Newbie to MP3 - Bad Sound Quality Question...

[NewMan]

Hi! While I am a computer power-user and an audiophile, I am a total
newbie when it comes to things like MP3s.

I just got a Panasonic CQ-C1301U deck as a gift. I nstalled it in my
car, and it plays regular CDs no problem. They sound FANTASTIC.

I got some software, and converted some of my favorite songs to MP3,
and I used a 244khz bit rate. My deck plays tem, but they sound like
total crap compated to the .wav files from the CDs. It sounds like
someone threw a wet blanket over the speakers!

I took the disk inside, and it plays with good quality on my computer,
but in my car - YUK.

So I thought I would try something different. I converted the .wav to
WMA. I tried both 9 and 9.1 at very high sampling frequencies and bit
rates. All I get from my car deck is "-E4-" which equates to "cannot
read file".

So what am I doing wrong here???? From what I have read - which is not
a lot - the claims are that MP3s absolutely rock, and that I should be
aboe to get just as good a qualty from them as from a regular CD.

And what is going on with the WMAs? Is there some obvioous thing I am
missing?

Anyone got a link to a "primer" on all this stuff?

Thanks!

[MOSFET]

This is a shot in the dark, but perhaps your Panasonic has a different EQ
setting for MP3's that sounds REALLY crappy. That would explain the
dramatic difference between regular CD's and MP3's. Go through your manual
and see if there are separate EQ adjustments for MP3's.

MOSFET


"NewMan" > wrote in message
...
> Hi! While I am a computer power-user and an audiophile, I am a total
> newbie when it comes to things like MP3s.
>
> I just got a Panasonic CQ-C1301U deck as a gift. I nstalled it in my
> car, and it plays regular CDs no problem. They sound FANTASTIC.
>
> I got some software, and converted some of my favorite songs to MP3,
> and I used a 244khz bit rate. My deck plays tem, but they sound like
> total crap compated to the .wav files from the CDs. It sounds like
> someone threw a wet blanket over the speakers!
>
> I took the disk inside, and it plays with good quality on my computer,
> but in my car - YUK.
>
> So I thought I would try something different. I converted the .wav to
> WMA. I tried both 9 and 9.1 at very high sampling frequencies and bit
> rates. All I get from my car deck is "-E4-" which equates to "cannot
> read file".
>
> So what am I doing wrong here???? From what I have read - which is not
> a lot - the claims are that MP3s absolutely rock, and that I should be
> aboe to get just as good a qualty from them as from a regular CD.
>
> And what is going on with the WMAs? Is there some obvioous thing I am
> missing?
>
> Anyone got a link to a "primer" on all this stuff?
>
> Thanks!

[NewMan]

There is an equalizer in this deck. I have been listneing to it
"flat". The other modes are "pop", "Rock", and "vocal".

If you select the "rock" or "pop" settings, then the MP3 sound a
little better, but then when you switch back to FM is sounds terrible,
and you have to select the "flat" setting on the eq again.

A friend suggested it might be my conversion software.I am using
dBpowerAMP Music Converter. Anyone know of anything better???

Also, I was wondering, I have been using the same CD-R over and over.
I know my computer can handle "multi-session", but I am wondering if
the car deck cannot. So far the only thing that worked was the MP3s.
And they were the first things I burnt into the disk.

What a pain this is.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 17:15:10 -0700, "MOSFET" >
wrote:

>This is a shot in the dark, but perhaps your Panasonic has a different EQ
>setting for MP3's that sounds REALLY crappy. That would explain the
>dramatic difference between regular CD's and MP3's. Go through your manual
>and see if there are separate EQ adjustments for MP3's.
>
>MOSFET
>
>
>"NewMan" > wrote in message
...
>> Hi! While I am a computer power-user and an audiophile, I am a total
>> newbie when it comes to things like MP3s.
>>
>> I just got a Panasonic CQ-C1301U deck as a gift. I nstalled it in my
>> car, and it plays regular CDs no problem. They sound FANTASTIC.
>>
>> I got some software, and converted some of my favorite songs to MP3,
>> and I used a 244khz bit rate. My deck plays tem, but they sound like
>> total crap compated to the .wav files from the CDs. It sounds like
>> someone threw a wet blanket over the speakers!
>>
>> I took the disk inside, and it plays with good quality on my computer,
>> but in my car - YUK.
>>
>> So I thought I would try something different. I converted the .wav to
>> WMA. I tried both 9 and 9.1 at very high sampling frequencies and bit
>> rates. All I get from my car deck is "-E4-" which equates to "cannot
>> read file".
>>
>> So what am I doing wrong here???? From what I have read - which is not
>> a lot - the claims are that MP3s absolutely rock, and that I should be
>> aboe to get just as good a qualty from them as from a regular CD.
>>
>> And what is going on with the WMAs? Is there some obvioous thing I am
>> missing?
>>
>> Anyone got a link to a "primer" on all this stuff?
>>
>> Thanks!
>

