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Venti Quattro
06-01-2012, 10:45 PM
I have some 320 kbps MP3 files that I want to convert to M4A, because I have read that M4A files have better sound quality while having a smaller file size.

If I do it in iTunes and I convert it to about 160/192 kbps in M4A, will it have the same sound quality as a 320 kbps MP3?
TDMVPDPOY
06-01-2012, 11:20 PM
doesnt fkn make a difference man
ElNono
06-02-2012, 01:34 AM
M4A is just a container format. What you want to know is the actual codec. iTunes uses AAC, which is a lossy codec like MP3. M4A also supports lossless codecs like ALAC, but I don't think iTunes uses it (not sure).

AAC in general will have better resolution than MP3 at the same bitrate, because it's a codec that was originally designed to work around most of the MP3 codec issues. It's still lossy though.

Here's an article comparing AAC vs MP3 vs FLAC vs CD...

http://www.stereophile.com/features/308mp3cd
ElNono
06-02-2012, 01:40 AM
BTW, as far as bitrate numbers, IIRC, a 128 kbps AAC should sound just as good as a 160 kpbs MP3, and be a smaller size. With that ratio in mind, you probably want to encode in 256 kbps AAC (the source 320kbps MP3s).
Venti Quattro
06-02-2012, 02:45 AM
I tried to convert one file from MP3 320 to AAC 160 and it sounded just the same while having half the file size. I think I already have my answer.
diego
06-02-2012, 11:15 AM
provided you have the disk space and good speaker/headphones, you should go for FLAC, it sounds much better than MP3.
ElNono
06-02-2012, 11:20 AM
I tried to convert one file from MP3 320 to AAC 160 and it sounded just the same while having half the file size. I think I already have my answer.

Well, that's another thing. What can you hear, or what you care to hear... :lol
Venti Quattro
06-02-2012, 06:31 PM
provided you have the disk space and good speaker/headphones, you should go for FLAC, it sounds much better than MP3.

FLAC is near-CD quality and also takes up CD-quality space in the HD. I only have a 500 GB drive so far. :lol
Venti Quattro
06-02-2012, 06:33 PM
Well, that's another thing. What can you hear, or what you care to hear... :lol

What do you mean? lol I probably suck at this. I tried to look for differences but I couldn't find any. I tried playing the two files in iTunes, VLC, Media player classic, WMP 12 and Quicktime.
ElNono
06-03-2012, 05:59 PM
What do you mean? lol I probably suck at this. I tried to look for differences but I couldn't find any. I tried playing the two files in iTunes, VLC, Media player classic, WMP 12 and Quicktime.

What I mean is some people simply have a better ear... or better speakers/headphones... I'm fairly deaf, tbh... unless quality is dismal, I probably won't notice.