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i've noticed that the lower the bitrate on a mp3 i download and convert to audio, the lower the volume of the music, is this gonna happen with mp3's too? whats a suggested bitrate??? i usally use like 160 or 128....

 
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128 is the industry standard, and it sounds like a regular cd when played on stock speakers or lower end speakers (to my ears anyway) but when you get into higher end stereo equipment I can hear little clicks and pops that diminsh greatly with 160, and are totally gone at 192.

My best guess is that its just the encoding and compression that leaves those sounds, and since you have less compression the higher the bitrate, thats why it sounds better at 192. As far as the actual sound, I don't notice a difference between 128 and 192, just those pops disappear.

 
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I think it also has to do with the way the song was ripped, or created. I have some 128's that sound good, but some 128's that you can distinctly hear the hiss in the back ground. That is also the case with some I have with the 192's I have also. But from the ripping I have done, I have done 128, 160, and 192. I think to the average listener, you wont be able to hear the difference, unless you are specificly looking for something in the song.

 
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cool, thanks for the info guys!

anyone know of a good WMA encoder?