[MOSFET]

"> A friend suggested it might be my conversion software.I am using
> dBpowerAMP Music Converter. Anyone know of anything better???

Not a bad idea. I use "RecordNow" and have never had any problems. That
would certainly be something to try.

MOSFET

[Body Roll]

My Blaupunkt San Jose has a problem with some mp3s.
There is an audible click or s apike. It sound is if someone
smacked the microphone with a finger. I think it's a crappy firmware
in the headunit and you are stuck with it unless you want to ditch the
headunit
for another one (that could have a different problem playing mp3s).

[Vivek]

I have tested this case with numerous HU;

1. Create an MP3 tack from the CD in high quality say 256kbps (avoid VBR)
and burn the mp3 track

2. Again create an audio CD from this mp3 track and burn the cd

3. Play both cds and the cd 2 will play much better than the one in point 1

My assertion is that mp3 decoding in most car audio is lossy than CD audio.
I don't think various brands will make a difference here since mp3 decoder
is pretty standard. Stay with 256 or 320 kbps for acceptable results.

V

"NewMan" > wrote in message
...
| There is an equalizer in this deck. I have been listneing to it
| "flat". The other modes are "pop", "Rock", and "vocal".
|
| If you select the "rock" or "pop" settings, then the MP3 sound a
| little better, but then when you switch back to FM is sounds terrible,
| and you have to select the "flat" setting on the eq again.
|
| A friend suggested it might be my conversion software.I am using
| dBpowerAMP Music Converter. Anyone know of anything better???
|
| Also, I was wondering, I have been using the same CD-R over and over.
| I know my computer can handle "multi-session", but I am wondering if
| the car deck cannot. So far the only thing that worked was the MP3s.
| And they were the first things I burnt into the disk.
|
| What a pain this is.
|
| On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 17:15:10 -0700, "MOSFET" >
| wrote:
|
| >This is a shot in the dark, but perhaps your Panasonic has a different EQ
| >setting for MP3's that sounds REALLY crappy. That would explain the
| >dramatic difference between regular CD's and MP3's. Go through your
manual
| >and see if there are separate EQ adjustments for MP3's.
| >
| >MOSFET
| >
| >
| >"NewMan" > wrote in message
| ...
| >> Hi! While I am a computer power-user and an audiophile, I am a total
| >> newbie when it comes to things like MP3s.
| >>
| >> I just got a Panasonic CQ-C1301U deck as a gift. I nstalled it in my
| >> car, and it plays regular CDs no problem. They sound FANTASTIC.
| >>
| >> I got some software, and converted some of my favorite songs to MP3,
| >> and I used a 244khz bit rate. My deck plays tem, but they sound like
| >> total crap compated to the .wav files from the CDs. It sounds like
| >> someone threw a wet blanket over the speakers!
| >>
| >> I took the disk inside, and it plays with good quality on my computer,
| >> but in my car - YUK.
| >>
| >> So I thought I would try something different. I converted the .wav to
| >> WMA. I tried both 9 and 9.1 at very high sampling frequencies and bit
| >> rates. All I get from my car deck is "-E4-" which equates to "cannot
| >> read file".
| >>
| >> So what am I doing wrong here???? From what I have read - which is not
| >> a lot - the claims are that MP3s absolutely rock, and that I should be
| >> aboe to get just as good a qualty from them as from a regular CD.
| >>
| >> And what is going on with the WMAs? Is there some obvioous thing I am
| >> missing?
| >>
| >> Anyone got a link to a "primer" on all this stuff?
| >>
| >> Thanks!
| >
|

[Body Roll]

> My assertion is that mp3 decoding in most car audio is lossy than CD audio.
> I don't think various brands will make a difference here since mp3 decoder
> is pretty standard. Stay with 256 or 320 kbps for acceptable results.

