WAV vs. AIFF

Thanks James. I have always done everything in Apple Lossless but have read the arguements of uncompressed formats, like WAV and AIFF vs. Lossless, a battle that probably will not end.

At this point, storage is not an issue, I have plenty, so I was considering using an uncompressed format and never thinking about it again.

I use iTunes and copy the music to a 160g iPod.

FWIW as storage is so cheap, I would go with AIFF if you use Apple (as I do too!)

You can always compress them into Apple Lossless ro whatever you wish later on.

Just an aside. After I read your post I Googled "WAV vs. AIFF". Several posts on other forums said that AIFF was developed by Apple prior to Windows developing WAV. Interesting eh?

As far as one format verses another is concerned, computing horsepower and storage is cheap enough these days for most folks to experiment and make up their own minds.

If I ever get far enough along in EAC that I can actually rip to WAV and then convert to various formats, I will make up my own mind. But once again I am frustrated with EACs steep learning curve. Right now I feel like Luke Skywalker when he disregarded the wise Yoda and quit Jedi training. I just want to pickup my Light Saber (Apple Itunes) and start slashing away.

I know how you feel Jpod! That is interesting about AIFF.

FWIW, I have copied the same song to my iPod 3 times the following ways:

AIFF with Error Correction on
Apple LossLess with EC on
WAV (no EC because it was already on my iPod that way)

I will try and do as you say, come to my own conclusions.

I was quite impressed with the Exemplar cdserver at both the RMAF and CES. It uses Windows XP so I had no choice but to use WAV with maximum avoidance of error correction. It goes to my Exemplar dac by way of a Lynx AES/EBU output. Thus far this is the best reproduction of digital I have heard. I have four Macs including the one that I use as a remote desktop to run the server. I have heard Macs used driving a dac through the USB2 port, but it is not really close. I do wish it were possible to get Mac processors for use in the server but think it is impossible.