 Joined: 11-February 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 4955 |
QUOTE (simonh @ Dec 16 2010, 15:38) MP3 is pretty much guaranteed to play anywhere these days, so you may as well go with that. Or, you could use Ogg Vorbis which is also natively supported by Android. FWIW, every time I install a new release of Linux on my PC, it will play Vorbis, but I have to go chasing around to find mp3 decoders. |
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Dec 17 2010, 08:43
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#6
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Group: Members Posts: 177 Joined: 16-July 03 Member No.: 7820 |
You're right there DonP. I use Linux and luckily Foobar works well enough to be my default audio app. Haven't found anything yet that can replace it for me.
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Dec 17 2010, 15:04
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#7
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Group: Members Posts: 14 Joined: 13-December 10 Member No.: 86483 |
Since im not allowed to say what I think is higher quality due to TOS # 8. I will simply say that AAC has a newer algorithm than an mp3.
If you cant go lossless, I would go AAC rather than mp3. Thats just me.... |
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Dec 17 2010, 15:45
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#8
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Group: Members Posts: 986 Joined: 19-November 06 Member No.: 37767 |
QUOTE ( @ Dec 17 2010, 09:04) Since im not allowed to say what I think is higher quality due to TOS # 8. I will simply say that AAC has a newer algorithm than an mp3. Since I'm not allowed to say who I think is a higher quality responder due to TOS # 2. I will simply say that there are posts of value in this thread, and posts which offer one nothing but substanceless chatter. This post has been edited by Soap: Dec 17 2010, 16:12 -------------------- Creature of habit.
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Dec 17 2010, 17:43
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#9
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Group: Members Posts: 951 Joined: 6-September 04 Member No.: 16817 |
QUOTE (Peck1234 @ Dec 17 2010, 14:04) Since im not allowed to say what I think is higher quality due to TOS # 8. I will simply say that AAC has a newer algorithm than an mp3. If you cant go lossless, I would go AAC rather than mp3. Thats just me.... What's a newer algorithm got to do with anything? |
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Dec 17 2010, 19:00
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#10
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 Group: Developer Posts: 618 Joined: 6-December 08 From: Erlangen Germany Member No.: 64012 |
QUOTE (probedb @ Dec 17 2010, 18:43) What's a newer algorithm got to do with anything? It implies a few more years of research into perceptual audio coding. AAC = Advanced Audio Coding, where "advanced" is to be understood relative to MPEG1-1 audio coding algorithms (which includes mp3). This of course doesn't guarantee that every AAC encoder exploits the AAC standard to its full potential, but the encoders discussed on this forum do quite well, I believe. Chris -------------------- If I don't reply to your reply, it means I agree with you.
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Dec 18 2010, 06:09
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#11
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 Group: Members Posts: 468 Joined: 16-February 10 Member No.: 78200 |
I'd have to agree with Chris (and greynol about the "perfect world" scenario: )
The newer technologies are usually going to have the upper-hand because they can improve on the work that's been done in the past. But there's really nothing terribly wrong with MP3 either. As greynol mentioned, it is best to do some listening tests and come to your own conclusions. Kudos for archiving as FLAC. If you ever change your mind about lossy codecs you'll have lossless to reencode from. -------------------- The Loudness War is over. Now it's a hopeless occupation.
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 25th May 2013 - 13:12 |
