Speed should not be an issue. The data transfer rate of USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps (mega bits per second) according to http://www.everythingusb.com/usb2/faq.htm#4 .

According to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/mp32.htm the bit rate of MP3 files is about 128 kbps (kilo bits per second) to sound as good as the radio and 320 kbps to sound like an uncompressed CD track:

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Most MP3 encoding software allows the user to select the bit rate when converting files into the MP3 format. The lower the bit rate, the more information the encoder will discard when compressing the file. Bit rates range from 96 to 320 kilobytes per second (Kbps). Using a bit rate of 128 Kbps usually results in a sound quality equivalent to what you'd hear on the radio. Many music sites and blogs urge people to use a bit rate of 160 Kbps or higher if they want the MP3 file to have the same sound quality as a CD.

Some audiophiles -- people who seek out the best ways to experience music -- look down on the MP3 format. They argue that even at the highest bit rate settings, MP3 files are inferior to CDs and vinyl records. But other people argue that it's impossible for the human ear to detect the difference between an uncompressed CD file and an MP3 encoded with a 320 Kbps bit rate.
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Thus, the USB 2.0 standard transfer rate is about 1500 times faster than the bit rate of an MP3 intended to sound as good as a CD track, and about 3750 times faster than an MP3 intended to sound as good as the radio.

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