Directory/File
Information
Outcome
\\Level1\Level1\Level2\Level1\Level2\Level3\Mono\Mono Tracks\Stereo\Stereo Tracks\Session2
To try out the MP3 compatibility of the Denver DVD-176, I burned a CD with a number of MP3-songs. They were encoded in different bit-rates, mono/stereo and were put in a directory structure. I also burned the CD in two sessions to see if the player would recognize multi-session CD's. All MP3's were encoded in 44,1 kHz.
Below is a table that explains the structure of the MP3 CD I made, and also information about which MP3's that played as they should.
|
Directory/File |
Information |
Outcome |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
\ |
Root directory | ||
| __8_k_m.mp3 | 8 kbit/s, mono | Did not play | |
| __8_k_s.mp3 | 8 kbit/s, stereo | Did not play | |
| _16_k_m.mp3 | 16 kbit/s, mono | Did not play | |
| _16_k_s.mp3 | 16 kbit/s, stereo | Did not play | |
| _24_k_m.mp3 | 24 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _24_k_s.mp3 | 24 kbit/s, stereo | Did not play | |
| _32_k_m.mp3 | 32 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _32_k_s.mp3 | 32 kbit/s, stereo | Did not play | |
| _48_k_m.mp3 | 48 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _48_k_s.mp3 | 48 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| _56_k_m.mp3 | 56 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _56_k_s.mp3 | 56 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| _64_k_m.mp3 | 64 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _64_k_s.mp3 | 64 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| _80_k_m.mp3 | 80 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _80_k_s.mp3 | 80 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| _96_k_m.mp3 | 96 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| _96_k_s.mp3 | 96 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| 112_k_m.mp3 | 112 kbit/s, mono | Played OK! | |
| 112_k_s.mp3 | 112 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| 128_k_m.mp3 | 128 kbit/s, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 128_k_s.mp3 | 128 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| 160_k_m.mp3 | 160 kbit/s, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 160_k_s.mp3 | 160 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| 192_k_m.mp3 | 192 kbit/s, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 192_k_s.mp3 | 192 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| 224_k_m.mp3 | 224 kbit/s, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 224_k_s.mp3 | 224 kbit/s, stereo | Played OK! | |
| 256_k_m.mp3 | 256 kbit/s, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 256_k_s.mp3 | 256 kbit/s, stereo | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 320_k_m.mp3 | 320 kbit/s, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| 320_k_s.mp3 | 320 kbit/s, stereo | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| ID3v1.mp3 | MP3 with ID3 tag v1 | Played OK! | |
| ID3v2.mp3 | MP3 with ID3 tag v2 | Played OK! | |
| ID3v1v2.mp3 | MP3 with ID3 tag v1 & v2 | Played OK! | |
| mp3pro64.mp3 | mp3PRO encoded MP3 | Played, sounded like a 64 kbps MP3 | |
| Variable bitrate mono.mp3 | Varable bitrate, mono | Dropouts in high frequencies | |
| Variable bitrate stereo.mp3 | Varable bitrate, stereo | Played OK! | |
|
\Level1 |
Subdirectory, level 1 | ||
| 128_k_s.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
|
\Level1\Level2 |
Subdirectory, level 2 | ||
| 192_k_s.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
|
\Level1\Level2\Level3 |
Subdirectory, level 3 | ||
| 320_k_s.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
|
\Mono |
Subdir with short filenames | ||
| 128_k_m.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
| 192_k_m.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
| 320_k_m.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
|
\Mono Tracks |
Subdir with long filenames | ||
| 128 kbps mono.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
| 192 kbps mono.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
| 320 kbps mono.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
|
\Stereo |
Subdir with short filenames | ||
| 128_k_s.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
| 192_k_s.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
| 320_k_s.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
|
\Stereo Tracks |
Subdir with long filenames | ||
| 128 kbps stereo.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
| 192 kbps stereo.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
| 320 kbps stereo.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
|
\Session2 |
2:nd session of CD | ||
| 128_k_s.mp3 | Played OK! | ||
| 192_k_s.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
| 320_k_s.mp3 | Dropouts in high frequencies | ||
As you can see, I had problems with mono MP3's encoded in 128 kbit/s or above, stereo MP3's encoded in 256 kbit/s or above, and mono MP's coded in VBR (Variable Bit Rate). It seems that the player has problem with higher frequencies, it seems to miss the decoding of them from time to time. It is very noticable, personally I have no problems to hear it, and I am usually not that picky about MP3's. But I am afraid that I will not tolerate to listen to MP3's that have these problems. Fortunately it happens most on mono MP3's which is very rare I think, and on stereo MP3's with pretty high bitrates. Personally I only have MP3's that are encoded below 256 kbit/s, so I won't have any problems with this.
Here is a picture of what's shown on the screen when playing MP3 CD's:
 |
Unfortunately they have made the text part a little too transparent, so it can sometimes be hard to see the text. |
So the conclusion of the MP3-capabilities of the DVD-176 is:
So as an MP3 player, the Denver DVD-176 does a pretty good job of decoding almost anything thrown at it! When it comes to the sound quality, I'm not the right person to give any comments there. To me it sounds pretty OK.