Sound Quality-CD vs. USB - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

JackJ91 · 05-16-2010, 05:14 PM

I haven't gotten my usb port working yet (waiting to get an iPhone to see if it finally works), but wondering if there is a sound difference in quality on the boston acoustic system when playing a CD vs. through the USB port. assuming the cd and mp3 are of the same bit-rate (128kbps), which one sounds better?

Noticed a little bit of static and shallowness through the AUX port, could just be my cheap cable or old iPod, don't know. Thanks guys

Jack

spyderbuddy · 05-16-2010, 05:36 PM

I can't here a difference between cd an usb
but hten i'm not a stereo expert

Eric Baker · 05-16-2010, 06:14 PM

The fact that it's USB really makes no difference in quality. It's the fact that most, if not all, of the music most people play though the USB port is MP3 format that kills the quality. I don't care how high the bit-rate of the MP3 is, it's still not gonna have the quality of the CD version.

One thing I did notice though, is that there is a little bit of electrical noise picked up from all the wiring for the USB. Mostly I think due to the positioning of the main power wire for the car running up the middle console instead of the drivers rocker area.

Bronyaur · 05-17-2010, 12:23 PM

If you rip your cd using a lossless format, FLAC or Apple Lossless, you'll have CD quality sound. Any compression reduces the sound quality. But the lossless formats obviously have huge file sizes. A CD song ripped to lossless will come in around 20mb.

Moriartii · 05-17-2010, 12:32 PM

I dont believe you can use lossless. I attempted this last night and it was not recognized.
Cheers
K

Rogue Leader · 05-17-2010, 12:34 PM

Original CDs (like one you bought) will always sound better than an MP3, especially a 128k MP3. CDs are much higher fidelity than that. Now if you burn a CD with MP3 files (as CD tracks) that still won't sound as good as a store bought CD. 320k MP3s are really the only files that sound close in quality to an original CD.

And no the car will only recognize MP3 and WMA files, not original CDA tracks.

spyderbuddy · 05-17-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Baker

The fact that it's USB really makes no difference in quality. It's the fact that most, if not all, of the music most people play though the USB port is MP3 format that kills the quality. I don't care how high the bit-rate of the MP3 is, it's still not gonna have the quality of the CD version.

One thing I did notice though, is that there is a little bit of electrical noise picked up from all the wiring for the USB. Mostly I think due to the positioning of the main power wire for the car running up the middle console instead of the drivers rocker area.

Mine may be a little different then I get a cleaner sound though the usb port (i'm using wmf) than the xm radio and about the same with the cd. And no electrical noise what so ever though the usb. Now will the bite rate be diff between a mp3 file over a wmf

Racer606 · 05-17-2010, 12:46 PM

As a general rule of thumb, a CD will have better quality considering most music ripped to a USB devices will be at a lower bit rate. As metioned though if you rip to lossless format then the sound quality should be on par with a CD. I rip all my music in WMA lossless format and playback works perfectly from my Zune and it would take a very well trained ear to notice any difference.

Bronyaur · 05-17-2010, 12:58 PM

I rip lossless to an iPod Classic 160gb. I can't tell a difference between a CD and a song from the iPod.

Racer-X · 05-17-2010, 01:38 PM

in everyday use thereis nothing that is truly lossless. the reason being is that all Bitrate are a smaple of the original music.

going with Apple lossless is pretty good for everyday cruising around listening, but if you are tryingt o get the full expirience of your music then stick to the orginal cd. but remember not all CDs are quality recording either. a lot of the newer pop and rock stuff is record with everything at equal levels to give a perceived louder volume. but will have ZERO dynamics range. Brittney Spears was a classic example oif this, one I just found this weekend is the Halestorm CD. on the system we just finished up customer had it in the player so we ran with it. big mistake. could not get the volume above 20 with out massive distortion. but any other cd we could take the volume to about 27-29 with no issues.

but again for daily driving around town you are not really going to notice much difference (mostly will be a loss of bottom end respose.)

IGOTGAME816 · 05-17-2010, 07:40 PM

Interesting to hear your opinions. Since 05' I have swore that USB/Ipod sounds 2wice as better.

