Even More On Computer Audio

"... neither minidisc nor MP3 have "CD-quality" sound. The best that can be said for these formats is that the quality is good enough for many uses such as portables. Although quality is always lost when data is compressed (read "discarded"), MP3 and MD formats manage to keep a good sense of highs, lows, and detail. They are a bit better than the average audio cassette player, at least in terms of background hiss. However, compared to well-made CDs, there is a loss of detail, accuracy of timber and texture, midrange naturalness, treble smoothness, and bass definition. A recent feature article on MP3 sound quality in Audio Magazine included a detailed description of the sonic differences.

People seem to think that "digital" sound formats are by definition CD-quality. They are not all created equal. While 24-bit 96MHz digital recordings sound virtually indistinguishable from the source signal, and Redbook 26-bit 44kHz CDs are nearly so, all lesser formats suffer severe sonic compromises. This includes MP3. The trick is that these compromises have been made cleverly, throwing out the least-audible information first. Compression algorithms have improved significantly, but they can't accomplish the impossible.

This is important for people to know. As compressed digital formats become more common, there is a danger that CD-quality source material will become less available, and that new standards for ultra-high resolution DVD audio formats will fail to gain support. Most people have never heard a truly high-end system with well-made recordings, so they don't know what they are missing. Frankly, I can't listen to MP3s for an extended period, even in my car. Rather than compressed formats, I would pay extra to get DVD disks with higher-resolution audio."