Timrhu - Itunes doesn't rip bit perfect even with error correction on. Some of my CDs have bad scratches and MAX with "do not allow to skip" option refuses to rip them (rip gets stuck and never ends) while Itunes have no problem with it.
All CD players apply error correction (up to 3500 bits = 2.4mm along the track). The problem is when loss of data is beyond correction. When it happens CDP has to interpolate to avoid pops and clicks (part of Cross Interleaved Reed Solomon error correction code) because it operates in real time (most of CDP) and cannot go back to read faulty sector again (Interpolates up to 12000 bits = 8.5mm along the track). I assume that scratches longer than 8.5mm along the track will result in pops.
This will make computer copy perhaps better than original since computer drive under control of program like MAX or EAC will keep going back to the same sector until it gets proper checksum (the way computer would read data CD). In MAX you can even set number of iterations allowed.
I store files in ALAC on my server since it is Apple native but perhaps more common is FLAC. Either way it is lossless and saves on average 50% of disk space.
I don't hear any difference between original and copy either - no matter how extracted. It is possible that my ears are less than perfect (most likely!) but also amount of missing (interpolated) data might be either small or concealed really well. I just use bit perfect (MAX) method to do things by the book (best I can). Knowing that I stored perfect Master of recording and not the copy is important otherwise copy of the copy will follow.
All this is basically about two different ways of reading CD - as a music CD or as a computer data CD. Data CD has to be read bit perfect or computer programs would not work.
All CD players apply error correction (up to 3500 bits = 2.4mm along the track). The problem is when loss of data is beyond correction. When it happens CDP has to interpolate to avoid pops and clicks (part of Cross Interleaved Reed Solomon error correction code) because it operates in real time (most of CDP) and cannot go back to read faulty sector again (Interpolates up to 12000 bits = 8.5mm along the track). I assume that scratches longer than 8.5mm along the track will result in pops.
This will make computer copy perhaps better than original since computer drive under control of program like MAX or EAC will keep going back to the same sector until it gets proper checksum (the way computer would read data CD). In MAX you can even set number of iterations allowed.
I store files in ALAC on my server since it is Apple native but perhaps more common is FLAC. Either way it is lossless and saves on average 50% of disk space.
I don't hear any difference between original and copy either - no matter how extracted. It is possible that my ears are less than perfect (most likely!) but also amount of missing (interpolated) data might be either small or concealed really well. I just use bit perfect (MAX) method to do things by the book (best I can). Knowing that I stored perfect Master of recording and not the copy is important otherwise copy of the copy will follow.
All this is basically about two different ways of reading CD - as a music CD or as a computer data CD. Data CD has to be read bit perfect or computer programs would not work.