If Atrac3plus@64k = mp3@128k, what is A3+@128k?

[NoOneHome]

Sony say (taken with a pinch of salt ) that Atrac3plus 64k is equivelent to mp3 @ 128k, and Atrac3plus 256k is near enough CD quality (mp3 @ 320k?). But there's no guide as to where their new bitrates fit in - the answer to the which would probably help many Atrac3plus users - new and old.

Generally people know what mp3 bitrates they prefer and what are worth considering (eg. I prefer 192k mp3s over 128k, but don't often use 256k). I know there are a lot of variables, and for me at least, 256k A3+ uses too much space. But can anyone help fill in the blanks below from their experiences/ABX findings etc...

A3+ .... mp3

64k ..... 128k

96k ..... ?

128k .... ?

160k .... ?

192k .... ?

256k .... 320k?

[Zizone_]

I am not questioning you but where did Sony say those information you just mentioned? I am just curious. Thanks.

[Ascariss]

Actually atrac3 at 132kbps is said to sound almost the same as mp3 at 192kbps, but I am not sure about that. Still when I had my MD and LP2 format at 132, the sound quality was rather good, and no complaints about it. I would say its more in between 160 and 192 mp3.

If anything use atrac at 192 if you can, that is the best compromise, and if you want the longest battery life at the best quality, go for atrac 132.

[sh33p]

if a3+ > mp3 bitrate for bitrate then is a3+ 320 > mp3 320 ?

[cobby172]

At higher bitrates (e.g 320kbps) you will not be able to tell the difference between codecs. Only at lower bitrates (192kbps and lower) will some small differences in quality become noticable

[NoOneHome]

I am not questioning you but where did Sony say those information you just mentioned? I am just curious. Thanks.

It's in their info at http://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3 and the test docs they released when Atrac3plus was launched. They created Atrac3plus to superceed ATRAC3, with A3+ 64k superceeding A3 132k.

I've used an MDLP for a couple of years (132k A3), followed by Hi-MD (64k A3+) and testing the two for a while side by side found them to be pretty much on a par (IMHO). However, I'm using 128k A3+ now as I have the space (NW-A3000), which should be a lot better (mp3 192-224k?).

For info, 132k is the only non-Atrac3plus codec that's still supported in SonicStage3.3 and CONNECT Player for encoding (other than ATRAC Advanced Lossless - the holy grail, lossless CD compression).

[Zizone_]

It's in their info at http://www.sony.net/Products/ATRAC3 and the test docs they released when Atrac3plus was launched.  They created Atrac3plus to superceed ATRAC3, with A3+ 64k superceeding A3 132k. 

←

Thanks for the info.