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Answered

iTunes download - poor quality audio playback

M
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  • MAC1950
  • Avid Contributor I
  • 31 replies

A strange one - perhaps?

I bought a used CD from Ebay recently - but when downloaded on iTunes and transferred to Sonos system the audio playback was poor quality.

So I cleaned the disc with Isopropyl alcohol and tried again - same poor sound.

I then acquired a second copy of the same CD from a different seller and repeated the download etc. - same result.

The chances of both discs being iffy must be slim I would have thought ?

When played on my “boom box” retreived from a cupboard the album reproduction was fine.

Any thoughts ?

 

Best answer by jgatie

128 kbps is pretty low.  Standard iTunes lossy is double that.  Lossless is 10 times that. Try AAC at 256 or 384.

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8 replies

J
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  • Joffy
  • Trending Lyricist I
  • 21 replies
  • April 30, 2023

Surely iTunes music (as opposed to Apple Music) isn’t CD quality?  

J
  • John B
  • 19684 replies
  • April 30, 2023

Please can you explain what you mean by "downloaded on iTunes and transferred to Sonos system" means?

Does it mean "ripped to a lossless CD-quality file and added to my Sonos Music Library "?

M
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  • MAC1950
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor I
  • 31 replies
  • April 30, 2023

Yes John B.

106rallye
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  • 106rallye
  • 6246 replies
  • April 30, 2023

What if you play the CD on your computer? Does it sound as bad then? What setting did you use ripping the CD?

M
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  • MAC1950
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor I
  • 31 replies
  • April 30, 2023

Yes, audio on the laptop is also sub standard.

Used the AAC Encoder, 128 kbps for import on iTunes.

jgatie
  • jgatie
  • 27791 replies
  • Answer
  • April 30, 2023

128 kbps is pretty low.  Standard iTunes lossy is double that.  Lossless is 10 times that. Try AAC at 256 or 384.

M
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  • MAC1950
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor I
  • 31 replies
  • April 30, 2023

OK, thanks - I’ll try that in the morning.

M
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  • MAC1950
  • Author
  • Avid Contributor I
  • 31 replies
  • May 5, 2023

I tried different import settings - same poor quality.

Then found a CD that wasn’t in my iTunes library - it ripped no problem and the audio quality via Sonos is fine.

Logical conclusion is that both copies of the other disc in question are faulty - will return for replacement.

Thanks all for help, appreciated.

jgatie
106rallye
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