05-16-2010, 05:14 PM	#1
JackJ91 Drives: IBM 2SS Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fred. VA/ Spartanburg, SC Posts: 27	Sound Quality-CD vs. USB I haven't gotten my usb port working yet (waiting to get an iPhone to see if it finally works), but wondering if there is a sound difference in quality on the boston acoustic system when playing a CD vs. through the USB port. assuming the cd and mp3 are of the same bit-rate (128kbps), which one sounds better? Noticed a little bit of static and shallowness through the AUX port, could just be my cheap cable or old iPod, don't know. Thanks guys Jack

05-17-2010, 12:23 PM	#4
Bronyaur Drives: White SS RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont Ohio Posts: 23 View My Garage	If you rip your cd using a lossless format, FLAC or Apple Lossless, you'll have CD quality sound. Any compression reduces the sound quality. But the lossless formats obviously have huge file sizes. A CD song ripped to lossless will come in around 20mb. __________________ Steven Belmont Ohio

05-17-2010, 12:34 PM	#6
Rogue Leader Iatefiberglassinsulation Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Long Island Posts: 3,601 View My Garage	Original CDs (like one you bought) will always sound better than an MP3, especially a 128k MP3. CDs are much higher fidelity than that. Now if you burn a CD with MP3 files (as CD tracks) that still won't sound as good as a store bought CD. 320k MP3s are really the only files that sound close in quality to an original CD. And no the car will only recognize MP3 and WMA files, not original CDA tracks. __________________ 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS - was daily driver, now toy 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - Daily Driver 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE 350 - Wifes Car 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD LT 6.0 - Tow Vehicle 1991 Alfa Romeo 164S - Project Car 1994 Volkswagen Golf - Race Car "Like" my race team on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farfrumwinnin

05-17-2010, 12:58 PM	#9
Bronyaur Drives: White SS RS Join Date: May 2010 Location: Belmont Ohio Posts: 23 View My Garage	I rip lossless to an iPod Classic 160gb. I can't tell a difference between a CD and a song from the iPod. __________________ Steven Belmont Ohio

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05-16-2010, 05:36 PM	#2
spyderbuddy Drives: 2010 RS Inferno Orange Metallic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Albany, Ga. Posts: 3,474 View My Garage	I can't here a difference between cd an usb but hten i'm not a stereo expert

05-16-2010, 06:14 PM	#3
Eric Baker Drives: Black/Black 2SS/RS 6M Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Boston MA Posts: 987 View My Garage	The fact that it's USB really makes no difference in quality. It's the fact that most, if not all, of the music most people play though the USB port is MP3 format that kills the quality. I don't care how high the bit-rate of the MP3 is, it's still not gonna have the quality of the CD version. One thing I did notice though, is that there is a little bit of electrical noise picked up from all the wiring for the USB. Mostly I think due to the positioning of the main power wire for the car running up the middle console instead of the drivers rocker area.

05-17-2010, 12:32 PM	#5
Moriartii Drives: 11 IOM 2SS/RS M6 w/Hurst Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,269	I dont believe you can use lossless. I attempted this last night and it was not recognized. Cheers K

05-17-2010, 12:46 PM	#8
Racer606 Drives: '10 Camaro SS/RS, '03 Mini Cooper S Join Date: May 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 80 View My Garage	As a general rule of thumb, a CD will have better quality considering most music ripped to a USB devices will be at a lower bit rate. As metioned though if you rip to lossless format then the sound quality should be on par with a CD. I rip all my music in WMA lossless format and playback works perfectly from my Zune and it would take a very well trained ear to notice any difference.

05-17-2010, 01:38 PM	#10
Racer-X Rhymin and Stealin Drives: The Search is on ABM V6..... Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 680	in everyday use thereis nothing that is truly lossless. the reason being is that all Bitrate are a smaple of the original music. going with Apple lossless is pretty good for everyday cruising around listening, but if you are tryingt o get the full expirience of your music then stick to the orginal cd. but remember not all CDs are quality recording either. a lot of the newer pop and rock stuff is record with everything at equal levels to give a perceived louder volume. but will have ZERO dynamics range. Brittney Spears was a classic example oif this, one I just found this weekend is the Halestorm CD. on the system we just finished up customer had it in the player so we ran with it. big mistake. could not get the volume above 20 with out massive distortion. but any other cd we could take the volume to about 27-29 with no issues. but again for daily driving around town you are not really going to notice much difference (mostly will be a loss of bottom end respose.)

05-17-2010, 07:40 PM	#11
IGOTGAME816 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2ss Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pa Posts: 51 View My Garage	Interesting to hear your opinions. Since 05' I have swore that USB/Ipod sounds 2wice as better.