http://www.mp3-box.org/320-mp3-vs-cd/
Ripping cd’s .mp3 vs AAC, and 44khz vs 48khz?
I have read that at lower quality bit rates AAC is superior but when you get into the 320 kbs which I rip my cd’s it doesn’t matter. Does anybody know this as fact or just have personal experience with it?
Whats the difference between 44khz and 48khz. Should I use one over the other, will my ears even tell the difference?
I’m not one of them super duper hearing people but I would like the most out of my music files.
AAC generally provides better quality than MP3 even at lower bitrates. However, that is true only if you use a decent AAC encoder (iTunes and Nero are best). And a good MP3 encoder (LAME) can provide almost the same quality.
For best compatibility, I would rip to VBR MP3 at very high quality which should give you files at about 250 kbps.
You seem to be using CBR (Constant bitrate) MP3, but VBR (Variable bitrate) generally provides better quality even if the net total bitrate will be lower.
MP3 is a rare example of a format that will let you choose between CBR and VBR. Most (all?) newer formats support VBR only.
While 48 kHz can in theory provide better quality, this is true only if the source is already in 48 kHz. CDs are pressed in 44 kHz so you should rip them in 44 kHz. You would lose quality by converting the rips to 48 kHz.
Btw., here is a good CD ripper that supports the LAME MP3 encoder: http://www.bonkenc.org/
DJ Cheapshot – The Uzi Does It Mixtape (download)