[X4U] Which format for Music?

[B. Kuestner]

Before digging into super-fidelity technical details ... did anybody  
ever care to make a listening test if the audible difference after  
using a lossy encoder is even perceivable to your ears, and if so, is  
this difference relevant to you?

I read about Airport Express here which uses (sorry to break the bad  
news) sub-par audio circuitry. Now if the Airport Express is good  
enough for you, then most likely AAC or MP3 (VBR) both at 160 kbit/s  
and encoded at "highest quality" should be more than plenty.

Just a thought before you start filling up your hard drives for a  
mostly psychological phenomenon.

Note: I'm not implying that there is no perceivable difference and  
that it isn't relevant for some. But AAC and MP3 are successful for a  
good reason, because they really do a good job for a large majority  
of the listening habits out there ... which should include all AE  
users. (c:

Björn