[gunbir]

Originally Posted by rohan_fonseca

Would playing lossless from an ipod on my pio HU via ipod interface provide better quality than playing it via aux in?

Yes, way better.

Originally Posted by greenhorn

1.difference between 256k and 320k CBR - obvious

You could tell the difference between those two but not between 320k and CD?

Originally Posted by navin

This is what my ears could tell (in a car that was not moving but the engine was running - I would like to believe that my ears would have been more ciritcal if the engine was off as well and my stereo was of better quality like Gunbir's

You may be surprised to know that I have been (happily) listening to my iPod through a Kenwood 6539U and a pair of 4" coaxials (open baffle) since the past 7 months. And even on this humble (but very enjoyable) system I can easily tell the difference between WAV, MP3 etc.

[navin]

Originally Posted by gunbir

And even on this humble (but very enjoyable) system I can easily tell the difference between WAV, MP3 etc.

and between lessles and CD? what lossless ar you using? does it have ID3 tags?

[frankmehta]

Navinji, ALAC has ID3 tags I think. Because I can see them categorized in my ipod in the same way that the other ID3 tagged songs are placed.

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by gunbir

You could tell the difference between those two but not between 320k and CD?

I could possibly, but I've never owned a CD in my Life . All i have are mp3's and DTS CD's I've downloaded <insert "I'm too cheap" smiley here >

I cant even notice the (otherwise obvious) difference between 256k and 320k when I'm driving, so not sure about CD's

[navin]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

I cant even notice the (otherwise obvious) difference between 256k and 320k when I'm driving, so not sure about CD's

I dont think there is huge difference between MP3 of 256k and 320k.

[gunbir]

Originally Posted by navin

and between lessles and CD? what lossless ar you using? does it have ID3 tags?

I use WAVs by and large. I just add tag info manually (painful but I'm used to it by now) once into iTunes and then its like MP3/ID3 tag functionality. Only thing that doesn't show up is the cover art.

[navin]

Originally Posted by gunbir

I use WAVs by and large. I just add tag info manually (painful but I'm used to it by now) once into iTunes and then its like MP3/ID3 tag functionality. Only thing that doesn't show up is the cover art.

Ok Gunbir I'm gonna send you my 600+ CDs! LOL Just kidding.

[jaibir]

Seems there is a way to change the firmware on your ipod (gen 1-5) to play flac files. These are the guys who make the alternate firmware: Rockbox - Open Source Jukebox Firmware . Its open source and doesnt use DRM/licensed software so not illegal. Will try it out on my old 30gb video ipod over the next week or two and post back with results. Unfortunately it doesnt work with the current (6th) generation of ipods. A 120gb player that plays flac would be very useful indeed.

[navin]

Yes Jaibir, but old ipods are hard to find.

[frankmehta]

once you mod the ipod to use rockbox, the ipod will not be recognized by the alpine and pioneer players that allow ipod direct.
the only way you can listen to those flacs is via aux out.

[sathee46]

there is a lossless format for ipod, Apple lossless *.M4A. I'm able to play them on my ipod

[karankapoor]

What i have read about M4A they are also lossy compared to flac and wav, what if you want to run m4a through a disc, most players does not supports flac,M4A.

[devrajman]

The best combination is to go for is MP3 with Lame Codec, compressed using 256kbps VBR in slow or normal speed with Stereo or Joint-Stereo.

If your cellphone, iPod, Car player, etc etc doesnt support VBR use CBR.

I have been using this since ages and is as good as CD quality

Now a days many sites and torrents have 256kbps VBR as standard.

[jaibir]

It depends entirely on the system you listen to it on. On a true hi-fidelity system, you will be able to make out the difference (on tracks that you are familiar with). On my 6-year-old and much abused creative 2.1 pc speakers, even 192kbps cbr with standard encoding is good enough.

[sathee46]

Originally Posted by karankapoor

What i have read about M4A they are also lossy compared to flac and wav, what if you want to run m4a through a disc, most players does not supports flac,M4A.

Is it? i was thinking it is a lossless format. Even the encoder on itunes say so. In my listening experience i dont find any diffrence in FLAC & ALAC. If not better it is equally good.