Rip CD to Mac - basic question

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.

So, I installed XLD at the weekend (thanks to those who suggested it) and experimented with ripping a CD to different formats (aiff, wav, flac, alac). I like the way it gives a log for the rip, that in my case showed no errors. I also like the way you can do a check on an already ripped file, which showed that the files I dragged and dropped also have no errors (though with an offset that I don't quite understand).

I would wager that these are all exactly the same, bit for bit, so it comes down to which format is most convenient and future proof. The lossless compression on a couple of them (flac, alac) is a nice disk space saver, and flac is most platform neutral, though not supported by iTunes.

However, to be frank, I'll be damned if I can hear any difference between the several file formats and the 2 apps I'm using (Amarra and Decibel) in my system, which I think is fairly decent (Mac -> Halide DAC HD -> Theta Casablanca -> Sunfire amp -> Von Schweikert VR-33 speakers).

I clearly hear differences regularly with many things including power and analog ICs in my system, but with digital, the only clear noticeable difference I hear is when I change DACs. I'm sure there are measurable differences between digital sources and cables in terms of jitter, etc. but I do not hear anything different of any concern in practice. So I am convinced the magnitude of differences with modern digital gear these days is much less significant and off secondary concern versus the more traditional things that audiophiles fret about once analog comes into play in the playback chain.

Mapman - what preamp are you using?

Steve N.
Empirical Audio