5 Bitrate Converters to Change/Convert MP3 to 320kbps

MP3 is a well-known compressed music container format. Though it is compatible almost all operating systems, media players and portable devices, more and more people start giving it up, partly because the poor audio quality. In fact, bitrate is mainly responsible for the audio quality, but not only the codec. The bitrate of a MP3 file is from 32kpbs to 320kbps. In another word, if you are listening to a MP3 320kbps, you will find the quality is pretty awesome. But what is 320kbps and how to convert MP3 files from 128kbps to 320kbps? Don’t worry! In this post, we are going to share 5 ways to encode MP3 to 320kbps with the bitrate converter.

Note: Before you begin, it is vital to understand a key technical fact: Upscaling bitrate does NOT restore lost data. It only wraps existing audio in a larger container.

If your source file is a low-quality 128kbps MP3, converting it to 320kbps will not bring back the high-frequency details lost during the original compression.

Part 1: What is 320kbps?

What is 320kbps?

Bitrate, measured in kilobits per second (kbps), determines the amount of data processed per second of audio. While many users believe higher is always better, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanics of Bitrate and MP3 encoding.

The Spectrogram Difference: 16kHz vs. 20kHz+ If you look at an audio spectrogram, the difference between 128kbps and 320kbps is visible even if it isn't always audible:

128kbps: High frequencies are usually hard-cut at around 16kHz. This results in a loss of air and shimmer in cymbals or high-pitched vocals.

320kbps: Preserves frequencies up to 20kHz and beyond, providing a much fuller soundstage and preserving the harmonics that make music feel alive.

CBR vs. VBR

Understanding CBR vs. VBR When converting to 320kbps, you will encounter two primary encoding modes:

CBR (Constant Bitrate): The encoder uses the same 320kbps throughout the entire file. This is the Gold Standard for compatibility, ensuring the file plays perfectly on older car stereos and professional DJ hardware.

VBR (Variable Bitrate): The encoder fluctuates the bitrate based on the complexity of the audio. While efficient, it may not always reach a true 320kbps throughout the track, which can sometimes lead to compatibility issues on certain legacy devices.

Part 2: Top 5 Ways to Convert MP3 to 320kbps

In this part, you can learn top 5 best ways to convert MP3 to 320kbps on Windows and Mac computers with the bitrate converter.

To provide the most accurate recommendations, our technical team tested these 5 tools using a 3.5-minute 128kbps MP3 source file on Windows 11 Pro and macOS Sonoma. We evaluated each converter based on processing speed, the stability of the 320kbps output, and the preservation of metadata (ID3 tags).

Top 1: AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate: Best for Batch High-Speed Conversion

As a professional MP3 to 320kbps converter software, AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate offers extensive features, like

In short, Video Converter Ultimate is the best way you can find to convert 320kbps from your MP3 files.

1. Get the best MP3 converter 320 kbps

Download and install Video Converter Ultimate on your computer and then launch it from your desktop. Drag and drop the MP3 files that you want to convert or the entire folder onto the media library panel.

2. Change bitrate to 320kbps

Choose MP3 from the dropdown menu next to Convert All to on the top.

Next, click on the Custom Profile icon to open the Profile settings dialog. Click and expand the Bitrate dropdown list and select 320kbps. Hit OK to confirm the changes.

Since you are aiming for peak quality, ensure the Sample Rate is set to 44100Hz or 48000Hz. While the software optimizes the encoding, selecting a fixed 320kbps bitrate effectively utilizes CBR for maximum audio fidelity.

3. Convert 320kbps in one click

When you go back to the home interface, just click on the Convert All button to start converting MP3 files to 320kbps. Wait for the process to be done, and then listen to the high-quality MP3 files with the media player.

Top 2: Audacity: Best for Professional Precision

Audacity is a popular open-source audio editor and converter. It has the capacity to produce MP3 320kbps from your audio files as the bitrate converter, too.

1. Start Audacity, navigate to File-> Open, find the MP3 files you want to edit and import them.

2. Go to the top menu and select File > Export Audio.

This will open the file saving dialog, and select save the output file on your computer or a sharable link on the web.

3. Before clicking export, look at the Format options. This is the most critical step for technical accuracy:

• • Format: Select MP3.
• • Bit Rate Mode: Select Constant (this ensures a true CBR output).
• • Quality: Select 320 kbps from the dropdown menu.
• • Channel Mode: Select Joint Stereo (standard for most music) or Stereo.

