Also asked, what does 128 kbps sound like?
The lower the Kbps, the more data the encoder will eliminate when compressing an audio file; the range for bit rates is from 96 to 320 Kbps. 128 Kbps quality is typically considered radio quality, and a bit rate of 160 or higher is equivalent to CD sound quality. The music on iTunes is 256 kilobits per second.
Subsequently, question is, is 256 kbps AAC good quality? A higher bit rate is better, so a 256 kbps MP3 or AAC file is better than a 128 kbps file. Two tracks on the same album, ripped to a lossless format, may have bit rates of, say, 400 kbps and 900 kbps, yet when played back, they both reproduce the original audio from CD at the same level of quality.
Thereof, is 128 kbps mp3 good quality?
Bit rates range from 96 to 320 kilobits per second (Kbps). Using a bit rate of 128 Kbps usually results in a sound quality equivalent to what you'd hear on the radio. Many music sites and blogs urge people to use a bit rate of 160 Kbps or higher if they want the MP3 file to have the same sound quality as a CD.
What is the difference between 128 Kbps and 256 Kbps?
The sound quality of a file at any bitrate also depends on the compression program or “codec” used to create it; some work better than others. In any case, doubling the bitrate from 128 kbps to 256 kbps won't make music sound twice as good, because the smaller file already has the most important information.