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CD/lossless versus iTunes & Amazon downloads

I've been trying to search Audiogon for information on this, but seems like next to no one downloads songs from iTunes or Amazon.
For the past 5 years, almost all of my music listening has been done in front of the computer while working on other stuff. I've bought a mix or CDs and downloaded albums from iTunes and Amazon. There's tons of albums you can get on Amazon for $5 at an approx 256 VBR bit rate. (I'm just using an iMac with powered M-Audio monitors).

I'm about to upgrade to add a little DAC (HRT audiostreamer), an amp (NAD or MF A5), and running this through my Magnepan MMGs. Will this cause a big difference in sound between the compressed downloads and CDs? Any chance the mp3s will sound worse than they do on my current setup?
adnan
adnan OP
9 posts
 
Great, thanks for the information. Mezmo hit on the actual question I was getting at before the word limit cut me off:
When you start compressing the files, what is the first aspect of the sound to go? I'd heard sound stage always took a hit first.
I'll have to do my own tests once I get set up to see how much the difference matters to my hearing. I'm also going to be adding a vinyl section to my new system, can't wait.
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Mezmo'spost was one of the best posts I've read in quite some time.

If saving a few dollars is a priority, look for used CDs on Amazon. I've found a lot of stuff that was barely used for pretty cheap that I wouldn't have bought at full retail.
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
Adnan,

I suspect you will really notice the limitations of compressed music in comparison to vinyl.
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