Best audio format

[flat6]

Long time audio nut checking in..
The difference notable with bluetooth streaming vs having the data cable plugged in is the sub frequencies around ~60htz, bluetooth strips a majority of the low end from the stream, test this with some RnB tracks.

Mp3 via data connection is good so long as your bit rate is above 192~, however some loss is still notable on some tracks, namely in the crispness of the mid range.

FLAC vs WAV, have tried both endlessly, both are as good as the original, id go with FLAC for the space saving

Have loaded mine up with hundreds of flacs (64gb sandisk) sounds great.

[Ozsko]

I never use BT so my comments are either from a card or USB or from the internal storage in the Media Pro. The way I utilise all the slots is one for books, one for podcasts, one for music. That way I can flick from one to the other without losing my place on any of them. I have never listened to the radio or put a CD in it since I have had the car and it was the same in the last car.

[Creampuff]

I have SD cards with MP3 downloads, no issues, never listen to radio or CDs anymore..love it.

[jameslamyk]

I just stream music these days, played a few CD and I’ll be honest, last time I bought one was so long ago I cannot remember. Saying that I don’t listen to albums more than a couple of times so that suits me.
Sounds fine streaming on the hour unwind home in traffic. My hearing is shot. Can hear the difference on the home hifi when comparing side by side. I turn the AC on low and chill. See you out there.

Just wondering if you've tried different streaming services?
I've tried Spotify 320kbps and Tidal HiFi 16-bit/44.1kHz (also Masters 24-bit/96kHz -- probably useless in a car) side by side and the difference is minute. The soundstage is ostensibly wider with the Tidal, but Tidal app is buggy.
Not sure if the output through Apple CarPlay is lossless?

Anyone else have any other experiences don't mind sharing please?

[bkpr]

Have loaded mine up with hundreds of flacs (64gb sandisk) sounds great.

Hello. Resurrecting an oldish thread. Quick question which I haven’t seen addressed in the thread so far: with any of these formats, your FLACs in particular, is there any lag in the menu system? I ask because in my ‘13 mk6 infotainment system, I was super excited about SD card music but found the menu lag in selecting tracks made this approach too frustrating to use.

I’m picking up a MY19 R soon with, I presume, the discover pro system. I’m hoping 5 or 6 years have made the system faster for SD card music.

Thanks for any info!

[Ozsko]

There is no delay at all on mine using FLAC.

[zardoz]

Hello. Resurrecting an oldish thread. Quick question which I haven’t seen addressed in the thread so far: with any of these formats, your FLACs in particular, is there any lag in the menu system? I ask because in my ‘13 mk6 infotainment system, I was super excited about SD card music but found the menu lag in selecting tracks made this approach too frustrating to use.

I’m picking up a MY19 R soon with, I presume, the discover pro system. I’m hoping 5 or 6 years have made the system faster for SD card music.

Thanks for any info!

The current gen Discover Pro that you'll be getting in that R is leaps and bounds ahead of the Discover Nav I had in my MY14 Mark 7 and from another planet (a far superior one) to the RNS510/RCD510. Still using high bitrate MP3 which sounds just fine and can now play my FLACs without a hitch from an SD card (256GB transcend, not the fastest but sufficient). It'll even downmix 5.1ch multichannel FLAC to 4ch with the rear speakers acting as rear surround. Sadly, it appears that the new Discover Pro systems don't support DVD-Audio playback, unless there's a hidden menu option somewhere (the previous generation could). It doesn't seem to do gapless playback, though. But I can't complain. It's about as good as it gets for a car in this class and after the disappointment of VW gimping their first gen mark 7, it's a breath of fresh air. You'll love it.

It didn't, however, like my 2TB HDD loaded with >10k files.

With the special edition, I dare say you'll be reaching for that mute button more often than not, to enjoy the lossless uncompressed audio that comes from those four titanium speakers fitted to the rear of the vehicle...

[bkpr]

Yeah, I knew the Tynaudio package was gonna be worth it ;P