Cmon! Compressed audio sounds audibly worse than uncompressed, right?
This depends on the compression ratio and the algorithm used. For stereo, at low bit rates, say, less than 96 kb/s, yes. The audio at these bit rates is bandwidth limited, and may have noticeable artifacts. This is not to say that low bit rates can’t be used. There are many applications where bit rates as low as 56 kb/s are perfectly acceptable. At ISDN bit rates, 112 or 128 kb/s, depending on algorithm, it may take a well trained ear to differentiate between the source and the compressed audio. At higher bit rates, 192 to 384 kb/s, depending on algorithm, it may be impossible to differentiate between the original and the compressed audio, even with sophisticated test equipment. Which algorithm is right for me? Selecting the right algorithm and bit rate depends mostly on application and desired results. Please see our Tech Tips for a tutorial on selecting the right algorithm. What’s good about Layer 3? Layer 3 excels at delivering high quality monaural audio on a single ISDN ‘B’ channe
