weird bit rate issue

[fini]

Hey, I've been using EAC with LAME to rip my CD's with these settings

-V 2 --vbr-new --add-id3v2 --pad-id3v2 --ta "%a" --tt "%t" --tl "%g" --ty "%y" --tn "%n" %s %d

bit rate set to 256

and on the LAME DLL tab

Joint Stereo
High Quality
320
1

Now when I right click on a file in windows explorer and go into its properties it says the bit rate's 224-320. When, however, I look at the bit rate in Windows Media Player or my archos 560 it states them as anything from 154-177! What's going on and what's my real bitrate??

fini

 

[TooNice]

-V 2 --vbr -new --add-id3v2 --pad-id3v2 --ta "%a" --tt "%t" --tl "%g" --ty "%y" --tn "%n" %s %d

Well, the argument is set to VBR. I am pretty sure that the argument overwrites the other settings you pick. Or perhaps it is picking the VBR setting that is the closest to 256kps in file size. Overall, I wouldn't worry about it, VBR should be better than CBR for the same file size anyway.