Of the file formats that the Rushmore 6.5 supports using a USB mass storage device (flash drive)... MP3, MP4, MPEG-4
AAC, M4A, M4B, WAV, WMA... I've found that the WAV audio file format has the best sound quality, which stands to reason since it's an "uncompressed" or "lossless" file format. I stopped listening to MP3 music a long time ago because it's a highly compressed audio file format and frankly, sounds like crap to me compared to other file formats (FYI... itunes format is M4A which is also a compressed audio file format, and only one step up in sound quality from MP3's)). Granted, you can stuff a LOT of MP3 (or M4A itunes) music on a 16GB flash drive, but I'd rather have fewer songs on my flash drive in a high quality audio format than a lot of songs on my flash drive at a lower quality audio format. Flash drives are so cheap now you can have a separate 32GB flash drive per playlist! Remember the CD holders many of us used back in the day to hold all of our music CD's? I wonder if they make holders like that for USB flash drivers!? Sorry, I digress... have any of you heard of http://www.hdtracks.com? It can be a little pricey, but this is where I download my favorite albums from. You can download albums (they don't sell individual songs at this time) in the WAV format among several other "lossless" file formats. I use the FLAC file format for the flash drive in my truck (our Rushmore radios don't recognize that audio format unfortunately).

On another note... to the audio guru's here... when you're showing off your bikes audio system in the parking lot, or at a competition, what's your "go to" song you like to play? Or you favorite artist, album?

 

Here we go again about which file to use. Wav vs mp3.

 

Sorry, did a search here and didn't find anything on the subject.

 

To be honest, if it makes a difference at speed my ears can't pick it up. I can't find it, but the last time this came up there were links to a couple of articles that basically said anything over 320 is negligible outside of a well controlled environment.

 

320 what? I did some experimenting today. Same song, one in MP3 and one in WAV. Big difference in sound quality to my ears. Whether it's noticeable at highway speeds remains to be seen however, I also like to play my tunes in "the parking lot".

The one thing about WAV files... I haven't found a way to tag them with song info and album cover artwork. I don't think it's possible. The song title is all that you'll get in the display.