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Should I re-rip?

I ripped all my CDs to FLAC files using dbPoweramp on my PC yrs ago. I now have a better DAC and want to maximizie sound quality.  WouId it be worth my time to re-rip my cds to WAV (I even see that Steve Nugent on his website recommends AIFF over FLAC). Is lack of metadata still a problem with WAV?
Also, in dbPoweramp there are a number of setting options.  When I ripped to FLAC I just went with the default settings. Was that a mistake?
I’m not a computer guy. So please keep explanations very simple. Thanks in advance. 
rockyboy
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

dbpoweramp does a data and offset check.  If it says there was a match and no errors, you should not need to re-rip.  It's always good to examine the report after a rip.

As for format, .wav sounds best for most DACs.  Most people use FLAC or uncompressed FLAC because of the extensive tag handling.  If you don't care about this, then rip to .wav.  You can always convert back and forth without issues with dbpoweramp.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,502 posts
 
You are better off with lossless flac for streaming. Consumes less disk space and supports flexible tagging of metadata. Data content is the same.

I went the other way being a purist and starting ripping with .wav, then switching and converting to now lossless flac using dbpoweramp. I used dbpoweramp to batch convert my old .wav files to .flac and then ripped only to flac using dbpoweramp from there.

I listened carefully for any difference that might matter before committing to the switch there was none, as it should be if everything is working well since its the same information to read and stream, just in two different source file formats.

So bottom line if you ripped at CD resolution to lossless compressed FLAC format, there is no concrete reason to re-rip. I would not do it.

That’s not to say all streamer/DAC combos will do equally well with both formats, since the processing requirements are different to do it correctly. Compare each in your setup first and see.

IF any of your ripped FLAC files show as lower than CD resolution, then there is a clear reason to re-rip for best quality results.











rockyboy OP
335 posts
 
I ripped 4 tracks off Pink Floyd’s The Wall. I might be delusional but I thought the SQ of the WAV files was a tiny bit better than the FLAC rip. Haven’t decided if I’m switching to WAV but just in case,  where is the batch converter in dBPoweramp? All my music files are on thumb drives. There’s no music on my PC. so how do I now do a batch conversion of my music from FLAC to WAV? Help!  
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
so how do I now do a batch conversion of my music from FLAC to WAV? Help!


There is such a thing as "Trader's Little Helper" :) 

Google it....
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

I ripped 4 tracks off Pink Floyd’s The Wall. I might be delusional but I thought the SQ of the WAV files was a tiny bit better than the FLAC rip.

You are not delusional.  You just have a resolving, properly imaging system I think.  I hear these differences plainly in my system.

These particular tracks are not the best to show these differences.  I have these tracks, but they are not in my playlists because they don't meet my quality requirements.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

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