Well, i use this program (dBpoweramp) and i want to know which are the best settings for mp3 using Lame(i want the best quality, size is not a problem)

So, CBR 320 or VBR 320? and in encoding normal,slow or fast?
Thanks for your help

You should really try to determine which bitrate/setting is optimal for your listening. It is not a wise idea to encode at abnormally large bitrates even if you have the size. Keep the encoding set to normal, that won't change anything given that dBpowerAMP uses Lame 3.97. You will want to use one of the -V profiles. Start with -V 5 and go up. Lame 3.97 can encode at a maximum of -V 0 which is about 250kbps VBR. Don't use the CBR or ABR profiles as Lame was tuned for its -V VBR switches.

I suggest you download a program called foobar2000 and conduct a blind listening test. Compare a Lame mp3 to a lossless file ripped from the same CD. You probably aren't going to notice any difference at -V 5 (130kbps VBR), -V 4 (160kbps VBR), or -V 3 (175kbps). Make sure you use a pair of headphones for this test as well.

I don't know how many times I have heard the statement "I want the best quality, size is not a problem." People always come back complaining that a 3 minute song takes up 7MB. If size really isn't a problem then you would ditch lossy all together and go with a lossless format such as FLAC.

If space really isn't a problem and you have to encode to MP3 then CBR320 offers the lowest chance of audible artifacts. Alternatively, you may want to consider the highly optimised VBR encoding that LAME has to offer. Even at an average bitrate of ~165Kbps with the latest 3.98 beta 8 version at -V3, it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to distinguish this from the same encoding made at CBR320.

Here's some reading material for you until someone else comes along... Hydrogenaudio LAME WIKI

Cheers, Slipstreem.

EDIT: Posted at the same time as kornchild. I'd highly recommend following his advice as well as reading the WIKI.

Yep, we basically said the same but you added the Wiki link and I added the part about ABX. Overall, that should be more than enough for the OP to start thinking about not encoding to 320kbps CBR.

And if you still want the very best and don't care about size, 320 CBR is better than any VBR and is faster to encode. This is not an endorsement of 320 CBR, just an answer to your original question.

If size is not a problem, better store as WAV.