Best audio format

[bgroper]

Hi forum
I'm loading up some SD cards with a large music library for use in the car.
I'd like to use the best audio codec supported by the Discover Media (Generation 2) system, what came as standard equipment in Golf R Mk 7 (MY 2017).
My preference would be the opus codec, but this seems unsupported. Other possibilities are vorbis and flac.
All these provide a significantly superior audio experience over mp3, albeit with larger files.
Has anyone found any good information regarding preferred supported codecs for VW infotainment systems ?
TIA's

This thread gives some possible clues, but seems a little (out)dated.
Music codecs supported in Volkswagen Golf VII

[Rooboy]

Discover Pro (Gen 2) manual lists MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, OGG and WAV formats as being supported.

[bgroper]

Thanks. My manual says the same at page 33.
I was hoping a firmware update might have included opus, but real-life testing confirms .ogg (opus) files cannot be recognised.
So I'll prolly work with .ogg (vorbis).
Also the album art included as jpg in metadata does indeed seem limited to 400x400 up to 200kb. Or thereabouts.
SDHC card up to 32GB should be enough for a significant music library.
All good so far.

[NYOPA]

WAV= uncompressed, FLAC = lossless compression, as long as both formats are full bit depth (at least 16) you won't hear a difference on the standard car system, FLAC will be smaller file size.

[Paul_R]

I would use whichever one is easiest for you to do.

Given the quality of even Bluetooth audio these days I hardly think it’s worth worrying about big lossless files. If I can’t tell the difference then no one else probably can - I officially have supranormal hearing as per my recent audiometry testing - it’s so good, they thought I was cheating and kept retesting me


Plus, as NYOPA said, a car ain’t exactly the best listening environment for top quality audio anyway. Save the big files for the foam padded silent room at home and use something practical in the car.

[crainger]

I would use whichever one is easiest for you to do.

Given the quality of even Bluetooth audio these days I hardly think it’s worth worrying about big lossless files. If I can’t tell the difference then no one else probably can - I officially have supranormal hearing as per my recent audiometry testing - it’s so good, they thought I was cheating and kept retesting me

I can hear the difference between Bluetooth on my iPhone and plugged in via CarPlay. It's only a slight difference due to the extra compression of bluetooth 4.X. If both supported Apt-X there would be no difference to be heard, but neither VW nor Apple are there yet.

There is an improvement again listening to lossless formats via SD Card. I use flac or Apple Lossless. I just drag and drop from iTunes, album art goes across as well in one motion.

I find the Tron Legacy soundtrack a good one for A/B listening. A good mix of electronic and classical. It sounds quite good with the DynAudio Authentic preset. Dynamic a bit too boomy for my tastes.

[Paul_R]

Although my last post was somewhat in jest, I would point out that my car interior is a painful 80dB when doing 110 kph on the rougher sections of the Hume. If that’s your listening environment, then it doesn’t matter what digital format you use. If you spend a lot of time in slow commuter traffic then knock yourself out with lossless files. I couldn’t tell the difference when I tested a few different formats back to back on my old car while sitting in the carport with the engine off. Nor could any of my mates who were doing it completely blinded.

[slin]

I just stream music these days, played a few CD and I’ll be honest, last time I bought one was so long ago I cannot remember. Saying that I don’t listen to albums more than a couple of times so that suits me.
Sounds fine streaming on the hour unwind home in traffic. My hearing is shot. Can hear the difference on the home hifi when comparing side by side. I turn the AC on low and chill. See you out there.

[Ozsko]

I had all my music in duplicate form of MP3 & FLAC because the Skoda RNS only played MP3 and the whole thing was a pain in the bum and took up a heap of space on the NAS at home. I now only have FLAC just for convenience and no other reason since buying the Tiguan. I doubt anyone could tell the difference between MP3@320 & FLAC and I seriously doubt that spending big money upgrading the speakers in such a noisy environment is a wise thing but then I am always driving at highway speeds and hardly ever in metro traffic for any long periods. The Tiguan is a very noisy car at highway speeds, our Golf Performance is far more quite.

[bgroper]

I too have tested and experimented with numerous audio formats.
Listening at home with a decent amp and nice large floorstanding speakers, a lossless format such as FLAC or OGG is clearly optimal.
In the noisy environment of a moving automobile, I agree that the benefits of a lossless format over a lossy format (with a high bitrate) may be negligible or nil.
Sadly, most streaming services use very low bitrate lossy streams, which are easily noticed as inferior.
Actually, whenever I listen to streamed audio in someone else's car, the low audio quality is irritating.
So, you have some tension between quality and convenience, and plenty of choices.
As always, let your ears be the judge.
HTH

[flat6]

Long time audio nut checking in..
The difference notable with bluetooth streaming vs having the data cable plugged in is the sub frequencies around ~60htz, bluetooth strips a majority of the low end from the stream, test this with some RnB tracks.

Mp3 via data connection is good so long as your bit rate is above 192~, however some loss is still notable on some tracks, namely in the crispness of the mid range.

FLAC vs WAV, have tried both endlessly, both are as good as the original, id go with FLAC for the space saving

Have loaded mine up with hundreds of flacs (64gb sandisk) sounds great.

[Ozsko]

I never use BT so my comments are either from a card or USB or from the internal storage in the Media Pro. The way I utilise all the slots is one for books, one for podcasts, one for music. That way I can flick from one to the other without losing my place on any of them. I have never listened to the radio or put a CD in it since I have had the car and it was the same in the last car.

[Creampuff]

I have SD cards with MP3 downloads, no issues, never listen to radio or CDs anymore..love it.

[jameslamyk]

I just stream music these days, played a few CD and I’ll be honest, last time I bought one was so long ago I cannot remember. Saying that I don’t listen to albums more than a couple of times so that suits me.
Sounds fine streaming on the hour unwind home in traffic. My hearing is shot. Can hear the difference on the home hifi when comparing side by side. I turn the AC on low and chill. See you out there.

Just wondering if you've tried different streaming services?
I've tried Spotify 320kbps and Tidal HiFi 16-bit/44.1kHz (also Masters 24-bit/96kHz -- probably useless in a car) side by side and the difference is minute. The soundstage is ostensibly wider with the Tidal, but Tidal app is buggy.
Not sure if the output through Apple CarPlay is lossless?

Anyone else have any other experiences don't mind sharing please?

[bkpr]

Have loaded mine up with hundreds of flacs (64gb sandisk) sounds great.

Hello. Resurrecting an oldish thread. Quick question which I haven’t seen addressed in the thread so far: with any of these formats, your FLACs in particular, is there any lag in the menu system? I ask because in my ‘13 mk6 infotainment system, I was super excited about SD card music but found the menu lag in selecting tracks made this approach too frustrating to use.

I’m picking up a MY19 R soon with, I presume, the discover pro system. I’m hoping 5 or 6 years have made the system faster for SD card music.

Thanks for any info!