Sound quality

Engineering always involves tradeoffs. This table shows estimated sound quality versus file size. When you save an MP3 audio file for distribution, you will be asked to specify the playback bit rate.

Bit rate Quality
8 kbps telephone
16 kbps shortwave radio
32 kbps AM radio
64 kbps FM radio
96 kbps near CD
128 kbps CD

(Some encoders vary the bit rate depending upon the nature of the sound -- for example, lowering it during silent periods -- but all decoders may not be able to play those files).

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