The Ultra/Everything package uses WMA files for the RealTracks, whereas the audiophile version uses WAV files (which are about 10 times larger in size, because that's the way WAV files are). From what I've read, a number of folks here say there is a marked different between the two, and there is, especially if you listen to them side-by-side. But it really depends on what you are going to do with them. Lots of folks use the WMAs live, as well as creating their own recorded songs, and are happy with them. Others will only use the audiophile WAVs. Generally, songs saved as WAV (using the WMA files) sound pretty good; if you rip them to MP3, then you may start noticing the difference, since will have used a lossy conversion twice (once to WMA, again to MP3).

As Mac often says, use your own ears to decide what's best for you. Also, when updates arrive, it takes a lot longer to download WAV files than to download WMAs.

I personally wish PGMusic would save the files using FLAC or one of the other lossless WAV CODECs; that would save about 50% space. I don't know what it would do to performance or it they could use FLAC natively (versus converting to WAV first), but it would be a nice compromise between the two and preserve the fidelity of the RealTracks. My $0.02 worth.

I could be wrong, but I believe the demo files posted by PGMusic are made using the WMAs. It would be nice if they (or someone) posted some side-by-side examples of the same song, created under the same conditions.

John

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