Sound Advice: The digital hype of compressed MP3 and uncompressed CD

Young men of the digital age have found a niche out of bragging with analog LPs. If ever caving in for the digital domain, the young men are sure to write state-of-the-art gold plated in their rider for minimum required quality. No kidding, it's a serious item for the young men. However, no human ear has detected a difference between the iTunes Plus Quality AAC 256 kbps and the uncompressed CD bitrate of 1411 kbps. If there indeed was a remarkable difference, why would the lesser quality deserve to be sold?

There is much in this topic of gear hype – from Apple iPhones and laptops to NAD and JBL high end speakers – to be examined in a more serious light. Much of this I-need-the-real-thing solution is generated by the manufacturers, and the young men are victims of a widespread trademark deception, escalated with flashy visual effects and a hip design. After all, these young men may only need a girlfriend, or if they have one, they may only need to listen to the gentle calls of being less extreme with the brand faithfulness. (Someone, please, write about cars!)

It is also unfortunate that much of this hype is advanced by hi-fi and computer magazines. When a new version of nearly any component or software is released, sometimes with a new skin, feel and look plus a few buttons with shortcut functions, it receives 4 1/2 stars and is called amazing or revolutionary. To put this in a down-to-earth perspective, the 16-bit CD quality sound on an Apple G3 computer still sounds the same as the one on an 8-core Intel MacPro. Hence, the sound quality in a computer sound card has not changed in more than twelve years, save for a few improvements in software treatment, which are admittedly impressive although not of grand proportions.

Windows WAV and Mac AIFF formats are great for original masters, but they consume a lot of space. So what about MP3? Can a mere 10-12 % of the original file size deliver a credible sound experience? The young men certainly treat the MP3 format equally to cheap perfume, before knowing whether to call it a fragrance, smell or odor. However, if space or cost is of the essence, and the listener has a laptop with a set of 2.1 computer speakers (stereo + subwoofer), there's little or no need to bother with any of the higher sound file formats. Most vendors today disclose at what MP3 bitrate they sell their downloads. While 96 kbps – common for internet radio – may lack some high frequencies and even 128 kbps has trouble with lower volume classical music, 160 kbps presents an optimal solution in terms of quality, compatibility and size. The higher 256 and 320 kbps resolutions are fine, but the advantages to 160 kbps are next to none, as they do not sound remarkably better in the aforementioned laptop and computer speaker environments, and certainly do not present any other benefits.

The good question remains, why do so many talk about CD superiority, even SACD and 24-bit resolution? Theater applications exempted, all higher dynamic resolution scenarios are usually about status and only imaginary awareness; compare this to having a convertible in Canada. As a professional, I can assure that unless there is a completely quiet room optimized for listening with acoustic engineered hi-end speakers, there is no need to go above MP3 at 160 kbps. When A/B-comparing between MP3 and the original CD, sure there is a tiny difference, detectable by experienced listeners and mostly in headphones, but that's not how music is supposed to be enjoyed.

The music experience ought to be and is elsewhere than in the bitrate, or especially bragging or creating an identity around it. It is in the music; the playing, singing, composition, arrangement, rhythm, feel, solos, partly even the sound engineer's work up to the master tape. For sure, everything else besides the file format governs when enjoying music. The MP3 format – originally created by the geniuses of the Moving Picture Experts Group – conveys the music very well, and is an optimal solution in today's internet environment, where speed is not yet so-to-say unlimited.

If this is a revelation, it is not supposed to make the young men disappointed or mad, simply liberated to listen and enjoy. The only faithfulness these men need is indeed the one to their girlfriend.

Blue Music Group offers MP3 downloads at 160 kbps starting at $ 6.99 per album, and uncompressed CD quality at $ 9.99 and up per album.

Sound Advice is a series of articles about sound, ranging from simple listening advice to serious whistle-blowing.