mp3/wma bitrate conversion

[client32]

I'm trying to get a larger number of songs on my measly 128mb mp3 player.  So, I'm going to lower the bitrate of my files for this.

Does anyone use a good free program that can do this easily?
And because I'm lazy, what will get the files smaller, mp3 or wma?

I know I can search for this, but I really want something that is highly recomended.

Thanks.

[Marnoot]

I use a converter called DBPowerAmp. You can download just about any codec for it you want from their website once you get it installed, then convert between any one to any of the others. I've had nothing but good luck with it.

[Bogie]

they're gonna sound like crap. don't do it.

[Gewehr98]

I'd consider 128mb the absolute minimum for listenable content. I go with 256 or better, usually. 

[Marnoot]

Yeah, if you get the bitrate too low, they're not going to sound too good. WMA has better compression than MP3s generally, so if your player supports it I'd go with that. When you transcode to WMA, you specify a quality level (percentage(?)) instead of bitrate, so it might take a little tweaking to get what you want.

[Brad Johnson]

Jeez, I remember working on machines when RAM was a hundred bucks a meg wholesale and having more than 640k was considered massive overkill (if your machine would even support it).

Brad

[client32]

Gewehr, I assume you mean 128K?  Are you talking mp3 or wma?

I know that going too low on the scale will hinder the quality, but I am not afflicted with audiophilia.  (This might be why my only mp3 player is a simple no frills 128MB player)

I don't use it often, but am planning on taking it on a trip with me soon.

[Gewehr98]

Sorry, I meant 128k bitrate.  Anything less than that, and it sounds crappy to me.

I'm not a golden-eared audiophile, and I'm missing a big chunk of my hearing response from my previous life, but I can definitely tell the difference when listening to lower bitrates.  I also have a digital-to-analog converter in my system to feed my DVD/CD player's output to my vacuum tube amplifier.  How's that for bass-ackwards?   

[Bogie]

Yeah, the lower bitrates just sound flat and lifeless.

Bang for the buck on preamps:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Aric-Audio-Stereo-Tube-Preamp-3-5-Multi-Inputs_W0QQitemZ150141965342QQihZ005QQcategoryZ12050QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
I've got one of the guy's earlier ones.
 
If you're doing a trip, and your car's player will do CD MP3s, just make a stack or three, decent bitrate.
 

[Gewehr98]

I'd buy one of those preamps in a New York Minute, if he made one with moving-magnet phono equalization.  My JoLida amp already has a 12AX7/12AT7 preamp stage, but no RIAA equalization.

Maybe one of these?

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/detail.asp?sku=ABELVP129

Or one of these:

http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/Seduction/seduction.htm