Not the "most" popular, but just reasonably popular.
Using an non-available version of iTunes is problematic. First, people couln't download it easily (or simply legaly). Second, if iTunes AAC won't be the winner, the criticism about "Hey, why don't you use the last version of iTunes, which performs certainly better, etc..." is more than probable.

How did you make the 4.2 vs 4.5 test ? Because if iTunes 4.2 is installed on the same machine (or after) 4.5 it is using the new Quicktime "engine". So that would mean that this "engine" can still have the 4.2 quality but 4.5 uses it differently.

.02

I have QuickTime 6.5 installed on my virtualized Windows 98. iTunes 4.2 uses QT 6.5

The sample "Bayle - Jeita or Waters' Murmur - Etching" (available here) i've used for LAME ringing tests is another one where iTunes 4.2 is better than 4.5. The problems are the same noticed for applaud sample.

I've uploaded the two m4a files (128 kbps) here: http://xoomer.virgilio.it/fofobella/itunes/

edit: score corrected. Thanks kalmark, my intention was to rate v4.5 0.5 points lower I can confirm v4.2 is better.

Hmmm, even though you say 4.2 is better than 4.5, in the ABC/HR result posted 4.5 is rated higher

kalmark - are you speaking of proxima's results ???

cuz he's clearly rated them:



so... ?

Kalmark was right, i edited the post to correct the scores after another quick check. Unfortunately i've done a mistake in my first post because i rated v4.5 higher even if it sounds worse but comments claiming "warbling" belongs to v4.5 description.
Nevertheless, the sample, the m4a files and my comments are available: the result is verifiable.

Heh, guys you scared me I almost thought I don't know what I'm speaking. Next time I better quote the critisized part

SoundCheck has definitely been improved in the 4.5 version. In 4.2 it would make songs that were less than a minute much louder than the rest of the songs. Now that problem is resolved and all songs are normalized to the same volume. You can also group compilations together now which is a major plus. Apple does seem to listen to their customers as I used their feedback system and requested some of these features.

Edit: The SoundCheck feature is still buggy. Some main examples are Tool's Parabol and Linkin Park's starting track of Meteora. Tool's Parabola is significantly boosted where it is hardly even listenable. The first track on Linkin Park's Meteoria album is only 30 seconds and SoundCheck still has a problem with boosting shorter songs in volume. Sorry for posting the false info above. I thought it was fixed because a 30-40 second song on Alice In Chains' "Dirt" album was the same volume as the rest of the album so I assumed SoundCheck was fixed. I assumed wrong.

How does the grouping feature work?

In iTunes's preferences go to the General tab and tick Group compilations when browsing. This will put a Compilations group above all of your artists in the browser. So any album with a Yes value in the Compilation field of its tag will be displayed as a Compilation in the browser. The compilation field I am referring to can be viewed by right-clicking a song and clicking Get Info.

Note that you will need to go to Edit > Show Browser to use this feature.

Has anyone tested the new iTunes 4.6 to see if still has the High Freq problem? I would like to see the results.

It was said earlier in another thread that 4.6 uses the same version of the quicktime encoder as 4.6, so the same problems should apply to 4.6 as well

[Edit = Added link to thread in question]

I'm sure you'll get the best compression with OptimFROG: http://ghido.shelter.ro/