For NW-A Series Owners - Ripping Formats Poll

[Obli]

I'm interested to know what formats other NW-A series users use when ripping CD's - sorry to alienate owners of other players from the poll...

The choice of format is based on the CD ripping options the Connect software offers (and Connect happens to be what I use, for convenience). As the NW-A series support WMA now, I've also included that although Connect cannot rip CDs in WMA format.

I've included a choice of NW-A model. Users of the larger NW-A3000 may not feel they have to compromise the bit rate as they have the luxury of owning a player with three times the capacity.

I own an NW-A1000 and as it's the smaller sibling, I rip CD's in ATRAC3plus 64kbps as I'm concerned about 'filling up' the NW-A1000 (I wanted the smaller model yet I don't want to run out of space!) and like the fact that it (ATRAC3plus @ 64kbps) sounds pretty decent to me (equivalent to MP3 @ 128kbps, so Sony's independent tests have proven). However, I'm worried about using a format that is supported only (?) by Sony products themselves.

Thanks for your time. Please leave comments

Edited February 4, 2006 by Ishiyoshi

[Obli]

Dammit! I missed out ATRAC3plus 48kbps! Just say so if you use this =)

[Rumz]

I guess the A680 doesn't count

Regardless, thus far I use EAC + Lame to rip to Mp3 and import them into the Connect Library. If I do something I want to be gapless I'll do Atrac3plus 320kbps.

[Ascariss]

I don't use any particular bitrate per se, but I usually try to get it around 192 mp3 cbr, but sadly I have tons of mp3 files ranging from the measly 128 up to 320, with plenty around 40% of my mp3s being vbr at around 189-224.

I am too lazy to convert my collection to atrac and as well don't have the space, and don't want to spend time transcoding it for the player especially. that might change when I get a bigger drive though,

[Waqas_]

I use 256, because at 192 I can hear the differene.