High-quality MP3s not comparable to CD WAVs ??

Captain: Try this little test: Get a friend to play one or the other for you, and see if you can guess which one is playing. It's always easy to tell things apart when you know which one is playing.

There has been a lot of discussion around this exact topic.

Here are some facts:
A song on a CD is encoded at 1411mbps whereas the average MP3 is encoded at 128kpbs. Some people do encode them at higher rates like 320kbps, but that is the highest I've seen.

Here is my opinion:
I have done quite a bit of research and listening (friends have too) and this is the conclusion:

1411kbps = CD = GREAT!!!
128kbps = MP3 = CRAP
192kbps = MP3 = Sound better that 128, but still crap
320kbps = MP3 = Sounds worst than 192

My recomendation: If you must use MP3s, use them at 192kbps. They sound "ok" But stick with a CD if you can.

That's my opinion anyway.

I believe you are all leaving out the most important link in the chain. The MP3 files must go through a sound card.
I have had excellent results using the digital out on the M-Audio soundcard to a GW Labs Upsampler then to a modded
ART Di/O DAC.
If you play music straight from the soundcard you will probably not get CDP sound.

I agree,MP3s don't even rival LPs and Cds but I'd have to say that they are better than "crap" like some say. Maybe if you try ripping directly from Cds rather than converting waves you'll have better results - thats what I do. You can download a free demo of the program to see if its anygood at

http://www.mp3-ripper.net/download.htm

Sailor and others

I have beating my head against a wall since Xmas, trying to get my Apple iPod to navigate wav files. Despite the claims that all the iPOd hardware and software "supports" WAV files, they lack the MP-3 codes which is what makes the iPod special and worth the premium price in the first place.

All I wanted to do was have 30 uncompressed CDs for running and working out, but it really doesnt work.

I am using exact audio copy and LAME as well, achieving only mediocre sound with MP-3.

If anyone has any suggestions for achieveing decent MP-3 quality or getting an iPod to navigate WAV files, I too would love to hear your ideas.