Slashdot Mirror
Linux Based Stereo Components
davidu writes "MP3.com has a really cool interview with Joseph Mesterhazy, the creator of the LCDAT Linux-based MP3 player. If you haven't seen it, it is extremely cool. The interview also talks about how open standards make projects like this easier. This is is one of the first, not vapor, stereo quality, MP3 players out there, and it runs Linux!
" I wonder how many of us have duct taped perl scripts together
for our MP3 playing.
Hi, I am the author of this project, and would like to share my opinion about this whole MP3 audio-quality issue that a lot of people have brought up:
In short, for me it isn't one.
In the interview I stated I built this machine to replace my *analog* equipment. I don't think anyone can argue that a 256kb/s MP3 (on a digital output) sounds worse than a cassette tape. Perhaps if you bought a $1000 tape deck, but if this is the case I am sure you could care less about MP3.
Yes, if you listen for it, you can hear the compression of the audio. Especially in the rear channels if you place your receiver in a surround mode. If this distracts you to the point you cannot listen to the audio, fine. Don't use MP3. I encoded most of my MP3 at 160kb/s, and my classical music and ambient music at 256kb/s. As far as I am concerned it sounds *close* enough to a CD, that I don't mind if there is a little swishy-ness in the cymbals. The advantages of having all my music at at the touch of a button far outweigh this.
How many people do you know record TV shows at SLP speed on their VCR? Probably a lot. For them the advantage of being able to record 6 hours of video on a 2 hour (SP) tape makes up for the loss in video/audio quality.
It is all a matter of personal preference.