EDIT: double post.

Really? I have an MP3 jukebox that replaced the changer in my Audi and I must say that most MP3's sound incredible on the Bose system in there. Especially live songs where I can hear things like the pick rattle on the guitar strings, etc. Crisp, clear highs, booming lows, plenty of midrange... I think it would take quite an expensive sound system to hear any difference. I rip them from the originals at only around 128kbps I believe.

Well I'm not so much talking about "in the car", more "in the home" where I have a very nice two-channel setup in my living room. But even in a car, if you have the proper audio setup you would be able to hear the deficiencies in MP3 quality. The stock Bose system isn't going to reveal much.

You do see that stuff auctioned off on Christie's quite often!

Apple's format sounds much better. I tend to be pretty discriminating for sound quality and I think the iPod sounds pretty darn good.

And as far as MP3 sound quality goes, you can pick 'em out on the cheapest pair of headphones you can find if you know what to listen for. In pop/rock music generally the sound of the cymbals are a dead giveaway.

Yes, Apple's lossless format is pretty good, but it's hardly portable. The files are an order of magnitude larger and drain the battery of an iPod that much faster.

I could see it becoming a distribution format someday perhaps, but it'd take a lot of commitment from many parties with conflicting interests.

i fought mp3 was near obsolete and the thing to go for now is mp4

no one can reproduce the cracks and wizz of an original vinyl, call me weird but i love it!!