i'm contemplating re-ripping my CDs onto the duo. basically, the last time i ripped them, i set it for wma @ 48Kbps because i didn't have the option to rip them to MP3s at that time and i wanted to fit them on 2G memory card/stick for my PSP.

meh, i don't even know how many CDs i have. anybody want to explain the different formats? i'm not really worried about syncing them with anything, just want a decent size to noise ratio.

my choices are:
Windows Media Audio
Windows Media Audio Pro
Windows Media Audio (Variable Bit Rate)
Windows Media Audio Lossless
MP3
WAV (Lossless) - no way.

if you want lossloss then rip those as flac (takes quite much space although), if you want to save discspace then mp3 (128-192kB/s bitrate is good enuf for most ppls but if you want cd-quality then 320kB/s but then is better to rip those as flac), wma only if your phone/etc doesn't siupport mp3 or flac.

wiki is your friend seeing differences between formats.

i dunno, i decided to try Windows Media Pro @ max sample rate(~86mb per CD). doubt that i'll notice any difference.

flac is nice, but requires custom audio players, and as Marshal said takes a lot of space. Unless your ears are incredibly sensitive, you'll probably never notice the difference between a mp3 @ 128kbps and a flac anyways.

anything you can sample @ 128kbps is gonna be cd quality anyways.

hearing difference between flac and near cd quality mp3 needs good hearing and good speakers and good soundcard.

and a bit sampler :-P

needs to quit shuffling the songs simply because i hit play all.