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- 2019 CX-5 Signature
Have you tried 320k MP3's? That's the highest quality the CX-5's USB port can play. It sounds about as good as it can in that format, as the Blose system's limitations start being revealed.
Worth the upgrade?
- Thread starter Jman136
- Start date
Have you tried 320k MP3's? That's the highest quality the CX-5's USB port can play. It sounds about as good as it can in that format, as the Blose system's limitations start being revealed.
fidelity...
Bose has always been known for using psychoacoustics to create higher fidelity than you'd expect form cheap speakers & electronics; but that does NOT mean it is really HiFi
mp3 is the lowest fidelity format going
So, those are two factors working against you. But "strident midrange" could just be the lower high freq.s being out of balance, aka upper mids...
Bose has always been known for using psychoacoustics to create higher fidelity than you'd expect form cheap speakers & electronics; but that does NOT mean it is really HiFi
mp3 is the lowest fidelity format going
So, those are two factors working against you. But "strident midrange" could just be the lower high freq.s being out of balance, aka upper mids...
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- 2019 CX-5 Signature
You can't just blatantly single out a compression format like that, as it's no worse than AAC. Comparing 128kbps MP3 against sat broadcast SiriusXM makes MP3 sound pretty good. A good 320kbps MP3 rip will be almost discernible from lossless via the aux jack, due to the design limitations Mazda went with when choosing their system. The weakest link always stands out.
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
The treatment I outlined is for acute injury, not chronic. It won't do any good past a few weeks out, and is best implemented immediately.
320kbps is hard to distinguish from CD quality for most people. Firstly, they're not listening that closely to purposely compare. Secondly, their gear is not up to par to pick up differences.........that said I'm not most people. I could tell and my ATH MX50 headphones picks up those differences rather easily. I use 320 kpbs in my daily driver as its good enough
you must have a different stereo system than me...
mp3 is a lossy format - it throws away bits (i.e. parts of the music); it is true that naive listeners sometimes cannot hear a difference on certain source material
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- 2019 CX-5 Signature
I'm referring to the sound in our CX-5 Sig. I'm not sure what you have. I can definitely hear the difference in my home theater and in my Lexus with the Mark Levinson audio system.
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- Occupied Calif.
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- 2019 CX 5 GT-R
I used Windows Media Player to make files from my CD's. Here are the Rip Setting choices:
Windows Media Audio 192 Kbps
Windows Media Audio Pro 192 Kbps
Windows Media Audio Variable Bit Rate 240 to 335 Kbps
Windows Media Audio Lossless 470 to 940 Kbps
MP3 320 Kbps
WAV (Lossless) 1411.2 Kbps
ALAC 470 to 940 Kbps (Mazda system will not read)
FLAC 470 to 940 Kbps (Mazda system will not read)
The files I transferred to the USB stick were done in WAV (Lossless) 1411.2 Kbps format and I just don't think they sound that great. I figured the 1411.2 Kbps rate was the best for audio quality but maybe not ?
And I agree that Sirius XM is pretty pathetic for fidelity. I haven't tried the HD FM yet.
Windows Media Audio 192 Kbps
Windows Media Audio Pro 192 Kbps
Windows Media Audio Variable Bit Rate 240 to 335 Kbps
Windows Media Audio Lossless 470 to 940 Kbps
MP3 320 Kbps
WAV (Lossless) 1411.2 Kbps
ALAC 470 to 940 Kbps (Mazda system will not read)
FLAC 470 to 940 Kbps (Mazda system will not read)
The files I transferred to the USB stick were done in WAV (Lossless) 1411.2 Kbps format and I just don't think they sound that great. I figured the 1411.2 Kbps rate was the best for audio quality but maybe not ?
And I agree that Sirius XM is pretty pathetic for fidelity. I haven't tried the HD FM yet.
use a Lossless format if possible
mp3 & AAC(=mp4) are lossy so you are losing bits
it is always possible that the decoder for the WAV format is sub-par
or it may be something else as to why it doesn't sound that great - test known source material in various ways & see if there is a difference
of course, if you expect a difference you may be "hearing" expectation bias, so a blind test would be the best way to go
mp3 & AAC(=mp4) are lossy so you are losing bits
it is always possible that the decoder for the WAV format is sub-par
or it may be something else as to why it doesn't sound that great - test known source material in various ways & see if there is a difference
of course, if you expect a difference you may be "hearing" expectation bias, so a blind test would be the best way to go
Absolutely, it's not worth the upgrade IMO but if $$$ is not an issue I don't see why not. I plan on getting a turbo 6 after a few years tho.
you are assuming a new design will be better, not always the case.
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- Canada
You could say the same about a new engine or new interior. Recent example fresh in everyone's minds is the CD engine in the 2018 CX-5 vs non-CD in the 2017 CX-5. Direct-injection vs port-injection and the carbon build-up issues. New interior in some Lexus vehicles looks nice but scratches and mars from light wiping with a microfiber cloth, while the interior from an older LS400 is dated, but durable. There's examples for everything, so there's no right answer.
Had the 2018 GT with HUD and loved it. Always had trouble adjusting seat and wheel so I could get a good view of the instrument panel. HUD eliminates this for speed and warnings. Just got a 2021 GT and I do like the added features. Suspension/handling seems tighter. Really wanted the cooled seats because I am a back sweater. I had the entire front end wrapped in plastic film to avoid chipping like the 18 model (both red). My teenage boys do not yet realize I got a new car, same model and color. Guess they didn't notice the temp tag. Absolutely love the Mazda feel. Remote start via phone is WAY improved over 2018 (I stopped using the 2018 one). 18 was a lease so I consider it a three year test drive. It passed!
