MP3s: Constant or Variable Bitrate?

[UltraZelda64]

I just got a new MP3/WMA CD player in my car, and I know the main difference between CBR and VBR. I know that VBR never stays the same bitrate, and can be noticably bigger than a similar-bitrate CBR file. But, what would you guys recommend? CBR, or VBR? I've used CBR most of the time since I started using MP3s, so I haven't had much experience with VBR yet. Also, if it's VBR, what high/low bitrates would be best? I listen mostly to heavy stuff, so I have a feeling that maybe those extra megs of VBR might be a bit too much, since I'm planning on putting several CDs on a disc.

[Sawg]

VBR is much better then CBR these days. Infact, use "--alt-preset standard" with CDex (http://www.cdex.n3.net/). Which is VBR.

[UltraZelda64]

Okay, I use Exact Audio Copy most of the time, but I noticed that it also seems to have VBR as its preset. That's why I asked. I think I will make VBR MP3 CDs, about to start ripping now to see how many CDs I can fit on a disc...

[Twilightseer]

Just bought a mp3 car radio (haven't installed it yet :p) and the booklet says that VBR mp3s data could be displayed wrongly (bad time and so on). Just thought I'd let you know :)

[vynegar]

yea use Exact Audio Copy to rip.. and make sure ur using lame 3.93.1 when using vbr with that alt preset standard line.. thats the best qual

[UltraZelda64]

Actually, I've already ripped all my CDs with LAME 3.93.1 recently with EAC. They're in variable bitrate 128k min, 320 max, and set to level five (so the bitrate is usually around the middle of the two). Fit 8 or more CDs on one disc... awesome! Oh, and I've still never found any problems with the time display, and the bitrate display on the CD player even changes, so I see no problems right now. Except this...

I use Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 for burning currently, and it works fine. It burns all the songs, and then creates a playlist so the songs are played in the right order. Well, at least on computers. The car CD player doesn't work that way - it plays the first track written to the disc first, the second one second, and on and on. I see no way of getting around this, except something I'm not sure will work since I haven't tried: Naming all tracks (separated in folders) with the track number at the beginning (01 - , 02 - , etc.). Think this would work?

A few nights ago I was considering buying Nero 6 Ultra Edition since I've always heard it was good, but I downloaded the demo and the same thing happened, only worse: I couldn't even choose the play order. Not sure if it's supported by the program or what, but I tried finding out how for a while. Anyone think just renaming all the files after their track number would work?

[JHawkZZ]

Call me crazy but I prefer 192 KBPS constant to VBR. The reason is there is more support, and I don't trust the encoders to know what frames don't need as high a bitrate.

Incase you don't know (you all probably do) VBR works by choosing a bitrate for each frame that will not cause any noticable audio loss. I'm sure mathematically it is pretty accurate, but I still prefer the old fasioned way. :)