iPod Best data rate for ripping CD's?

[SactoGuy18]

I like to know what data rate do you folks use to rip Compact Discs before copying them to the iPod. I've tried 128 kbps default for AAC and MP3 in iTunes 7.0.2 and frankly, they didn't sound that good. (thumbs down)

(Yes, Apple Lossless is great but that format hogs disk space/flash memory space like crazy.)

I would think for a good compromise between better sound quality and efficicient disk space/flash memory space usage the 160 kbps data rate would be pretty good.

 

[fivetoadsloth]

try 192 kbps, i use that and they sound pretty good.

 

[ehayut]

I use 160 AAC, and to me, it sounds like CD quality

 

[iGary]

192 is a good trade off in regard to space and quality.

 

[ibilly]

I too find 128 to be too low and 160+ to be good

 

[snakelda]

I like to use 128 and it sounds fine to me!!!

 

[ClassicFitness]

192 is a good trade off in regard to space and quality.

Yeah, 192 is definetly the best between extra sound quality and space capacity.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Thanks for all the excellent replies!

I will probably use 192 kbps AAC or MP3 format.

 

[clayj]

Add one more to the list of 192 kbps users.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

i prefer 192 AAC for quality of music and lowest size for the good sound.

 

[gammamonk]

I do all lossless for CD ripping. I have boxes of CDs that I never have to touch because I have a perfect copy on my computer. My Nano then only holds around 100 tracks, but as long as you sync new songs frequently it's all good. The battery can't play 100 songs in a row anyway.

I also have an old 40gig 3G iPod that holds tons of songs and still works fine. I'll probably get that hooked up in my car at some point.

 

[Nermal]

I use 128 most of the time, and re-rip higher if it doesn't sound right. I'm moving to an MBP shortly, so I need to cram everything into a 120 GB drive.

 

[StealthRider]

Make sure you use AAC - it sounds better than MP3 at the same file size.

 

[sushi]

I rip mine to MP3s at 256Kbps.

I can use on any player and the quality is pretty good.

 

[bousozoku]

Thanks for all the excellent replies!

I will probably use 192 kbps AAC or MP3 format.

Make that 192 Kbps AAC or 256 Kbps mp3 because AAC files are a bit smaller for similar quality.

I use 256 Kbps mp3 because my car's CD player accepts discs of mp3 files and there won't be any conversion loss since iTunes basically copies the file to the CD-R.

 

[tech4all]

I just use 128kbps AAC. Sounds fine to me.

 

[Am3822]

AAC : 192
MP3 : lame --alt-preset standard