Rdio's library has been upgraded to 320kbps AAC

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 19 Oct 2014 7:48 User comments (8)

Streaming music service Rdio has upgraded their entire library to 320kpbs AAC for premium subscribers, says the company, but free users will also get a quality boost.

The company had previously offered their library in just 96kbps MP3 as a default, but "Unlimited" $9.99 per month subscribers can choose between 64kbps, 96kbps, 192kbps and 320kbps in the settings now. Of course, the higher bitrate will require more data usage, so mobile users will have to keep that in mind. Free users can now use up to 192kbps.

In addition to the streaming, you can also choose the bitrate for offline listening downloads.

Rdio says the update is for all users, in all nations and is available now as a free update on the Web or via the iOS App Store or Google Play.

Tags: Android Music Streaming Apple iOS Rdio AAC

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8 user comments

120.10.2014 03:18

xbkrypt0n

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AfterDawn Addict

Bitrate is meaningless if the used codec sucks. Variable bitrate AAC would've been the best option. 320CBR AAC is just overkill and wastes bytes. If they need 320kbps CBR on AAC to sound any good, then the codec they use sucks and they're better off with MP3. I've archived most of my music collection as 256kbps VBR AAC or FLAC.

I can't tell the difference between MP3 and AAC (max quality), but I've noticed (using a spectrum analyzer) that the AAC encoded file usually contains more audio data than the MP3 version. Especially the very high frequencies and low frequencies are simply cut with MP3 compression. AAC (using a good codec) keeps that audio data while also maintaining a smaller file size compared to MP3.

220.10.2014 09:45

DarthMopar

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Does anyone know the bitrate of Pandora? Whatever it is, is beats XM radio. Never tried Rdio...might give it a go.

320.10.2014 15:51

Mrguss

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No into MP3's or AAC's. and stream is my last option.

But I have been playing lately with MP4's Music Videos and the sound is not bad at all.

1.- If the file contain only Music: it almost sound as clear as a CD.
2.- If the file containing Music & Video; is too small. Then the volume is low. [ Probably the Frame-Rate affect the Volume level too !? ]

- So What I do is:
Re-edit Video (Main Video) & Sound (Same level for all the tracks) to be as similar as the Radio Edit CD version & keep them as a custom MP4's or make a CD (20+- Tracks) or a DVD (30+- Tracks).

Just saying.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 20 Oct 2014 @ 5:00

420.10.2014 16:47

xbkrypt0n

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AfterDawn Addict

Originally posted by DarthMopar:
Does anyone know the bitrate of Pandora?

Quote:
Pandora on the Web plays 64k AAC+ for free listeners and 192kbps for Pandora One subscribers. All in-home devices play 128kbps audio, and mobile devices receive a variety of different rates depending on the capability of the device and the network they are on, but never more than 64k AAC+.

Source: http://help.pandora.com/customer/portal...5-audio-quality

XM radio uses 30-50 kbps VBR AAC+ according to some people.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 20 Oct 2014 @ 4:53

520.10.2014 18:23

scorpNZ

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AfterDawn Addict

Originally posted by Mrguss:
No into MP3's or AAC's. and stream is my last option.

But I have been playing lately with MP4's Music Videos and the sound is not bad at all.

1.- If the file contain only Music: it almost sound as clear as a CD.
2.- If the file containing Music & Video; is too small. Then the volume is low. [ Probably the Frame-Rate affect the Volume level too !? ]

- So What I do is:
Re-edit Video (Main Video) & Sound (Same level for all the tracks) to be as similar as the Radio Edit CD version & keep them as a custom MP4's or make a CD (20+- Tracks) or a DVD (30+- Tracks).

Just saying.

i haven't tried extracting audio from mp4 however audiocoder could most probably do it & convert to whatever you want regardless listed below are handy tools to have

join vob file tool - use on dvd's to join all vobs then extract audio with audio coder ,works excellant

audiocoder 32 & 64bit comes in portable versions & is capable of extracting audio from vids

dvd audio extractor can't tell you where to get it *winks*

620.10.2014 18:41

Mrguss

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Senior Member

Originally posted by scorpNZ:
I haven't tried extracting audio from mp4 however audiocoder could most probably do it & convert to whatever you want regardless listed below are handy tools to have

join vob file tool - use on dvd's to join all vobs then extract audio with audio coder ,works excellant

audiocoder 32 & 64bit comes in portable versions & is capable of extracting audio from vids

dvd audio extractor can't tell you where to get it *winks*

Thx. for the info.

The way I do it:
- I convert the mp4 to a V_TS file. Then Author & extract the Audio &/or Video.
But I have problems with few mp4 files where the volume level is medium or too low.

Follow this threat:
http://forums.afterdawn.com/threads/how...-or-dvd.750046/

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 28 Oct 2014 @ 4:43

720.10.2014 18:49

scorpNZ

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823.10.2014 18:56

DarthMopar

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Originally posted by xbkrypt0n:

Originally posted by DarthMopar:
Does anyone know the bitrate of Pandora?

Quote:
Pandora on the Web plays 64k AAC+ for free listeners and 192kbps for Pandora One subscribers. All in-home devices play 128kbps audio, and mobile devices receive a variety of different rates depending on the capability of the device and the network they are on, but never more than 64k AAC+.

Source: http://help.pandora.com/customer/portal...5-audio-quality

XM radio uses 30-50 kbps VBR AAC+ according to some people.

Thanks for the info.

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Rdio's library has been upgraded to 320kbps AAC

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