Jeff, I don't know about the .ogg bitrates, but with .MP3 I listen to 128Kb streams and files. My ears can detect a slight difference, but the space savings is worth it. At 256kb on MP3, even the most sensitive ears shouldn't detect the difference. Maybe less than 1% of the population would hear a difference. I seem to recall similar data on this at the Ogg Vorbis site and the WinAmp site. Look here and read down a ways: http://www.vorbis.com/faq.psp#lossy

Brian Kelsay

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jeffslists <> 10/08/04 02:10AM >>>

Since someone here has just mentioned .ogg files I was wondering what encoding rate I need to use so that I cannot distinguish my .ogg file from my cd. A couple years back I read about a double-blind (maybe just single blind) study with 256kbit constant bitrate mp3's. The listeners, who were described to have excellent ears, could not distinguish the mp3's from the cd's, though a computer could. I don't care what a computer can distinguish.

I have searched the net several times and found no similar study with .ogg files. Aren't there any people who have done a blind study with .ogg files? I want to know the minimum quality settings I can use with .ogg in order to save hd space. I have about 120gb 256kb mp3 music. According to my preliminary research I think I can save at least 30% space.