You Can't Be Too Thin - The skinny new audio format that will replace MP3s—and revolutionize Internet radio

It's a given that fat broadband lines are the future of online media. But right now, for Internet radio, the future is about slimming down—creating skinny little streams of data that don't eat up too much bandwidth. The key is a new and better audio compression format called aacPlus, or sometimes HE-AAC, which has been chosen by the industry committee that standardized MP3 13 years ago (the Motion Picture Experts Group). If you've tried to listen to online stations, you know they sound grainy if they're streamed at any less than 128 kilobits per second—maybe 96 kbps if you're not fussy. That makes a broadband connection a must. But aacPlus sounds nearly as good as a CD, even when it's compressed enough to play through a dialup line. Don't take my word for it—see the results of the European Broadcasting Union's listener tests, in which aacPlus was deemed the "clear winner" at a dialup-friendly 48 kbps. ... Link: Slate.

Comments

[Stephen Hill]

I agree with the general thrust of this post, but I think the numbers are too high. Try a 48k stream on dialup, for instance. Sorry, 32k is more like it, 40k tops.

Also, the quality point was already pretty good at 64kbps using Windows Media 9 or Real Audio 8 and later for stereo music. AAC Plus outperforms them both, but for most listeners, the difference will not be that noticeable. But the main point -- that streaming formats are improving at lower bit rates -- is correct.