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Do I need to re-rip?

I do NOT want to resurrect the question of which is the better format - Apple Lossless or WAV. My question is about the need to re-rip my music if I want to change formats. My cd library was saved as Apple Lossless. Appears that I can go into the iTunes "preferences" menu and change my files from lossless to WAV, after-the-fact. Are these new WAV files every bit as good as a new cd that I rip as WAV? In other words, do I need to re-rip every one of my cds to obtain a quality WAV file or can I just let iTunes make that conversion?
rockyboy
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,261 posts
 
Dtc is giving you really useful advice.
jcharvet
46 posts
 
In my experience, there are improvements converting from ALAC to WAV. I am quite sure ripping directly to WAV is best as Simon puts it, although I have not done so simply because I started ripping to ALAC many years ago, and my CD library is too big to re-do ripping all over again. Total file size becomes a concern also for large libraries. When using computer audio, I convert ALAC to WAV files those I listen to for the day and delete them after - both steps are just a matter of seconds to implement. Furthermore, computer audio is not my primary source. I use it for background music only.

You should consider DTC's comment by first listening to familiar songs of various computer audio formats. I see that you have a turntable. If computer audio is not your primary source, and if you find there is not much improvement between formats in your set up, I would not bother to redo all the ripping.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
If you ripped ALAC with iTunes, I would try ripping one track with XLD and see if sounds better on your system.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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