Is this MP3 really 320 kbps?
Drop an MP3 to check its bitrate
Any MP3 file
Works with MP3 LAME CBR VBR iTunes
or paste a link (Ctrl+V) Paste a link
How it works
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Drop your file in the box above, or tap to choose one.
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We read the information saved inside it. This takes a few seconds.
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The answer appears right away, with a link you can share and the full details if you want them.
What the bitrate of an MP3 tells you
An MP3's bitrate is how much data it uses per second of sound: 320 kbps is the highest the format allows, 128 kbps the old default. Files are encoded at a constant bitrate (CBR) or a variable one (VBR) that averages out, and most are made with the LAME encoder, which leaves its version in the file.
This tool reads all of that. It catches files sold as 320 kbps that were encoded lower. It can't catch a low-quality file re-encoded at 320, because that file genuinely is 320 kbps: the lost detail just isn't there.
- Bitrate
- CBR or VBR
- Encoder and version
- Sample rate and channels
Questions and answers
How do I check if an MP3 is really 320 kbps?
Drop it into the box above. You'll see the bitrate it was encoded at, whether it's constant or variable, and which encoder made it.
Can this detect a fake 320 kbps MP3?
It catches files encoded below 320 kbps. A file converted up from 128 kbps is truly encoded at 320, so its numbers look right; a spectrum analyser shows the missing high frequencies.
Is VBR V0 as good as 320 kbps?
For almost everyone, yes. LAME's V0 setting averages about 245 kbps and sounds the same as 320 kbps CBR in listening tests, in a smaller file.
What is LAME?
The most widely used MP3 encoder. Its name and version, such as LAME 3.100, are saved in the files it makes.
Should I use MP3 at all?
For portable listening, 320 kbps or V0 MP3s are fine. For archiving, a lossless format such as FLAC keeps everything; our Hi-Res Audio Checker reads those.
What happens to my file?
Your file is sent over an encrypted connection, read on our servers and deleted automatically after about 24 hours. The answer is kept on a page with its own link, so you can share it. Tool result pages are never listed in search engines.