Rip CD to Mac - basic question

I don't know why there's so much anti Apple sentiments around.

You use the best tools you have and in my case, that means using Audirvana Plus which is a Mac software and using the free Remote app to control my playlist on the headless Mac Mini.

If you want to change the system, just run a batch conversion to FLAC or WAV. I use AIFF because I want embedded metadata (artist names, album art) and I want uncompressed lossless so it was either AIFF or WAV.

Besides AIFF is easily playable on most PC systems (even without iTunes)

Is there a way to convert stored iTunes AIFF files to XLD files?
Or is this just at the ripping stage for using XLD?

XLD is just a ripping application, like iTunes. Rip to AIFF or ALAC format with XLD.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

If you are using a Mac then XLD or MAX would be the tools of choice for ripping CDs. In preferences you can determine the location of the files and they do not need to be used with iTunes. Some of the playback softwares used on Mac (Audivrana +, Pure Music, Amarra, Decibel, Bit Perfect etc) work in conjunction with iTunes (as the database manager) and some can also work without iTunes. I choose to use iTunes because I like the ability to manage my library that it affords.

Many people who use or prefer Windows OS will use ripping tools such as db poweramp. I think the most popular library and manager for Windows is JRMC (JRiver Media Center). Late this year JRMC will release a Mac version that should prove to be a very interesting tool especially for those who have Macs but may be averse to iTunes.

Audioengr: "I am talking about listening comparisons. That's what matters isn't it?"

Well, I was talking about file comparisons. Of course, at the end of the day the whole point is to listen to the files, not analyze them, but now we are in the same situation as listening to amps or cables: some people claim to hear differences and some don't. It's all anecdotal. See my experience below.