www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Although I can't speak to this exact issue, I tend to agree with Jazzbo here. My home sound system is set up to play DVD-Audio and SACD (and DVD audio in the car). I have hundreds of them... and I can easily tell the difference between them and CDs, as can my friends who've been subject to blind playings of sacd or dvd audio vs CD. Of course, they blow away mp3s. I know that this is a different issue between mp3s and cd's, but similar. If I can tell the difference between CDs and high def audio, then someone like Jazz could do the same with relatively low res MP3s and CDs.

Ciaociao

Perhaps....and ONLY perhaps....BUTTTT....very few if any mp3's are built around the 256k bit rate. VERY FEW. If they were, the size of the file is practically the size of the original .wav file.... Now....I still use a mp3 player for traveling because they're so much simplier.....and I do also carry very high end headphones.....and I do believe am a source of amusement to others on the planes I use....but I don't care. They look dumb to me with the little plugs in their ears!!

Now, the utilizationi of .flac files IS approaching if not there....CD quality. If you'd like some music in .flac format, PM me and I'll provide you a tune or three from a live recording of Porter, Batiste, Stoltz out of New Orleans.... http://www.porterbatistestoltz.com/homepage.html

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"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

If I may unjack the thread and return to the question about hotel sound systems for a moment...

I used to carry a nice pair of mini hi-fi speakers to use with my mp3 player or laptop. With the current airline baggage policies I have scaled way down so everything will fit in one bag. That meant that the large-ish and somewhat heavy speakers had to stay home. These days I carry a pair of miniature speakers made for Ipods and mp3 players that fold up into a tiny cube. They can be powered by a USB port or batteries. They have acceptable sound quality for their size and are dirt cheap. If you are interested, links for the speakers and super-small USB power adapters are below.

These speakers are definately not on the par with with anything I have at home but they fit the bill for travel use in a hotel room. I was prepared to bin the speakers if I didn't like them, they are that inexpensive. But I was really amazed at how well something so small can sound. The USB adapters are only slightly larger than an AC plug. I've never seen any other adapters that are so small.

http://www.buy.com/prod/insten-black-folding-stereo-speaker-for-ipod-video-ipod-nano-ipod/q/loc/111/205879721.html

http://www.buy.com/prod/universal-usb-travel-charger-adaptor-w-cap-black-by-eforcity/q/loc/111/209337544.html

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

FYI, I’ve made over a dozen purchases from “buy.com” including a couple totaling about a grand and I have only good things to say about their service.

This is probably a good time to remind members not to link directly to online retailers like buy.com that are also available by linking through their frequent flyer program. For example, if you go to Continental’s website first and shop their OnePass partners, you’ll earn 4 miles for every dollar spent (normally it’s 2 miles with buy.com but Continental is currently running a double mile promotion).

I know we are only talking about earning an extra 100 miles for the speakers and charger, but its free, every little bit adds up, and gets you in the habit of going through your airline’s website when making larger online purchases.

Good point Senordos. I have my credit card registered with Hilton Honors and earn points when I use the card for purchases from their partner retailers. Buy.com is one of them. I link to Hilton Honors to keep the account active. I have a sh!t load of points from my US business trips but I travel internationally a lot more. If you don't have activity for a year you can lose your points. This keeps the account alive and preserves my points between my infrequent domestic business trips. If I didn't need to occasionally feed the Hilton account I would definately link the purchases to an airline frequent flier account. I've also had good experience with Buy.com.

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western