Hi everybody,

when thinking about the ideal LAME switches for compressing my audio CDs last night, a question came to my mind: are there ANY differences in quality or whatsoever in using one or another software for decoding .mp3 back to .wav? Or will you always get the entirely same result?

Irie

Short answer: No differences.

Long answer:
Measurable differences: yes.

Audible differences:
With proper data, and with proper decoders: No significant differences.
With clipped data or with buggy decoders: Might be audible.

IMHO the decoders used by today's major players (winamp/foobar..) have reached such a developed and mature state to render any differences insignificant.

I agree. The only caveat I'd add is to beware of old decoders. Just the other day my wife went to burn an audio CD from some mp3s we have, though instead of using Burrrn she used the old crappy Adaptec suite that came with the computer circa 2000 (can't blame her though, the icon does say "Create CD"...). Anyway the old decoder with this software has issues decoding VBR, and the resulting CD/coaster was full of audible glitches.

Alright, I will just follow your advices and stop pondering about it Thanks a lot at all of you!!

Irie