RTSM

Hello Forum members I wanted your input on use of a iPod versus a USB stick. I have a 2011 ES with ML and am currently using a high-speed USB stick for my MP3's. I have limited my folders to be less then what was recomeneded within CL forums but I still experience major lag when trying to few the folders. I was curious if the iPod works, performs and sounds better in your ES as per your experiences. Appreciate your advice.

garsarno

I bought a 18 GIG USB stock at Sam's Club for $26 or so. Sounds better than CD and satellite radio in my non ML 2011. I use the ipod in my 2011 Bose equipped Impala LTZ and, in my opinion, the USB stick sounds the best versus all. I can only imagine how great the sound is on a ML version (traded my 2007 Ultra with ML). There is a slight lag but I have my folders segregated to "60's rock, 60's soft rock, 60's pop etc plus individual greatest hits of groups like the Beatles, Rolling Stones etc.

Robert_J

How can compressed music sound better than the original on CD?

garsarno

I don't know but to my ears, listening to both in my 2011, the compressed does. Tin ear maybe.

RTSM

Thanks folks, I guess a MP3 is a MP3. Does the iPod performs better on the interface functions such as less lag etc.?

Robert_J

Actually, it's not. An MP3 at 92kbps will sound much worse than an MP3 at 320kbps. When compressing your music, you have to weigh the sound quality to how much space you save. On the factory speakers, my wife could tell when the compression was too high and we stopped at 270kbps. Since the upgrade, all of her music is now WMA (Windows Media Audio) at 320kbps.

Also MP3 is also used as a generic compression name. Like TiVo for every DVR or Xerox for every copier. Apple uses its own AAC format. MP3 was the first and most popular. WMA is from Microsoft. Then there are compression algorithms like FLAC and Ogg Vorbis.

garsarno

I downloaded all of my music from Windows "My Music" off my laptop onto the USB 18 gig stick. I had recorded from cd to the laptop previously. What did I end up with, with regard to the bps?

Robert_J

Probably WMA 128kbps. If you used Windows Media Player to automatically "rip" from the CD.

I use Easy CD Digital Audio Extractor to rip to WMA lossless (no difference sonically between that version and the CD). Once in lossless, I use ECDDA to convert the entire library to any format and directory structure that I need. It takes a weekend to convert my entire library to a different format. That's about 2,000 CDs each stored in their own folder by Artist / CD Title / track number. song title.

I also run Tiversity media server on my PC so I can stream music down to my Blu-ray and DVRs in my theater room. So the songs get much more use than just the car.

garsarno

Yes I did. Thanks for the update and information.