Music File Format: WMA vs MP3

I'm new to this hand held music player thing. I've recently bought a player that was on sale and therefore within my price range. Now, the hard part is choosing the file format to rip my music into.Most people seem to favor MP3 just because it's the popular thing right now. Some people have said that WMA is just as good as MP3 plus it's smaller and so I could cramp more music into the same space.WMA or MP3?To link this to our creation versus evolution debate, I've heard that MP3 is at an evolutionary dead-end because nobody seem to be trying to improve it while WMA is still evolving because microsoft is still working on ways to make the file format better.

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I'm trying to see things your way, but I can't put my head that far up my ass.

Well, I guess I should tell you guys my final decision. After testing out all the various formats available, and keep in mind that I'm a musician who has perfect pitch, I'd have to admit that the differences I heard were negligible. Personally, I don't see what the big deal is. I mean, do you people actually notice that much of a difference in sound quality that the lesser format would drive you crazy? Or all of this is just a big hype and followed along by people who don't want to admit that they actually couldn't tell the difference or even care?Anyway, being a practical person, I settled on wma simply for the smaller file format. This may drive you guys crazy, but I also decided to rip all my music into 48 kbps just to save space. Yes, I did notice the difference between this lowest format and the higher quality formats. No, the differences don't change my experience with the music at all.Since I haven't got much free time lately, I've only been able to rip a couple hundred songs. I've put random songs in 128 just to test myself to see if that would make a difference in my experience with the music. I'd have to say while I have noticed the difference I can't say I have much desire to start ripping my albums into higher bitrate than 48.Edited by Taz, : No reason given.

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I'm trying to see things your way, but I can't put my head that far up my ass.

I guess I'm thinking long term. I wasn't using the headphones that came with the mp3 player. I was using my state of the art stereo system. Like I said, I did notice a difference. However, and speaking as a musician, the difference did not make me to have an urge to rip it in a higher bitrate.

You're probably right on this one. I'll start ripping them again in the 64 bit later this week.PS I think these ipods and mp3 players are overpriced. I have a personal issue with these overpriced products, especially when the people that made them only make like 20 cents an hour... and work while in chains and shackles. Unless those prices drop below the 50 mark, I don't see myself buying them anytime soon.