Best Compressed Audio File Format

[LumpenEllimint]

Hey all,

I've been ripping my audio cds to vbr mp3s thus far, religiously following Paul's How To, but have been filled with doubts about the viability of .mp3 as a compressed audio format. I've been reading a bit about .aac and .mp4 - do either of these beat .mp3 in striking the perfect balance between size and quality? Or is there another format that beats all three? Please note I am not talking about compatibility or popularity of the format, just the quality.

Lastly, since I'm on about aac/mp4, how about how-to guides for these formats as well?

Thanks,

Lump.

[4play]

here (http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1560785,00.asp) is an interesting artcile on a few highly used audio formats.

I prefer ogg myself.

[ck-uk]

mate....here too...

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?act=idx

[Snee]

Keep to mp3 for a while longer if you are uncertain. It's got so much support and all.

It seems ogg is the most effective of the ones lots of people use, otherwise.

I&#39;m not at all keen on aac, used to get it for my old phone/music player, glad I don&#39;t have to now. <_<

[sparsely]

mp3 for compatibility...but mpc is the best of the newer formats, imo.

[Entity101]

(He-)AAC will be the future.

[LumpenEllimint]

Thanks guys&#33;&#33;&#33;

Lump.