Ears On: Listening Test Compares iTunes Plus to iTunes 128kbps – Gizmodo

Ears On: Listening Test Compares iTunes Plus to iTunes 128kbps – Gizmodo:

Ears On
Listening Test Compares iTunes Plus to iTunes 128kbps 30,915 Views

Today is a big day for music downloaders, because iTunes is finally offering DRM-free music for your listening pleasure. To sweeten the deal, each also has a lighter AAC compression applied to it, 256kbps instead of iTunes’ customary 128kbps.

Called iTunes Plus, it’s available now, and all it asks is an extra 30 cents per song ($1.29 for each instead of $.99 for iTunes songs). Is there a big difference in sound quality between those 128kbps iTunes files and these 256kbps iTunes Plus songs? Let’s dig into iTunes Plus, grab a few files and compare them to the old-style locked-up tunes.

To access the iTunes Plus songs, a limited selection with only EMI artists thus far, first you must upgrade your iTiunes software to version 7.2.0.34. Then, you simply