How to get the highest possible quality music on the iPhone?

[AdamA9]

Guys,

Just invested in some good earphones, however, my current library of music just doesn't do them justice, I think it might be because of the compression or something.

Is there a way to get really good high quality music on the iPhone?

Thanks
Adam

 

[milamber]

You could always re-rip your CD as ALAC.

Or buy a lineout dock and a portable amp.

What earphones did you get?

 

[AdamA9]

Most of the music is already MP3. I buy my albums on the internet rather than hard copy. A lot of it is 320 anyway, so will that stay when I convert in iTunes?

I got the Shure SE535

 

[daneoni]

Stop using anything less than 256kbps AAC or 320kbps MP3 and/or re-rip your CD library using Apple Lossless/AIFF.

 

[lexvo]

If you re-rip your CD's in the highest bitrate for MP3 (320kps), the quality should be quite good.

 

[peteisanidiot]

Most of the music is already MP3. I buy my albums on the internet rather than hard copy. A lot of it is 320 anyway, so will that stay when I convert in iTunes?

I got the Shure SE535

if you really care about audio quality you shouldn't be converting anything that's already an MP3. that said, for the most part i haven't heard much change in iTunes AAC transcoding to save space on my iPhone.

 

[milamber]

if you really care about audio quality you shouldn't be converting anything that's already an MP3. that said, for the most part i haven't heard much change in iTunes AAC transcoding to save space on my iPhone.

Do NOT transcode. It's a sure fire way of making your music sound crappy.

Shure SE535 are great headphones! There isn't much you can do if your mp3 are at a certain bitrate already. Crap in, crap out.

 

[AdamA9]

Stop using anything less than 256kbps AAC or 320kbps MP3 and/or re-rip your CD library using Apple Lossless/AIFF.

How do I do this? MOst of my MP3s are 320kbps anyway, I try not to go any less. In future would I be better off buying the CD and then ripping it? The only reason I don't do this is because iTunes and the like is a lot cheaper than CD albums usually

 

[asleep]

How to get the highest possible quality music on the iPhone?

Stay away from Rap, C&W, and most Easy Listening.

 

[walie]

also consider how you're getting the sound out of the iphone, if you want supreme quality, you shouldn't be using the headphone jack

be sure to get a high quality line out cable to a high quality amp, then plug your shures into the amp

 

[AdamA9]

also consider how you're getting the sound out of the iphone, if you want supreme quality, you shouldn't be using the headphone jack

be sure to get a high quality line out cable to a high quality amp, then plug your shures into the amp

Cant really take an amp on the train with me

 

[aohus]

Get a portable DAC + AMP

search on ebay. or check head-fi forums for reviews.

 

[daneoni]

How do I do this? MOst of my MP3s are 320kbps anyway, I try not to go any less. In future would I be better off buying the CD and then ripping it? The only reason I don't do this is because iTunes and the like is a lot cheaper than CD albums usually

You don't need to buy CDs if you're already buying tracks from iTunes or Amazon (they use 256kbps). What's left is good headphones and/or amp

 

[walie]

Cant really take an amp on the train with me

absolutely you can, there a number of high quality portable amps available. As mentioned, check out head-fi.org, and Sorry About Your Wallet

 

[aluren]

Buy CD's and ripping them in Apple Lossless is still the best way to go. I have a good quality earphones myself (UE-10 Pro) and can clearly hear the difference between 320k .mp3 and Apple lossless .m4a files. I still never buy anything on iTunes or Amazon music because of this.