What is your preferred MP3 Kbps quality?
 

What is your preferred MP3 Kbps quality? When you convert your CD's or existing music to MP3, what Kbps setting do you prefer? This is mainly a matter of preference.

For me, I use 16 Kbps. Why so low? It seems strange, but 16 Kbps doesn't have any detectable distortions. I use mono as I can't tell much of a difference between stereo and mono, and since I hate high frequencies (especially above 3KHz), I use 11,025 Hz sample rate for MP3. Since one-eighth the data is needed (the use of mono cuts the size in half, and 11,025 is 1/4 that of the standard 44,100), 16 Kbps has exactly (mathematically) the same degree of distortions that 128 Kbps does. In rare cases, I use 24 or 8 Kbps (8 only for vocal recordings or very slow speeds of my songs, but Audacity doesn't support it).

850 kbps

And with a different file extension than "MP3".

Not lame --freeformat?

Ah, I know! 26.5625kHz pcm.

I don't have a preferred quality, but my collection is ripped at 128 kbps.

Good ol L.A.M.E preset -standard VBR Quality 2 for the bulk of my encoding.

L.A.M.E 320kbps CBR stereo for when I want to put multiple albums on a CD in effect putting a disk changer on a disk for my car stereo :).

192kbps is my standard rip quality :)

128/192 will do me (I've almost finished ripping my obsolete CD collection at 128). If we're talking 1950's or 1960's tracks, 98 is acceptable (in some cases better than 128)?

I try to avoid the 260/320 bracket (too large) or wma's (their meta tags don't cut the mustard).

128 seems to be the most numerous format, perhaps the legacy of Napster & MusicMatch...

LAME --alt-preset extreme 192kbps minimum.

I use flac to rip, but I used to use 320 kbps mp3. It just sounds best and I have enough space, so why not.