AAC, MP3, or WMA?
 

My Pioneer Headunit in my car can read WMA MP3 and AAC formats... I want to take 5 CDs rip them down and put them all onto one data style disc...


Whats the best? I am going to rip my music into the highest level of the format that is chosen, and space is not an issue...

WMA, MP3 both produce a lot of errors in the long run, esp when your writing speed is very high. I don't know about AAC.

The best results I had sofar was copying with an audio unit at speeds no more than 2x.

There are still several CD burners on the market which are capable of burning with practically no quality loss.

On the other side it depends on your audio system's standard if you ever will hear the reduced quality of low KBps computer copies.

The format variations are the very simple reason why I still don't have an I-pod. I have at least a coulpe of thousand CD's, now I would have to go and convert any of them, if I wanted the music on an I-pod unit...?

WMA and AAC are both DRM-crippled standards. MP3 is the best choice if you keep the bitrate above 160kbs.

I use mp3 with LAME codec set to VBR new and quality at 2, Joint stereo with bit rate set between 92kbps-320kbps, best compromise for size and quality.

Mp3
 

I agree with Gurka, good settings. I have found MP3 the most compatible to multiple music player devices (non-ipod) and also car head units.

I started with ipod AAC format 3 years ago and just recently re-ripped all my CDs back into MP3 format for the compatability.

Chuck

MP3 at 160 kbps should be adequate quality...after all, vehicles aren't the enviromnent of choice for discriminate listening...

Yup, cars are noisy, MP3 is great. I wonder about the decks that accept a memory card, that seems to be the way to go.

Mine has a USB cable. I fill my 2GB flash drive with music and it will last me a few weeks of driving. Convenient, faster than CD, infinitely reusable, and cheaper per megabyte once it's been used a few times.

I have one of those little "i Rock" FM transmitters that'll plug into anything with a headset jack and run on 2 AAA batteries.
Between the XM radio, regular Blaupunkt Florida CD player, the 20 gig Ipod using the 'irock' and the Creative Muvo mp3/wma player (doubles as USB drive) also plugged in to the 'irock', I'm completely covered.

It also helps that I listen to a lot of Old Time Radio in mp3 with low bitrates, so audiophile quality over the clattering Diesel is not a priority.

I've found that the WMA works better in that I can put more on a device using 'standard' settings. Mp3/WMA...I don't hear much of a difference at all. It's not like I'm listening with high quality headsets.
I'm someone who grew up grateful to have a car with any kind of working music source. A 6'" across oval speaker in the center of the dash playing FM in mono was a luxury.

LaRondo, I recently spent $80 getting my daughter's 40gig iPod repaired by a 3rd party. Apple wanted over $200. Turned-out it needed a new HD. Meanwhile, the kid bought an iPod Sometherother so I have this humungous-memory ipod that plugs into my Pioneer Premier 24901B (recommended on the MBShop audio forum -- thanks guys). The system is so very much better than the Becker in every way that I am astounded. The sound is just amazing and the controls are as nearly intuitive as a very complex system can be.

The iPod lists come up on the Pioneer's display and sifting through the menus is no worse than on the iPod. I downloaded a few podcasts for commutes and combined with the XM give me a great selection of music, entertainment, and educational genres. Eventually I'll rip my music over to the iPod. Highly recommended.

podcasts also
 

I've recently started a job with a 65 mile/ 1 hour commute each way. I've been listening to a lot of podcasts to fill the time. Technology, HD TV, News, comedy, ... There are many sources, itunes and others, and a wide variety that are free. I use a cheapo cigarette powered FM transmitter from the earphone jack. The sound quality is ok for spoken material, marginal for music. I remember reading that someone sent their W140 Becker deck out and had it modified to loose the CD input and have a aux input instead. That may be the ultimate ticket.

Chuck