iPod and Home Stereo

[Oscar]

We finally installed some speakers on the back deck. I have a rack of CDs but a CD player that only loads 5 CDs at a time.

I was thinking of finally biting the bullet and getting an iPod and plugging it into the home stereo system. Then loading the iPod with all of our current CDs plus new stuff. What really hapens here is that the 5 CDs never come out of the player unless we rent a movie.

What is the sound quality of playing mp3s through the main stereo sysem? Would I be severely disapointed? If this works at home I would look at changing my music system in my truck.

[banditpowdercoat]

Thats all I listen to at home. I have my computer hooked up to the home stereo as well. All my music thats on my computer is on my Ipod. The both sound perfectly fine on the home stereo. Home system is a Yamaha 7.1 surround, with Paradigm speakers all the way around. As long as your not one of them Nutz Audiophiles, you'll be pleased. Seems they can never be pleased LOL I am a stereo enthusiast. I used to compete in car stereo shows years ago, for sound quality, not loudness. There is some M3's that sound a little off, but the are ripped at a low bit rate. I rip all my CD's at 320Kb/s the fastest rate. Takes up a little more space, but its worth it fro quality. I have about 50Gb of music on my Ipod and comp.

[Slick Fork]

They're both digital music formats so the sound should be exactly the same depending on the quality of the recording. I have an Ipod with the bose sound dock and the quality of the music is fantastic.

I've also got the ipod adapter for both our vehicles, we hardly listen to cd's anymore and if we do it's only because it's one that hasn't made it onto the ipod yet.

[Oscar]

OK. I am feeling a little warmer and fuzzier about this. Now what about mp3 downloaded from iTunes or Puretracks. Any issues there? I always wondered whether mp3 format was good enough for ear buds but sucked on a decent home system?

Not an audiophile but just do not want to be disapointed with another techy purchase (besides my wife looks at all of this stuff and just rolls her eyes).

[banditpowdercoat]

Most Itunes and other downloaded music is at 124Kbs I belive. the lower bitrate makes for easier downloads. Now, I tunes itself will rip music into it's format, AAC. I havnt used that yet. I strictly use Windows Media Player ofr ripping my CD's to MP3. In Media Player, go to Options in the upper tabs, then click Rip. in there will be settings on what folders WMP saves the ripped music to, and what fromat, MP3, WMA etc. Stay away from WMA. can only be played on windows media that way.... Damn MS

Any other questions feel free to ask

[Oscar]

Yeah, I have been using mostly Media Player for manageing my music, in particular ripping from store bought CDs. Is the quality of downloaded CDs, whether mp3 or WMA format the same as store bought?

I have a lot of purchased CDs to rip, which is where I would start first.

BTW: My wife bought us tickets to see the Hip in Penticton this summer. Who thought they would ever come here? Got me focused on updating my Hip collection.

Most Itunes and other downloaded music is at 124Kbs I belive. the lower bitrate makes for easier downloads. Now, I tunes itself will rip music into it's format, AAC. I havnt used that yet. I strictly use Windows Media Player ofr ripping my CD's to MP3. In Media Player, go to Options in the upper tabs, then click Rip. in there will be settings on what folders WMP saves the ripped music to, and what fromat, MP3, WMA etc. Stay away from WMA. can only be played on windows media that way.... Damn MS

Any other questions feel free to ask

[mark]

works great and really on the deck, nothing wrong with MP3s.

Can get the docking station to keep the iPod charged up or just get a cable with the headphone plug on one end, RCA on the other (probably $10-15).

As for ripping, I just use iTunes. It rips then sorts into artist directories all on it's own. Know a few people who detest iTunes and use Media Monkey for everything.

iPod and computer speakers work well also for just for a quick/simple system. Got computer speakers on all my Radar sites, just plug into the headphone jack of the iPod.

[banditpowdercoat]

The Hip, cool. Would like to go see them.

No quality difference on downloaded music and music you rip from a CD if the bitrates are the same. A lower bitrate will have lower quality. But 9 times out of 10, you will never notice. Sometimes you can hear it in the highs. The cymbals and such are not as crisp.

[lastlight]

I personally love 192kbps AAC. Sounds exactly like a CD to my ears. I always found 320kbps took up way too much space and sounded somehow tinny to my ears. My collection hovers around 300gigs now. Sold all my CDs to help fund my new tank!

[mark]

sort of relates so not really a highjack but what do people use for artwork?

Had been using tunesleeves (freeware) for years but recently reinstalled my OS and when I went to get tunesleeves again found now has limited downloads. Liked it as it worked with iTunes, searched then dropped in the artwork automatically.

