Choice of Digital Audio Codecs for the NW-HD5

[Garmstro]

Hello,

I've just purchased a NW-HD5 and I'm looking for guidance on what choice of codec and bit-rate to use.

I did a quick experiment with Van Halen's Jump comparing ATRAC3plus 64kbps and 256kbps, and MP3 128kbps.

Both ATRAC3plus-64 and MP3-128 really struggle with the opening bass synth line compared to ATRAC3plus-256 (sound breaking up and lacking stereo depth). ATRAC3plus-256 sounds good to my ears!

My dilemma is that there doesn't seem to be a mid-range compression ratio (128kbps) using ATRAC3plus under SonicStage. So I either go with ATRAC3plus-64 with 10,000 song capacity but with crappy opening to one of my favourite songs, or use 256kbps with only 2,500 song capacity.

Has anyone else thought about this issue?

Thanks, Grant

[Ryzir]

You can also use 192kbps (SS 3.2) & 132kbps.

[pata2001]

I would just use MP3 Lame --preset standard. If you want more songs, use Lame --preset fast medium. Since the HD5 can play MP3s, the only reason to go with Atrac is gapless.

[Garmstro]

You can also use 192kbps (SS 3.2) & 132kbps.

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Thanks Ryzir,

Iv'e only got SS v3.1. Is there a v3.2 upgrade available from Sony?

Do you know if the 132 and 192kbps compressions in v3.2 are ATRAC3plus or just ATRAC?

Thanks,

Grant

[Garmstro]

I would just use MP3 Lame --preset standard. If you want more songs, use Lame --preset fast medium. Since the HD5 can play MP3s, the only reason to go with Atrac is gapless.

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Thanks pata2000,

Excuse my ignorance, but what does gapless mean?

In your experience do you have a feel for the pros/cons of ATRAC3plus vs MP3 (at equal bit rates) purely in terms of sound quality; i.e., is MP3 better for classical music, ATRAC3plus better for rock? Or is this question impossible to answer?

[Ishiyoshi]

Excuse my ignorance, but what does gapless mean?

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Welcome to ALC!

Gapless playback is the seamless playback of digital audio tracks. The ATRAC format supports music playback without any pause or click, when played on a computer or DAP. This is important especially when one listens to live music or music genre that employs consecutive tracks (usually film scores, house or trance music). So, in essence the ATRAC format allows music to be heard exactly as they are mastered, without gaps between tracks.

[Garmstro]

Welcome to ALC!

Gapless playback is the seamless playback of digital audio tracks. The ATRAC format supports music playback without any pause or click, when played on a computer or DAP. This is important especially when one listens to live music or music genre that employs consecutive tracks (usually film scores, house or trance music). So, in essence the ATRAC format allows music to be heard exactly as they are mastered, without gaps between tracks.

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Thanks Ishiyoshi,

Wondering if you can help me with the following: I upgraded to SSv3.2 yesterday, and attempted import and export via ATRAC3plus 128kbps. However when I playback on my NW-HD5 it shows up as ( and seems to sound like) 64kbps. Have you ever encountered this?

Regards, Grant

[Ishiyoshi]

Thanks Ishiyoshi,

Wondering if you can help me with the following: I upgraded to SSv3.2 yesterday, and attempted import and export via ATRAC3plus 128kbps. However when I playback on my NW-HD5 it shows up as ( and seems to sound like) 64kbps. Have you ever encountered this?

Regards, Grant

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The newer available ATRAC3plus bit rates - 320kbps, 192kbps, 160kbps, 128kbps and 96kbps, (except for ATRAC3plus 192kbps) are not useable with your NW-HD5. This is why encoded ATRAC3plus 128kbps tunes automatically reconvert to SonicStage 3.2's default ATRAC3plus bit rate setting of 64kbps during the transfer.

If you would like to conserve disc space on our NW-HD5, try ATRAC3plus 192kbps instead of ATRAC3plus 256kbps.

[Garmstro]

The newer available ATRAC3plus bit rates - 320kbps, 192kbps, 160kbps, 128kbps and 96kbps, (except for ATRAC3plus 192kbps) are not useable with your NW-HD5. This is why encoded ATRAC3plus 128kbps tunes automatically reconvert to SonicStage 3.2's default ATRAC3plus bit rate setting of 64kbps during the transfer.

If you would like to conserve disc space on our NW-HD5, try ATRAC3plus 192kbps instead of ATRAC3plus 256kbps.

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Thanks Ishiyoshi,

192kbps would be a good compromise. I guess this should give me about 3,250 4min songs.

Have you had any experience in comparing the sound quality of 192 and 256kbps ATRAC3plus? According to Sony, 256 is virtually indistinguishable from CD, so I would expect 192 to be very good???

[Ishiyoshi]

Have you had any experience in comparing the sound quality of 192 and 256kbps ATRAC3plus? According to Sony, 256 is virtually indistinguishable from CD, so I would expect 192 to be very good???

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I have indeed and I can't discern any significant difference between the two bit rates. If you are interested, I have done a frequency analysis for the new bit rates: click here.

[Ishiyoshi]

Thanks, very interesting. When looking at the two graphs  - in each graph there appear to be two sets of signals - is that correct? If so, what do the two sets represent?

Also, how do you explain in layman's terms the divergence at the high frequencies between say 192 and 256kbps. How would that present in terms of sound?

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Read my answer to your questions in this thread; and let’s continue the discussion pertaining to ATRAC3plus frequency analysis there.

[dcci]

I have indeed and I can't discern any significant difference between the two bit rates. If you are interested, I have done a frequency analysis for the new bit rates: click here.

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So, you don't just have good enough reference CD (TOOL - Lateralus) or headphones (at least GRADO SR60) to hear the difference... Well, this is just an opinion, but those headphones have been worth their price for my ears. Those are ugly but a perfect match with any Sonys portable, the sound is just nice...

[Ishiyoshi]

So, you don't just have good enough reference CD (TOOL - Lateralus) or headphones (at least GRADO SR60) to hear the difference... Well, this is just an opinion, but those headphones have been worth their price for my ears. Those are ugly but a perfect match with any Sonys portable, the sound is just nice...

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Welcome to ALC.

Yes, that's plausible. Please feel free to include your observation at the thread mentioned in the preceding posts.