There is *something* different about that Blaupunkt. The same mp3s that
play with the
painful "spikes" play just fine on my computer. Maybe I should sue
Blaupunkt for
the hearing damage. For now I just gave up playing those files.
Got the HU per recommendation from my coworker: then mentioned the
problem with some files. So he goes: "Oh yeah, it does it" $#^$#&^ Why
did not
he mention it BEFORE I bought the unit?
Misery loves company I guess.

[Matt Ion]

NewMan wrote:

> A friend suggested it might be my conversion software.I am using
> dBpowerAMP Music Converter. Anyone know of anything better???

Windows Media Player will do it. There are literally dozens of free
converters out there. Most are based on one of three or four
commonly-available codecs, Frauhoffer's and mp3enc being the most
common. Take a look at www.mp3.com

> Also, I was wondering, I have been using the same CD-R over and over.
> I know my computer can handle "multi-session", but I am wondering if
> the car deck cannot. So far the only thing that worked was the MP3s.
> And they were the first things I burnt into the disk.

It's likely your car deck won't handle multi-session, but if you don't
close the first session, you may still be able to play it and then add
files to it.

Then again, cheap CD-Rs are going on the order of 20 cents now...
there's not much reason to mess around with sessions and whatnot, just
burn a new disc and toss the old one.


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[NewMan]

Update!

I got WMAs to work! After re-reading the manual - and finding NOTHING
I might add, I did some surfing on the Panasonic Web Site. I could not
find my exact model, but I did find a similar one.

As I read some fo the technical info... it hit me!

These decks only support WMA V2 through V8!!!!!!! I was trying 9.0 and
9.1!

Damn. I erased the files on my CD-R, re-converted the .WAV files to
..WMA8 at a bit rate of 192 and 44.1 KHz sample rate. I burned them
onto the same CD-R I have been using all along, and Presto! It works!

The sticker on this deck said August 2005 when I took it out of the
box the other day. I KNOW the WMA9 has been around longer then that.

What a pain in the neck.

Having said all that, clearly .WAV is superior to .WMA in sound
quality. However, that was judged in a quiet parking lot, with the
engine and fan off, and the car in "Park". When you get the regular
road noise of the car going and add in the fact that you are focused
on driving rather than critical listening, then I think the .WMA is
just fine. Also, since it is a straight "Data" CD, you can always RIP
and add more music to the CD later - which you cannot do with a
regular audio CD.

Fair enough. Now that I know all this, I will look for some different
MP3 software. And my deck manual says you can mix MP3 and WMA on the
same disk! So I am off & running.

Thanks for the help guys!

:)

On Mon, 17 Apr 2006 20:50:20 GMT, Matt Ion >
wrote:

>NewMan wrote:
>
>> A friend suggested it might be my conversion software.I am using
>> dBpowerAMP Music Converter. Anyone know of anything better???
>
>Windows Media Player will do it. There are literally dozens of free
>converters out there. Most are based on one of three or four
>commonly-available codecs, Frauhoffer's and mp3enc being the most
>common. Take a look at www.mp3.com
>
>> Also, I was wondering, I have been using the same CD-R over and over.
>> I know my computer can handle "multi-session", but I am wondering if
>> the car deck cannot. So far the only thing that worked was the MP3s.
>> And they were the first things I burnt into the disk.
>
>It's likely your car deck won't handle multi-session, but if you don't
>close the first session, you may still be able to play it and then add
>files to it.
>
>Then again, cheap CD-Rs are going on the order of 20 cents now...
>there's not much reason to mess around with sessions and whatnot, just
>burn a new disc and toss the old one.
>
>
>---
>avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
>Virus Database (VPS): 0616-0, 04/17/2006
>Tested on: 4/17/2006 1:50:01 PM
>avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2005 ALWIL Software.
>http://www.avast.com
>
>