Have your say & ask the experts

When I started downloading music many years ago i was not aware how important the file quality needed to be, since then all my downloads are now in lossless or 320kbps.

So i have a shed load of MP3's on my NAS that are way below 320kbps and some are even 128kbps ! ...what can i do to improve the sound quality of some of my files through my Sonos system.

I have my ZP90 connected to my Roksan Kandy amp and a pair of B&W 685's ....

Could i add a DAC in between the ZP90 and the amp ......or should I just bin the low quality mp3 files and start to download them again in lossless....or what ???

Any info would be great 

Ta

Hi Mark D G,

definetly re-rip/download all those low bit rate albums in lossless format of your choice, and when you do so, use dbPoweramp or Exact Audio Copy to rip. Albums ripped with either of these 2 programs sound better than when you use iTunes to rip them!

Cheers for the reply...so re-rip anything below 320 or below 256 kbps. So i take it a DAC would not help a low quality file?

M 

Mark D G:

........ So i take it a DAC would not help a low quality file?

M 

A DAC would do the opposite and make a low quality file stand out even more over a higher bit rate one.

There have been some NO's . not sure wether they mean ...... well anyway.

for gawds sake dont delete anything in a low bitrate that you like. you might just find that the 'low bitrate' version of a tune that you like is way better than a higher bitrate version.

 it really isnt all about the bitrate. its more about the quality of the original source that was ripped.

its true that a DAC will show a lower quality file. but not always a lower bitrate.

What myself and PJPro have said is that a DAC will not improve the sound of a low quality file, if anything a DAC will do the opposite and make it flaws all the more obvious.

As for low quality and low bit rate, I take your point Method Man. I have used the two terms as one. You are right that a lot of new pop music is recorded with low MP3 bit rates in mind and so will actually sound not bad at all. Furthermore, a study of American students found that many prefer the bright sound of low bit rate pop music, as that is what they are used to.

So, if you have a music file collection of classical/prog/jazz or any music with an emphasis on recording quality and high musicianship, then you will notice low bit rates more than if you a youngster who likes X-Factor style music.

(I am not saying that X-Factor is low quality music compared to one of the great orchestras, as some kind of music snob. I am talking purely of bit rate comparisons)