CD vs MP3

[coolsax]

I just got my first real system set up. Right now I've got a Yamaha 465 driving 2 M60's and a CS1, no sub or rears. Is there going to be a huge difference between MP3 and CD? All of my CDs have been converted to MP3, so they are all in boxes currently. My AVR has a portable input to hook my mp3 player up but I was also thinking about getting a fairly inexpensive used single or 5 disk CD changer, is there a huge difference in sound quality that would make this a good option or should I be fine just hooking in my MP3 player?

[kawizx9r]

Welcome!

Don't have any experience at all with your setup, nor do I know how well you hear things but if you're looking to stream music through your system I'd recommend a good lossless file-type. I hate mp3's, and have just started re-buying all my old cd's I used to have just because I can hear all the flaws in my music. All depends how revealing your setup really is. Play around with it, you won't know what you'll like unless you try :D

[BlueFox]

Depends on what you like. If you want to hear every note in the recording then the CD, or a high-res download, is best. If you want to hear damaged, muffled, sonically impaired music then MP3s are best. Of course, the better your equipment, the more apparent the differences between the two formats.

[heiney9]

YES. End of discussion

[Cpyder]

The way I see it, there are two factors at play.

First off, are your rips higher than 128kbps? If I have mp3s, although most of what I listen to is lossless, they are in 320. I find it to be extremely difficult to tell between 320 and lossless such as WAV. WAV will always be "better" than lossy compressions.

Also, one thing I noticed when connecting my ipod from the 3.5mm headphone jack into the RCA connections on my receiver was that the poor conversion process from the ipod's DAC hurt my playback noticeably. Once I purchased a USB transit device that output a digital signal to my receiver and let the receiver do the conversion processing, it sounded noticeably better!

But, I would say that a CD player playing your CDs will sound better than connecting through your mp3 player to play lossily compressed audio. Although you can probably be happy with either assuming your not a nit-picky audiophile like me.

[olilugo]

I will add it will be on a cd by cd basis. it will also depend on how the cd was mastered.
I made a test between a bunch of CD's, ripping them into MP3, flac, and CD, and in some the difference was noticible between MP3 and Flac/CD. There was no difference between flac and CD.

However for most of the music I listen there was not noticible difference. I ripped the MP3 into 320Kbps.
Last keep in mind this is just my observations using my gear in my house. You can see my signature for details on my gear.

As of now all my CD's are ripped to flac and I use a USB in front of my receiver - using the DAC of my receiver for all processing.
I would not even consider a dedicated CD player at this point.

[vc69]

Depends on what you like. If you want to hear every note in the recording then the CD, or a high-res download, is best. If you want to hear damaged, muffled, sonically impaired music then MP3s are best. Of course, the better your equipment, the more apparent the differences between the two formats.

Oh SCHNAPP! You went there, yes you did!

+1

Even high-bitrate mp3's sound pretty nasty when compared to lossless/uncompressed source.

[coolsax]

Bluefox ---- ok I get the point LOL

Now I do have a upconverting DVD player hooked up.. if I only want single disc.. it should handle this just fine as a normal CD player without much difference from a CD exclusive player? I know this may be a stupid question but just verifying.... it sounds fine but I didn't know if an exclusive CD player would make a sound difference. my qualm with using the DVD player though is that I can't see the display for time of each song unless i turn on the TV or which I don't always want to deal with, whereas with a CD player the time and track will be displayed.

[billbillw]

Go back and re-rip your CDs using FLAC or ALAC. Use your computer as a server if need be. MP3 are only good for small computer speakers, lousy OEM car systems, or cheap earbud headphones. Beyond that, and the sound quality is noticeably horrible!

[treitz3]

Convenience = compromise in sound. That said, refer to post #4.