4. If you like, you can click the Edit Metadata option, then a window will appear. Here, you can verify or add the Artist Name, Track Title, and Album. Audacity is excellent at preserving these tags during the conversion process.

5. Click Export. Audacity will begin the rendering process. Since it is a local software, the conversion is usually very fast, though it does not utilize GPU acceleration like AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate.

If you have multiple MP3 files, you go to Tracks > Align Tracks > Start to End to arrange all the loaded MP3 files in Audacity, and then merge the MP3 audio tracks into one and output 1 single 320kbps file.

While Audacity is powerful for individual tracks, it lacks an intuitive one-click batch conversion interface. If you have a library of 50+ songs, the manual process can become time-consuming compared to dedicated batch converters.

Top 3: iTunes/Apple Music: Best for Apple Ecosystem Users

iTunes is a utility for iOS users to sync data and manage audio files for iOS device. Surely, it can work as the MP3 converter to encode to 320 kbps.

For macOS Catalina and Later (Apple Music App):

1. Launch the Music app.

2. In the menu bar, go to Music > Settings (or Command + ,).

3. Click the Files tab and select Import Settings.

4. Change Import Using to MP3 Encoder.

5. Under Setting, choose Custom and set the Stereo Bit Rate to 320 kbps. Ensure VBR is unchecked for maximum compatibility. Click OK.

6. Select the songs in your library, then go to File > Convert > Create MP3 Version.

For Windows or Older macOS (iTunes):

1. Open iTunes. Go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or iTunes > Preferences (Mac).

2. On the General tab, click Import Settings.

3. Set Import Using to MP3 Encoder and choose Custom.

In the MP3 Encoder 'Custom' settings, manually set the bitrate to 320kbps. Crucially, uncheck the 'Use Variable Bit Rate Encoding (VBR)' box. By disabling VBR, you force iTunes to use CBR, ensuring your high-quality tracks are fully compatible with legacy iPods and older receivers that struggle with variable bitrates.

4. Right-click the target song in your library and select Create MP3 Version.

Top 4: Online-audio-converter: Best for Simple Slider-Based Conversion

Online-audio-converter is another web-based MP3 converter 320 kbps. Here is the detailed process to convert MP3 files with ease.

1. Access online-audio-converter.com in your browser. There are four ways to upload the MP3 files, your computer, Google Drive, Dropbox and URL.

2. After uploaded, select MP3 and move the slider of Quality to 320kbps. Hit the Advanced settings button to get other custom options, like Sample rate and more.

3. Finally, click the Convert button to begin dealing with the MP3 file, and then download it after the process.

Top 5: AnyMP4 Free Online Audio Converter: Best for Unlimited Web Transcoding

AnyMP4 Free Online Audio Converter is an online audio converter application that permits users to change the bitrate from MP3 to 320 kbps on the web. It is a high-performance, browser-based utility designed for users who need desktop-grade power without the installation.

1. Click the Upload File button to import the MP3 file into the freeware.

2. Select MP3 from the Format option, and choose 320kbps from the Bitrate dropdown. This browser-based tool uses a stable encoding engine that prioritizes Constant Bitrate output when the highest quality setting is selected, providing a much cleaner high-frequency response than generic web converters.

3. After that, click the Save button. It will process the MP3 file, and once the conversion is done, click the Download button to export the new generated MP3 320 kbps file to your hard drive.

It is the only online tool that offers unlimited file sizes for free, making it the superior alternative to restrictive cloud converters.

Part 3: How to Verify if Your MP3 is Truly 320kbps

A file’s Properties can be misleading. If someone converts a low-quality 128kbps file to 320kbps, your computer will display 320kbps, but the audio quality remains poor. This is known as a Transcoding Fake. Here are the easiest way to verify if your file is the real deal.

This confirms the container bitrate but does not guarantee the audio source quality.

• • On Windows: Right-click the file > Properties > Details. Look for Bit rate.
• • On Mac: Right-click the file > Get Info. Look under the More Info section for Bit rate.

Conclusion

Music is not only a long-standing way to relax, but also good for our health. But the prerequisite is that you are listening to MP3 with great audio quality. With our introductions above, you might understand that MP3 could offer high-quality experiences if you convert 320kbps with your music. From this point, we shared the top 5 methods to produce MP3 320kbps, including AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate, a professional audio converter. If you have more questions related to audio experiences, welcome to leave messages below this post.