[mike31154]

So do mp3 files play properly on a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound? Are they encoded with sufficient data to separate the signal into the 5 or 7 channels plus sub woofer or is it the software in the surround sound systems that work the magic? I know certain DVDs have specially encoded soundtracks to play properly on 5.1 or 7.1 surround systems and older ones have less sophisticated soundtracks. The better home theater systems will still mix/multiplex the signal and send sound to each speaker but the quality will suffer on 2 channel stereo encoded soundtracks. How do mp3 files compare to one of these DVD soundtracks? If I were to seriously consider limiting my system to an ipod with mp3 files, I would want to be certain they're going to sound proper on a multi channel system, not just two speakers and a sub.

[mseepman]

Yeah, I have been using mostly Media Player for manageing my music, in particular ripping from store bought CDs. Is the quality of downloaded CDs, whether mp3 or WMA format the same as store bought?

I have a lot of purchased CDs to rip, which is where I would start first.

BTW: My wife bought us tickets to see the Hip in Penticton this summer. Who thought they would ever come here? Got me focused on updating my Hip collection.


Grant, I don't think I would have pegged you for a Hip fan. I'm sure that will be a great show.

As for the sound of the music from an ipod, I think you'll be fine as long as you rip it at a decent bit-rate.

[mark]

So do mp3 files play properly on a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound? Are they encoded with sufficient data to separate the signal into the 5 or 7 channels plus sub woofer or is it the software in the surround sound systems that work the magic? I know certain DVDs have specially encoded soundtracks to play properly on 5.1 or 7.1 surround systems and older ones have less sophisticated soundtracks. The better home theater systems will still mix/multiplex the signal and send sound to each speaker but the quality will suffer on 2 channel stereo encoded soundtracks. How do mp3 files compare to one of these DVD soundtracks? If I were to seriously consider limiting my system to an ipod with mp3 files, I would want to be certain they're going to sound proper on a multi channel system, not just two speakers and a sub.

The 2>5.1 or 2>7.1 is handled by the receiver the same way either fr a MP3 or CD or LP.

[Oscar]

Grant, I don't think I would have pegged you for a Hip fan. I'm sure that will be a great show.

As for the sound of the music from an ipod, I think you'll be fine as long as you rip it at a decent bit-rate.

We will be seated in the old fart section. Too bad the show is on a Friday night. I am usually pretty beat by time Friday rolls around.

Thanks to everyone on your input.

[banditpowdercoat]

So do mp3 files play properly on a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound? Are they encoded with sufficient data to separate the signal into the 5 or 7 channels plus sub woofer or is it the software in the surround sound systems that work the magic? I know certain DVDs have specially encoded soundtracks to play properly on 5.1 or 7.1 surround systems and older ones have less sophisticated soundtracks. The better home theater systems will still mix/multiplex the signal and send sound to each speaker but the quality will suffer on 2 channel stereo encoded soundtracks. How do mp3 files compare to one of these DVD soundtracks? If I were to seriously consider limiting my system to an ipod with mp3 files, I would want to be certain they're going to sound proper on a multi channel system, not just two speakers and a sub.

No, MP3's are not encoded for 5.1 Surround. Most Surround systems will "Fake" the surround. But at home, I switch my system to 7 channel Stereo, when I play music.

[mike31154]

No, MP3's are not encoded for 5.1 Surround. Most Surround systems will "Fake" the surround. But at home, I switch my system to 7 channel Stereo, when I play music.

That's kind of what I figured and what I meant by the surround receiver mixing or multiplexing the simpler mp3 coding to make use of all speakers. "Fake" is a little more harsh, but apt, I suppose. For those who remember old 8 tracks or reel to reel tape machines, it was the tape that separated each track as mixed by the sound engineer. I'm not clear how this is done in the digital realm. Most reel to reel machines were two track, but my Dad had a Studer Revox that was a four track, more heads. The analog stereo receivers had to be fed the appropriate signal for each amplifier stage, in most cases stereo, i.e. two channels only L & R... no subwoofer even! I actually still have a Telefunken receiver which simulated 'quad' technology, quite avant garde in the late '70's. Not sure how that's mixed with analog technology, but the back of the receiver has DIN connectors for 4 speakers.

If I'm not mistaken, Imax films have their soundtrack encoded in up to 16 channels, all on a strip of the film itself. With the digital age, the capability is there to isolate each instrument, if you will, and send it to the speaker of your (or the receiver's) choice. Just not convinced that mp3 files have that level of sophistication. I don't think bitrate has anything to do with separating audio signals into different channels for distribution to individual speakers. The receiver has to do all the work there and if it's not encoded properly in the first place, I believe the sound quality will suffer.

[Oscar]

Know a few people who detest iTunes and use Media Monkey for everything.
.

Thanks for the tip on Media Monkey. I will give that a test drive.

Obvious next question: Which iPod/mp3 players are people using?

[Pescador]

There are now mp3 files encoded for 5.1.
From Wired http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/commentary/listeningpost/2006/02/70230
If you have the storage room you can use one of the lossless codecs like mp4 SLS or FLAC for an identical copy of the original audio after decompression.
The newer receivers support lossless formats for audio.

