[LiveBrianD]

I noticed that Pandora audio quality (128kbps, I don't subscribe to Pandora One) sounds a bit muffled, mainly with things like high-pitched drum stuff. I notice that with mp3s at 192kbps or 320kbs that I already had, that was not nearly as noticable. Remember, this is a $30 set of speakers (Logitech V220). Do you find Pandora's audio quality to be an issue at all? (Granted, I'm still not willing to subscribe to Pandora One, even if it's just $2/month, but I'm just curious.)

[compnovo]

LiveBrianD, on 13 January 2012 - 05:23 PM, said:

I noticed that Pandora audio quality (128kbps, I don't subscribe to Pandora One) sounds a bit muffled, mainly with things like high-pitched drum stuff. I notice that with mp3s at 192kbps or 320kbs that I already had, that was not nearly as noticable. Remember, this is a $30 set of speakers (Logitech V220). Do you find Pandora's audio quality to be an issue at all? (Granted, I'm still not willing to subscribe to Pandora One, even if it's just $2/month, but I'm just curious.)

Hey LiveB,
Coincidentally I loaded the Pandora app yesterday on the Kindle, and I listened to music just now (Louis Armstrong) with both the built-in speakers and earbuds. I didn't pick up any of the muffled issues you're describing. I didn't try on my desktop or netbook, I figured I'd test the smallest device.

[LiveBrianD]

It's not all that bad, but it is noticeable. Oh btw I meant I have the logitech S220, not V220 (that happens to be the model of mouse I have for my laptop).

[LincolnSpector]

I usually listen to Pandora, via the Android app, when working in the kitchen. The speakers are pretty cheap, and the sound quality sounded fine. But I've also tried it in home theater, which has the best audio system in the house, via my Blu-ray player's Pandora app. That didn't sound too good.

I thought free Pandora's bandwidth was something less than 128, but I'm not sure. I can't find a reference to it on their site.


Lincoln

[LiveBrianD]

LincolnSpector, on 15 January 2012 - 11:04 AM, said:

I usually listen to Pandora, via the Android app, when working in the kitchen. The speakers are pretty cheap, and the sound quality sounded fine. But I've also tried it in home theater, which has the best audio system in the house, via my Blu-ray player's Pandora app. That didn't sound too good.

I thought free Pandora's bandwidth was something less than 128, but I'm not sure. I can't find a reference to it on their site.


Lincoln

I know the pay version is 192kbps anyway (I thought the free one was 128kbps). Youtube videos at 320p have 128kbps audio? I was listening to this
http://www.youtube.c...frjKcqs&ob=av2e
at 320p and didn't really notice any difference between that and an 192kbps mp3 of that song I have.
edit: Actually, maybe there is some difference. Again, it's in the higher drum tones. (This speaker set has a pretty good subwoofer, but it's not as good with higher tones.)

This post has been edited by LiveBrianD: 15 January 2012 - 11:43 AM

[MLStrand56]

LiveBrianD, on 13 January 2012 - 05:23 PM, said:

I noticed that Pandora audio quality (128kbps)

Anybody who listens to 128Kbs MP3's does not have the right to complain about it's Low Quality!!! If you want Quality music Rip to 320Kbs OR FLAC. If all you're concerned about is fitting 1 million No-Quality songs on a 10Gig HD, then rip to 128 or less.

MLStrand56

[LiveBrianD]

MLStrand56, on 21 January 2012 - 10:58 AM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 13 January 2012 - 05:23 PM, said:

I noticed that Pandora audio quality (128kbps)

Anybody who listens to 128Kbs MP3's does not have the right to complain about it's Low Quality!!! If you want Quality music Rip to 320Kbs OR FLAC. If all you're concerned about is fitting 1 million No-Quality songs on a 10Gig HD, then rip to 128 or less.

MLStrand56

I like Pandora, but I'm not willing to spend extra money to get the One version with higher quality audio.

[SnyperTodd]

I pay for Pandora One because I routinely use up the free 40 hours per month in the first half of the month. I could create multiple accounts, but I appreciate the service and I'm willing to pay a few bucks a year to show that. The better sound quality and more play time are added bonuses as far as I'm concerned.

And MLStrand, I agree, FLAC is the way to go in my opinion, but we're talking about streaming music from the internet.

[LiveBrianD]

SnyperTodd, on 21 January 2012 - 03:20 PM, said:

I pay for Pandora One because I routinely use up the free 40 hours per month in the first half of the month. I could create multiple accounts, but I appreciate the service and I'm willing to pay a few bucks a year to show that. The better sound quality and more play time are added bonuses as far as I'm concerned.

And MLStrand, I agree, FLAC is the way to go in my opinion, but we're talking about streaming music from the internet.

Actually, they removed the limit for free users. (Well, it's 320 hours now, and how can you listen to it that much in one month?) I thought that it's impossible to tell the difference between a 320kbps or so mp3 and a loseless file, so you may as well save a little disk space. 192kbps sounds good enough though.

[LincolnSpector]

LiveBrianD, on 21 January 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

Actually, they removed the limit for free users. (Well, it's 320 hours now, and how can you listen to it that much in one month?) I thought that it's impossible to tell the difference between a 320kbps or so mp3 and a loseless file, so you may as well save a little disk space. 192kbps sounds good enough though.

It's actually surprising how little damage compression does when you get to 192 and higher. Read http://www.pcworld.c..._you_think.html.

Lincoln

[thisworld]

I haven't noticed because I don't really use it.

How about quality of last.fm and of GrooveShark? sorry to be a little bit off topic.

[mjd420nova]

As with any converted media, compression somewhere leaves out some of the music content and when decompressed, cannot replicate that which was discarded. A broader bandwidth helps some but it is still evident with the middle being the most suppressed. Some try to make up for this and think equalizing will solve it. Result is the mushy middle you hear. I like Pandora, it is free with the DirecTv. I like sharing the bookmarks between the internet and the TV and access from either.

This post has been edited by mjd420nova: 13 November 2012 - 06:59 PM