Sony NWZ-S636F User Manual

Page of 166
NWZ-S636F / S638F / S639F / S736F / S738F / S739F .GB.4-110-117-11(1)
Useful Facts
1
 
1
 
What are Format and Bit Rate?
What is audio format?
Audio format refers to the method used when importing audio data from the 
Internet or audio CDs to a computer and saving it as an audio file.
Common formats include MP3 and WMA, etc.
MP3: MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer3) is a common audio compression 
technology developed by the MPEG working group of the ISO (International 
Organization for Standardization).
MP3 can compress audio files to about 1/10 the size of standard CD audio files.
WMA: WMA (Windows Media Audio) is a common audio compression 
technology developed by Microsoft Corporation. The WMA format produces 
the same sound quality as that of the MP3 format with a smaller file size.
AAC: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a common audio compression 
technology developed by the MPEG working group of the ISO (International 
Organization for Standardization). The AAC format produces the same sound 
quality as that of the MP3 format, with a smaller file size.
Linear PCM: Linear PCM is an audio recording format without digital 
compression. You can listen to the sound with the same quality as CD music by 
recording with this format.
What is bit rate?
Bit rate refers to the amount of data used to store each second of audio. 
Generally, higher bit rates provide better sound quality, but require more storage 
space for the same length of audio.
What is the relationship between bit rate, sound quality, and storage size?
Generally, higher bit rates provide better sound quality, but require more storage 
space for the same length of audio, so you can store fewer songs on the player.
Lower bit rates enable you to store more songs, but at a lower sound quality.
Note
 If you import a song from a CD to your computer at a low bit rate, you cannot improve 
the song’s sound quality by selecting a high bit rate when transferring the song from the 
computer to the player.
Continued 
Table of 
Cont
ents
 
Menu
 
Inde
x