Winamp and mp3s

[FearoftheNight]

I listen to alot of mp3s on my computer. I use a pair of Grado Sr-80s or my speakers which are pretty decent. I was wondering if anyone knew the best way to get the best possible audio? Would getting a new sound card vs onboard make a difference for mp3s?Is there a dsp or filter of some sort like mad or dee that makes winamp sound better? TIA.

 

[Evander]

I use the enhancer plugin for better sound:
http://www.i-adrian.home.ro/
It effects bass, treble, wideness, and boosts low sounding parts of the song, among other things.
After installing, load the "general improvements" setting for ease of use.

 

[MrChad]

A better soundcard could make a huge difference. Look at M-Audio's Revolution card (or even the Audiophile 2496). If you're on a budget, the Chaintech AV710 has excellent sound quality at a bargain bin price, especially if you only have a 2.1 setup and you use the high-quality DACs on the rear audio ports.

For software, foobar2000 is generally well-regarded for its sound quality. I would avoid any plugins that change the EQ levels in order to "improve" sound quality. In my opinion they're just distorting the true sound.

One last thing to look at is how high quality your MP3s are. I rip all of my MP3s using Exact Audio Copy and encode them using LAME and the "--alt-preset standard" VBR setting. If you've got the room and are even pickier about sound quality, you can use lossless FLAC encoding so you don't lose any sound quality during the ripping/encoding process. FLAC files can be transcoded to other formats (like MP3) for use in portable audio players.

Good luck.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Thanks guys. I am seriously considering the m-audio revolution 7.1.. however is it true that this card sucks for gaming? Foobar >winamp in sound quality?

What about MAD plugin? It was highly recommended by firingsquad.com some time ago. Most of my mp3s are 192 bitrate.

 

[FearoftheNight]

How does m-audio revolution compare to audigy2 zs? Does audigy2 support digital coaxial out?

 

[VicodiN]

I use the DFX enhancer for winamp... http://www.fxsound.com/ ... Its pretty sweet.

 

[Nick63]

I really like what Sound Solution does for music. If you install it give selection #69 "Broadcast" a try, it's great. The plugin is configured under DSP plugins in Winamp. I also turn off Winamp's equalizer while using Sound Solution.

http://tmsweb.dnsalias.com/downloads/Sound_Solution_1.31b_setup.exe

 

[nineball9]

As noted above, try a lossless encoding format. FLAC works nicely.

 

[0roo0roo]

depends if you've encoded the mp3s with the correct encoder(lame) and at anough of a bitrate in the first place.

 

[statik213]

If you don't have one get a good sound card. I noticed a huge difference using my SB Live compared to the builtin AC97 card. The Live can do DSP in hardware and so you don't have the performance hit of some softrware DSP plugins. SB Live cards are pretty cheap now, I wouldn't spend more than $15 on one, the audigy is also getting cheap. Don't have much experience with soundcards so I just stick with the creative stuff...

 

[sandorski]

What bitrate are you using? 128 isn't sufficient with decent speakers/headphones, you want at least 192VBR if possible or higher for the win.

 

[FearoftheNight]

yea most of my stuff is 160-192. what is vbr? oh and i ordered a maudion 7.1 from fs/ft

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: FearoftheNight
yea most of my stuff is 160-192. what is vbr? oh and i ordered a maudion 7.1 from fs/ft

Variable Bit Rate

 

[Bona Fide]

I have my MP3's encoded at 320Kbps CBR, but whatever floats your boat. Also, if you're in the market for a sound card, I would go for the Audigy 2. Now that the X-Fi is out, Audigy 2 prices should be dropping reallll fast.

 

[xgsound]

Just about any sound card will beat the standard on board stuff. Generally M Audio gets high marks for music.

VBR is variable bit rate. With this you select the average bit rate (ie 192) and complex sounds use a maximum bitrate while simpler sounds use lower bitrates to arrive at the average. EAC used with lame gives this option . The result is a 3.5 mb file that sounds good to the limits of your soundcard/ speakers. The pickiest people would want flac, but they could not suffer on board sound at all.


Jim

 

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: MrChad
A better soundcard could make a huge difference.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Alright M-Audio Revolution 7.1 installed. Sounds like a decent improvement. So should I use digital out to my receiver? Or the analog out to comp speakers?