[mike31154]

Cool, not too long and mp3 files will be obsolete as well.....

[macky]

As far as mp3 players go... I own 2 ipods, a Dell mp3 player and an Archos mp3 player. I personally hate itunes (required to put music on an ipod) and love the fact that with the 2 players I can just drag and drop file onto it. But, despite that con (itunes) the ipods sound way better that the other 2 players, even with the same exact files. I would recommend the ipod.

[Oscar]

As far as mp3 players go... I own 2 ipods, a Dell mp3 player and an Archos mp3 player. I personally hate itunes (required to put music on an ipod) and love the fact that with the 2 players I can just drag and drop file onto it. But, despite that con (itunes) the ipods sound way better that the other 2 players, even with the same exact files. I would recommend the ipod.

What do think is the reason for different sound quality?

[Oscar]

I personally hate itunes (required to put music on an ipod) and love the fact that with the 2 players I can just drag and drop file onto it.

So an iPod will not let me rip from a current store bought CD and drop the file into the iPod? Only music bought from iTunes will play on an iPod???

[banditpowdercoat]

So an iPod will not let me rip from a current store bought CD and drop the file into the iPod? Only music bought from iTunes will play on an iPod???


No, you can rip a store bought cd. I have never downloaded a song from Itunes. Just rip through Media player, then install song on Itunes.

One feature I like of Itunes is the Genius feature. Once you regester online(Takes a CC, Which I hate) But then pick any song in your library, click genius and it makes a playlist up to 100 songs with music similar to the one you selected. Great fro making playlists.

[Aleks]

sort of relates so not really a highjack but what do people use for artwork?

Had been using tunesleeves (freeware) for years but recently reinstalled my OS and when I went to get tunesleeves again found now has limited downloads. Liked it as it worked with iTunes, searched then dropped in the artwork automatically.

Amazon.....or just right click in itunes and get album artwork....only works if the album/artist are correct

[Aleks]

As far as mp3 players go... I own 2 ipods, a Dell mp3 player and an Archos mp3 player. I personally hate itunes (required to put music on an ipod) and love the fact that with the 2 players I can just drag and drop file onto it. But, despite that con (itunes) the ipods sound way better that the other 2 players, even with the same exact files. I would recommend the ipod.

Itunes is not a requirement unless you want to be able to update your ipod's firmware.....There are a number of 3rd party apps that will interface the ipod without any problems. One was mentioned earlier in the thread....

[Aleks]

We finally installed some speakers on the back deck. I have a rack of CDs but a CD player that only loads 5 CDs at a time.

I was thinking of finally biting the bullet and getting an iPod and plugging it into the home stereo system. Then loading the iPod with all of our current CDs plus new stuff. What really hapens here is that the 5 CDs never come out of the player unless we rent a movie.

What is the sound quality of playing mp3s through the main stereo sysem? Would I be severely disapointed? If this works at home I would look at changing my music system in my truck.

FWIW I use the iPod for everything. I have a Belkin dock that runs right to my receiver (and most receivers nowadays have interfaces that control the ipod) at home, and I use a Pioneer iPod interface with my Avic Navigation in my car. No reason to ever use CD's. And I don't use MP3's below 192kbps bitrate.

[mark]

Amazon.....or just right click in itunes and get album artwork....only works if the album/artist are correct

Not sure Amazon does a search through your whole library then automatically downloads the artwork and adds it to the tag like tunesleeves did.

As for iTunes itself, thought you need a iTunes account (by providing a credit card) then doesn't it only do artwork for MP3 purchased through the iStore (not one you've might of ripped or downloaded). Haven't tried it though as not big on passing around my credit card.

[Slick Fork]

I tunes finds art for everything, whether you bought it from apple or not.

[banditpowdercoat]

Not everything. AC/DC does not get reccognized by iTunes. makes me mad, because I have every AC/DC album ever made. I belive the count is up to 27 now?

[Aleks]

Not everything. AC/DC does not get reccognized by iTunes. makes me mad, because I have every AC/DC album ever made. I belive the count is up to 27 now?

That is AC/DC's choice for refusing to deal with Apple....:wink:

[skylord]

You dont have to give Apple your CC# to register. I registered just a couple of weeks ago without giving my CC. Go to the apps store and choose to buy a free app. Fill out all the details and when you get to the screen to pay for the free app it will give you a list of CC options and at the end is a box to click none. This is the only place that they offer the choice that includes none.

Scott

[mark]

realize old thread but for anyone stumbling across it, here's a link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_iPod_managers)summarizing the various software that will work with a iPod.

[Oscar]

realize old thread but for anyone stumbling across it, here's a link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_iPod_managers)summarizing the various software that will work with a iPod.

Thanks for that. What software are you using?

[mark]

I'm happy with iTunes with a generation 2 and 4 nano