My first 3 Days with the IPOD
Hello all.
Well, I'm currently listening to oasis on my ipod and I have a few questions that have come up after my first 3 days with the IPOD.
My main question has to do with sound quality. At what kbps are you recording your cd's into mp3's? At first I used 128, but then I felt the music was flat, so I'm up to 320, which sounds better, but takes up a lot more space. Also, even at 320 kbps, I find something lacking in the songs? It's much better than 128 kbps, but I don't know, at some points I feel like things should sound clearer, if that makes sense.
At 128 kbps, the drums are weak, the sound just clearly is not up to par, and it took away from my experience. Any suggestions?
Also, about the EQ settings: I have mine on "Rock", which I feel is best for rock songs, because with the EQ set at nothing, the songs are pretty bad. Any suggestions about EQ settings?
My last question is about the earbuds. Do people recommend I use some different headphones to enchance the music?
[1064 byte] By [
carlolove] at [2007-11-9 13:24:45]
# 1 Re: My first 3 Days with the IPOD
The sound quality probably isn't that good because 1) you are using the supplied headphones and you should pick up new ones, 2) use are using the EQ which most people think distorts the music and makes things sound worse (most people leave it off), and 3) you are using music match to rip the songs and would get better quality if you used a program that used the LAME encoder.
If you pick up quality new headphones (look in the headphones forum theres a lot of talk about them), turn the EQ off and use LAME to encode mp3s at 160 or 192 you will probably get much better results.
BigIzz at 2007-11-15 15:11:43 >
# 2 Re: My first 3 Days with the IPOD
Big Izz, good to hear from you! I always trust your word.
So tell me. With LAME, I encode, rip my cd's, then use music match to transfer the files to the ipod?
In terms of EQ, it definitely sound a lot better on "rock" than it does off.
At what rate do you encode your mp3's? And what program do you use?
Also, what headphone do you use?
# 3 Re: My first 3 Days with the IPOD
I don't see why you couldn't encode with LAME and transfer with MMJB, I've never tried it myself so I wouldn't know for sure.
EQ is certianly your preference so use whatever sounds best to you.
I don't use mp3s, I encode in 128 kbps AAC using Nero 5.5 with the AAC plugin (again though it is a very complicated and time consuiming process with shortcomings like lack of tagging). If I were to encode a mp3 though I would use EAC with LAME at probably 160 kpbs (if space were an issue as it is on my iPod) or 192kpbs if space didn't really matter (like on my computers hard drive). I really think the best option for you would be to use Media Center 9, I know it is $40 but would simplify the entire process greatly, plus you get a free 30 day trial so you can try it for a while. I've never used it myself but if I didn't use AAC I would probably buy it. I am pretty sure MC9 uses LAME to encode (am I right?)
As far as headphones, I use a pair of big Sony ones, I don't know the model number off hand but they were like $20 at Best Buy. I can't really reccomend them or not, I'm not a headphone expert. I use the Apple earbuds when I'm out and about but just ordered the Sennheiser MX-500 from Amazon for like $20. I haven't heard them yet but I have read good things so we will see. You're best bet wouldb be to check out the headphone forum under gear and you can read about headphones ad nauseum.
BigIzz at 2007-11-15 15:13:52 >
# 4 Re: My first 3 Days with the IPOD
I'm against using MC9. I downloaded the trial version and it was full of bugs.
I just tried out Cdex. It's a nice program, but some of the songs I converted to mp3's are crap, and I'm using 192 kbps. Ah!
I think I'm gonna try EAC & LAME and hope for the best. If that doesn't work, I'll stick with Music Match & be unsatisfied.
