Hey everyone.

I am hoping to finally get an iPod in the near future and I was wondering what the recommended setting is for music encoded in AAC for use on an iPod or other portable music device? I will basically be using the earphones that come with it, so when you factor in the "introduced noise" that you get from using a portable such at this, what quality level would you suggest I encode my songs in? On a side note, I typically use iTunes with a "VBR" setting to encode to AAC.

Also, I just wondered what the general opinion is about 128 kbps AAC that iTunes uses? Is this good quality for a portable device or is it a little low?

Thanks a lot.

Thats simple. If you get a big ipod so that you can easily fit all you want, then use 128 or more. Its really not different to CD.

If you get a small capacity ipod, such as the nano, and you will struggle to fit all you want on, use 96 or 64. Thats what I do and I can only tell the difference if I use ABX. But you dont ABX when you listen so it doesnt matter.

Id get new earphones if I were you. People get mugged for there iPods.

their rather than there

Not the greatest idea to be honest… Better spend $20—$40 more and get yourself a pair of decent headphones that wouldn't make you crank up the volume to hear the details.


Probably the same that you use on the stationary device, or a step lower.


Just about optimal.

You would probably be OK with 128Kbps AAC, but I'd recommend 192Kbps AAC. Try each and see if the difference in audio quality is noticeable to you.

I would use 192kbps VBR, even if you can't hear the difference with that and 128kbps, because depending on what ipod you get there will be al ot of space to fill. Also don't use the stock earbuds, they are not very good. Mine stuffed up the day I got them, so I had them replaced and the second pair lasted a week before they stuffed up aswell. I'd buy a better pair and keep them as backups incase something happens.

Stock iPod buds are good but a bit large. They might hurt your ears after a while. I'd suggest circumaural, closed headphones. You can find some for 40 $ I think. (headphone.com)

Also, encode in 128kbps. I guarantee on a portable device you won't hear the difference (you're traveling with it after all..), and the extra battery will be helpful.

Does anyone recommend Nero's AAC codec over that used in iTunes?

they are almost identical when it conmes to sound quality.here is a graph of the last listeing test were apple's and ahead's encoder were compared. ahead's encoder has been updated in the meantime so it propably has surpassed apple's. there were compatibility issues with tagging in the past but they are solved AFAIR.
you cannot take advantage of the gapless playback that is offered by ahead and propably you never will so just use itunes at about 128 kbits or lower and do get better headphones - that effects the quality more then choosing between ehead and apple - in my opinion.

(or use rockbox-firmware with ogg-support :-) )

I would take this with a grain of salt and wait until some actual testing has been done to support the claim.

"they are almost identical when it comes to sound quality. here is a graph of the last listeing test were apple's and ahead's encoder were compared. ahead's encoder has been updated in the meantime so it propably has surpassed apple's."

did you read the first part of my /claim/ and the word "propably"?

back to topic:

this thread could be helpful for your encoder choice. it deals with stereo image issues of the apple-encoder.

Thank you for the great replies everyone. That's what I love about this website.... so many people with great suggestions! I have read what a couple of different people wrote about getting different headphones and I think I will take your advice ultimately. I did head over to Headphone.com but I know just about nothing when it comes to headphones and what constitutes a "good" set of headphones. Someone suggested in this thread that I get "circumaural, closed headphones" but unfortunately I have no idea what this means. (LOL) I like to go for walks and use a portable music device, which I intend to do with my iPod when I get it so I would prefer to not get headphones that are as big as my head though..... (LOL) Can anyone be a little more specific about their headphone suggestions, since I know very little about them?

Thanks a lot.

Well, on headphone.com there are a bunch of categories. You probably want to look at earpads, earbuds, or in-ear-monitors (also known as canalphones). For portable use you probably don't want any sort of circumaural headphone -- that's the type that are bigger than your ears. They aren't portable, and you look like a dork walking around outside with them.

Probably the best portable + quality headphone are the senn PX 100. These are the style that everyone used to use with walkmans (before earbuds) -- a flat foam pad sits against your ears.

Earbuds, well most people use them now because they're small and convenient. Easy to put in your pocket when you're now listening. The downside is that no earbud is going to give really good sound. I think the standard ipod buds are about as good as you can get. But if you feel like upgrading a bit, or live in a city and want to ditch the mugger-alert white, the senn buds on headphone.com are at least cheap.

In-ear-monitors are probably the best quality you can get from a tiny headphone. The problem is that they are like earplugs with a headphone in them -- they seal you off from the world. Traffic becomes much more dangerous. Also not everyone finds them comfortable.

Well, not to mention that the earbuds included with the Sony PSP is also remarkably iPod white. I thought that a buddy in class had an iPod until he told me it was for his PSP handheld. I told him to get another pair, but he refused claiming they were good. A couple of weeks later he came along with Koss Portapro instead. A much better choice both sound and mugging wise (he, well they might mug him for the PortaPro though).

As for buying an iPod I'm agains it. Creative has just as good players and the iPod is more hype than quality.