2. pc-audio
  3. 156965-32561

Why is it so good?

Hi All, I just finally getting around to hooking my iMac computer up to my McIntosh amp. I have about 24000 songs on it, most of them in Apple lossless. I know there are better formats. I also know iTunes is not great for playback. However, it sounds incredible. Much better than all my Turntables and CDPs. 
Maybe this is because the tone is adjustable on the playback on computer? Or maybe the DAC on the Mc is really good? Sounds much better than SACDs even.

After having been reborn as a vinyl junkie 10 years ago I am really wondering if I need to rethink things, within the confines of my components and ears. 
Your thoughts are appreciated!
astorey
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,666 posts
 
Yes, but you said that the streaming sounds better...
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,842 posts
 
Bad streaming digital is hard to find these days. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Apple lossless is pretty good. Nowhere near as good as even a budget turntable, but pretty darn good. Especially considering its basically free, being that it comes bundled with every Mac. Which probably is a lot to do with it. Imagine you had to pay $5k for your Apple lossless. Which would probably be fair - if it really was as good as you say. 

Which its not. One clue, you mention adjusting tone on the computer. That speaks volumes. Get back to me when you have it hooked up to stuff good enough tone controls only make things worse not better.
heaudio123
689 posts
 
Apple lossless, wave, FLAC, it's all the same. If you ripped without loss, then you have digital versions of your CDs, and the playback will be similar.

DACs on MACs have always been pretty tolerable.

Or maybe you got your preconception out of the way and just listened to the music without assuming it would be bad  (like some comments above).  Digital tone controls don't add noise or distortion, so that could be at play, or maybe you have an ambience setting on that you really like ?

"Maybe this is because the tone is adjustable on the playback on computer? Or maybe the DAC on the Mc is really good? Sounds much better than SACDs even."

mike_in_nc
1,121 posts
 
ALAC is as good a format as anything. Some renderers (players) do better with uncompressed WAV, but that’s a shortcoming in those renderers, nothing intrinsic to the file types.

iTunes, if setup and working right, will send a bit-perfect signal, so at its best, it will be as good as any player. (I don’t recommend it, though. Other options are more flexible and reliable.)

McIntosh gear is pretty nice. Some may prefer other stuff, but that doesn’t make the other stuff "better" in any absolute sense. And there is a big difference between DACs in run-of-the-mill CDPs, especially those of 10 years ago or more, and today’s better ones.

As to comparing a turntable to a digital file, it depends on what you think is "better". If lack of: mechanical artifacts, wow, flutter, crosstalk, and uneven frequency response are what you mean by "better", you may prefer playing a digital file. Analog has its own magic, but it is not necessarily closer to the master tape.
More to discover