USB port is a great feature

[cschuler]

I have been ripping my audio CDs to mp3s and am amazed at how wonderful they play (sound) in my Genesis.

Anybody else enoying this feature?

 

[Cut-Throat]

I have been ripping my audio CDs to mp3s and am amazed at how wonderful they play (sound) in my Genesis.

Anybody else enoying this feature?

They would sound even better, if you just copied the CD onto another CD. You lose a lot of Music( highs and lows) with the compressed MP3 format.

 

[CenTexan]

They would sound even better, if you just copied the CD onto another CD. You lose a lot of Music( highs and lows) with the compressed MP3 format.

Of course, your loss depends on the bitrate you select. A 256k bitrate in a moving car would be indistinguishable from a CD.

 

[OBCT]

I also use the USB drive to play mp3's, and I also love it.

As far as the decreased dynamics of lossy compression, I find most 320 kbps recordings played back via USB to be identical to the same material played on CD. [Most of my mp3's are encoded @ 192, 224 or 256 kbps and I'm fine with the sound quality.] Admittedly, the type of music one listens to also makes a difference. Since I listen mostly to upbeat rock/pop/folk/electronic/alternative/jazz, slight dynamics nuanes might be less obvious than in classical music, for example.

Some people can detect subtle differences better than others, but from what I've read, the majority of research indicates that perceived differences of quality are minimal (even non-existent) in non-optimal listening areas, even between lossy and lossless source material, even for those with good hearing. Listening to music in a moving vehicle is far from optimal.

Now, DVD-Audio is another level of quality altogether. The rare time I throw in a DVD-A (I don't prefer the type of music variety available on DVD-A as much), I am absolutely floored by the dynamics, the fullness, the openness and the subtleties you notice within the soundscape.

To me, in a non-scientific sense, I'd say the difference between mp3 @ 160/192 kbps ---> CD is equal to the difference between CD ---> DVD Audio.


I love the sound system in the Genesis w/ Tech!

 

[dg_moore]

I listen mostly to classical (CD's ripped at 56K). I currently have about 11GB of music on a 16GB drive - it all sounds great in the car, maybe not as good as the original CD, but more than satisfactory for casual listing. I really like not having to mess with a zillion cd's, and I have my drive organized so I can find what I'm looking for very easily.

 

[DesertGen]

I have a usb hard drive with 8,000 songs ripped at 320. Love it!

 

[Bigfoot98]

I think that 320Kbps mp3s are 99.999% as good as lossless formats. My experience is high fidelity systems will make quality engineered recordings sound incredible but bad recordings sound worse. So yes, a good bit rate important, but also having well crafted recordings. Artists like Alison Krauss, Dire Straits, Steely Dan are going to sound spectacular.

 

[robthoke]

I'm currently using an 8GB USB drive. I recently received about 10 GB of music from my son and I'm going through it and arranging it for an upcoming trip I'll be making.

 

[Chief]

I like it too. Easy to use. Of course I have cds I like just as much.

 

[msitter]

I have a usb hard drive with 8,000 songs ripped at 320. Love it!

Are you planning an extended trip?

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[Anathem]

Anybody know what formats the USB supports? Is it just MP3? What about WMA and MP4 (itunes format)?

 

[MichaelOne]

I am using the USB feature to enable me to listen to my vinyl collection in the car.

 

[OBCT]

Anybody know what formats the USB supports? Is it just MP3? What about WMA and MP4 (itunes format)?

Only .mp3 and .wma formats are supported.

There are some slight variants of each format floating around out there, too. It's my understanding that only DRM-protected .wma (locked) files are not playable. All other variants of the two formats (including VBR) should work without a hitch.

 

[dg_moore]

Also, note that not all thumb drives may work correctly. My system would not recognize a SanDisk 16GB drive; I replaced it with an HP 16GB and it works fine.

 

[Anathem]

Also, note that not all thumb drives may work correctly. My system would not recognizet a SanDisk 16GB drive; I replaced it with an HP 16GB and it works fine.

Very interesting. On my final tast drive I brought a Transcend 8GB drive and couldn't get it to work. I wasn't too worried and figured that I would just figure it out when I finally get the car. Not really part of my decision making process. I wonder if people have had problems with othr flash drive brands?

 

[Sayantsi]

I think it has something to do with the file structure of the USB drive - if its not top level the car can't always find the music.

I rip my music to 256VBR mp3s and they sound great, even at 28-29 volume - no distortion or muddiness.

 

[tjc78]

Also, note that not all thumb drives may work correctly. My system would not recognize a SanDisk 16GB drive; I replaced it with an HP 16GB and it works fine.

That is odd because my car works fine with a Sandisk 16GB Mine is on 09 Non-Tech 14 speaker Lexicon.

 

[ImInPA]

Of course, your loss depends on the bitrate you select. A 256k bitrate in a moving car would be indistinguishable from a CD.

Most CD's are encoded at 96K. This allows for sufficient oversampling and preservation of fidelity. Frequency response is not lost through compression, Dynamic Range is lost. With todays variable bit rate (vbr) technologies, the average set of human ears would physically be incapabable of discerning differences between CD and 256K vbr copies. I am not saying that the differences are not there, I am simply saying that most folks hearing isnt that good. And, if you are over 50, all bets are off that you could even hear the difference.

 

[dg_moore]

Most CD's are encoded at 96K. This allows for sufficient oversampling and preservation of fidelity. Frequency response is not lost through compression, Dynamic Range is lost. With todays variable bit rate (vbr) technologies, the average set of human ears would physically be incapabable of discerning differences between CD and 256K vbr copies. I am not saying that the differences are not there, I am simply saying that most folks hearing isnt that good. And, if you are over 50, all bets are off that you could even hear the difference.

Also, road/wind/general car noise all mask any difference anyway. In an anechoic chamber most people would notice differences in sampling rate, but in a car, not so much. I have ripped about a hundred CD's at 56K and they sound great in the car, but less so at home through good headsets. I just don't think that sampling rate makes all that much difference in a moving car.

 

[tjc78]

I have ripped about a hundred CD's at 56K and they sound great in the car, but less so at home through good headsets.

Is that a typo? Did you mean 256K? 56K would barely be FM radio quality. Heck, on my home stereo I can tell the difference between the original source and a 128 or 160kps file.