A technical question:

How does the sound quality of all the Musicology Store downloads (WMA 192kbps) compare with the earlier NPGMC stuff (MP3 256kbps).

For example, I have Xpectation from the original NPGMC download from the beginning of 2003 on MP3 256. Are the new WMA files in the store (WMA 192) of better or worse quality?

I can't seem to find an answer to this on the net anywhere.

Thanx.

leecaldon said:

I don't think anyone is really clear on what the differences are. That's why I think there's very little information posted on the Prince boards. Plus it's a bit of a subjective question to most people. But speaking for myself, the MP3's posted in 2003 are very compressed and leave much of the ambient stereo information struggling to cut through. The newer WMA files posted last year were of much better quality, sounded much cleaner and fuller, as far as ambient sound and stereo spread.

I would liken it to the difference between a wide screen and full screen movie presentation; some people prefer to 'fill the whole television screen' much like an MP3, the compression of which actually leaves out much of the 'picture' of a wide screen presentation - like the fuller WMA files contain. Oddly enough, the extreme bassiness of the MP3 is 'cut off' on the WMAs, like the top and bottom of a widescreen presentation is thought to be 'cut off' (but is not in truth). Regardless, high end information is clearly better with WMA.

Recently, the club updated all the WMA files for compatability with a portable audio system finder called "PlaysForSure". These newer WMA files, to my ears, are of even better quality than the ones posted last year. For those who already have the ones from last year, try re-downloading them to see for yourself.
[Edited 3/28/05 15:57pm]