Whenever possible, Amie Street encodes mp3s in a variable bit rate (VBR) format, which aims for an average bit rate (ABR) of 256 kbps in order to provide the best combination of high sound quality and small file size. VBR encodes the most complex portions of a song in higher bit rates, while less complex portions are encoded in a lower bit rate.
Amie Street does not have control over the bit rate, and overall sound quality, of music that individual artists upload directly to Amie Street (as opposed to a Record Label or Music Distributor that sends us their music to upload onto the site). Therefore, some songs on Amie Street may be encoded in a lower bit rate than our 256kbps ABR. We understand the importance of sound quality when purchasing music and are always working to improve the overall sound quality of our catalog.
For more information on the format of a particular album, checkout the "Format" field right under the album art on any album page.
