AAC, AIFF, Lossless, MP3

Thank you for your responses thus far. So MP3 is arguably the best size v. quality compromise for an iPod? Am I correct in assuming that all you experimented with the different bit rates using iTunes?

Tobooe, I too have a Cary CDP and have been dying to use the DAC input! Are you going from a PC directly into the player?

I choose the Nano because of its size. I use it for running and cycling and can't wait to try it with those Nike sneakers... lol For the time being, I'll be using the regular headphones. Later, I may upgrade...

I really do appreciate any input you may provide!

Thanks again.

Ckorody,

What I was thinking about doing was keeping everything I already have in Lossless for home playback. And, making copies of the Lossless files in MP3 format for the Nano. It's kind of cumbersome to have two different copies of the same song for an entire collection but that's the only option I see available.

For those of you using MP3 in iTunes, how are you configuring it? I have checked 256, VBR on, what about the other settings? Do I leave those on auto? Also, I didn't use error correction, should I have?

Thanks again!

Sort of a related question regarding iTunes...

What is the highest quality download that you can obtain from the iTunes store. I don't believe that they offer downloads in Apple Lossless, is that correct? If so, how high up the chain can you go?

Thanks again!

Wow, 128, I was hoping for a little more resolution! I'm very happy with MP3 at 320 VBR on the Nano. Thanks to all that guided me in that direction. As an experiment, I went from the line out on the dock into my Plinius integrated and while the sound wasn't "audiophile" it's just fine for background music.

To pay $1/song for less resolution doesn't make sense to me. I'll continue to purchase CD's from half.com and convert them myself... I wish Apple would really provide iTunes downloads in Lossless. I would stop buying CD's for just 1 or 2 songs.