 

[Nick63]

Did you happen to try the Sound Solution plugin I mentioned earlier?

 

[corkyg]

For best sound, connect your computer sound card to a good external amp and speakers - as in home theater type. Even MP3s sound great.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Originally posted by: Nick63
Did you happen to try the Sound Solution plugin I mentioned earlier?

Oh yea. Listening to #69 broadcast right now. Any other recs? What #s are good?

 

[FearoftheNight]

Originally posted by: corkyg
For best sound, connect your computer sound card to a good external amp and speakers - as in home theater type. Even MP3s sound great.

well i can get a set of analog speakers w/ this. currently its set to digital out to my onkyo reciever. is there a big diff betw digital out or analog out/ my keybaord is dying on me ;9 shift button no worky

so better to stick headphone in the analog out or the .25 adapter to the receiver from the digital out/

 

[Nick63]

Long ago I tried Flac after using mp3's, but the improvement was not that noticeable. I then installed Sound Solution and it was a major improvement. I use #69 after testing all the selections and never switch as it is perfect for my taste. I run my audio out through a Pioneer receiver into some high quality bookshelf speakers. I also use the KX drivers for my Soundblaster Live 5.1. I am super happy with the sound. With this setup good quality mp3s sound about like the original cd.
But, since you asked what other #'s are good I would say #79 is quite good as are 84, 37,38,39,40,41, and 42. If I had to pick another it would be #79. After trying #79 again it might be as good as 69. 79 with somes songs is sweeeet.
After listening a bit more I would say that 79 gives more boost{volume} and also gives some reverb like on an outside soundstage. If you like a little reverb you will like 79. If I turn the volume up a notch while using 69 it sounds as rich as 79 and I find 69 generally a little better as it has a cleaner sound, but for some songs 79 does it for me. Bear in mind I have a different sound card and am using KX drivers. This may change how good you find some of my picks since your setup may produce somewhat different results. Sound Solution is a more sophisticated plugin than just changing eq settings.

 

[imported_goku]

Originally posted by: MrChad
A better soundcard could make a huge difference. Look at M-Audio's Revolution card (or even the Audiophile 2496). If you're on a budget, the Chaintech AV710 has excellent sound quality at a bargain bin price, especially if you only have a 2.1 setup and you use the high-quality DACs on the rear audio ports.

For software, foobar2000 is generally well-regarded for its sound quality. I would avoid any plugins that change the EQ levels in order to "improve" sound quality. In my opinion they're just distorting the true sound.

One last thing to look at is how high quality your MP3s are. I rip all of my MP3s using Exact Audio Copy and encode them using LAME and the "--alt-preset standard" VBR setting. If you've got the room and are even pickier about sound quality, you can use lossless FLAC encoding so you don't lose any sound quality during the ripping/encoding process. FLAC files can be transcoded to other formats (like MP3) for use in portable audio players.

Good luck.

I'd avoid MP3 if you can, there are better lossy codecs out there like OGG which I have to say, after trying it, it's fantastic.

 

[FearoftheNight]

All these other formats. Is there anywhere to get these? Or do I have to rip all my CDs?

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: MrChad
A better soundcard could make a huge difference. Look at M-Audio's Revolution card (or even the Audiophile 2496). If you're on a budget, the Chaintech AV710 has excellent sound quality at a bargain bin price, especially if you only have a 2.1 setup and you use the high-quality DACs on the rear audio ports.

For software, foobar2000 is generally well-regarded for its sound quality. I would avoid any plugins that change the EQ levels in order to "improve" sound quality. In my opinion they're just distorting the true sound.

One last thing to look at is how high quality your MP3s are. I rip all of my MP3s using Exact Audio Copy and encode them using LAME and the "--alt-preset standard" VBR setting. If you've got the room and are even pickier about sound quality, you can use lossless FLAC encoding so you don't lose any sound quality during the ripping/encoding process. FLAC files can be transcoded to other formats (like MP3) for use in portable audio players.

Good luck.

:thumbsup: you can't get any better than EAC + LAME for mp3s.

As far as FLAC goes, you can buy a real mp3 player, like an iriver h120, that supports it in the first place.