New Lampizator Level 4/ Version 4 DAC in the house

My hypothesis is that AIFF is a different format than wav as is FLAC and ALAC. These require a different CODEC. The real-time behavior of these CODECs may be different than static behavior, as in doing bit compares.

Also, there is a lot more than just data in these files. The formats all have lots of tagging and other information in them, including offset. If the offset is not properly decoded, this definitely impacts SQ. I have a number of test tracks that prove this conclusively.

BTW, the Off-Ramp 4 that Grannyring has been updated to include the latest OT transformer mods and the OR5 wall-wart, both improvements in SQ.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Gearhead

"If you do blinded A+B testing of non-audiophiles (or audiophiles) in a "revealing" system, the results will be a mosh pit of confusion. Sorry folks, placebo effect here."

Geardad with his blind listening stuff LoL The only way to listen to gear.

Sorry boys, the audio emperor has no clothes at least in this domain. The shear variability in end user response speaks to that.

Steve, your hypothesis is just that. I have read verbiage from computer scientists who say any perceived differences between FLAC, AIFF, WAV, and ALAC are not based in reality. If they were, 98/100 people would agree, and they obviously don't. The patronizing stance regarding system resolution is no trump card here.

Jwm, I agree with you regarding observations regarding XLD and iTunes. iTunes is bit perfect.

Charles, I agree, as always, with your philosophical sentiments. However, toe tapping and visceral responses come and go and don't necessarily track over time with systems changes. The pesky and fickle phile within is constantly changing and fiddling. That seems to be the one constant in this hobby and why I reference the placebo effect as a potential influence.

The take home message from Bill, which is much appreciated by me, is that the Mac Mini, modded or not, is a jittery turd, and needs help. In this case, it came via Empirical audio. I have always believed in Steve's stuff. Just today I recommended an offramp to a friend who discovered that a Sonos into his Lampizator sounded better than his modded, Ifi'd Mini.

....and that I am crazy hearing the difference between wav and aiff! Ha! I must be hearing things. Me and my wife are nuts....also my local Aphile friend! All crazy.....oh well..

I don't think the Apple is any more a jitter nerd then any other computer. The Empirical Audio Offramp has greatly helped all kinds of computer and dac combinations. The Apple holds no special nerd award Andrew. No, I on the other hand way well!

Read this link as I may not be crazy or at least I have even more company. Audio Asylum now has even greater appeal to me.

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue63/aiff.htm