confused on audio file formats


I have a Mac running iTunes and am looking into a music server. I hear all sorts of options for file formats to store my music in ... AIFF, Apple Lossless, 24bit/192, etc

I want high fidelity music.
Can someone explain the differences?

Thx,
Rob
albireo13
@Jax2

I still do not see how to run FLAC in iTunes on a Mac without add on software such as your squeezebox server or Airfoil. Care to enlighten me?
4est, Jax2 stated specifically that FLAC did not work in iTunes.

I try o stay away from Apple software, they like to rope you in and hogtie you with their restrictions. I prefer more open and universal software. FooBar2000 comes to mind...

-RW-
RW- The op stated that he was running Mac and iTunes. Foobar does not run on Mac, and in another thread recently Jax2 suggested FLAC for Mac as well. I am questioning that logic.

I am not sure what restrictions you are taking issue with. DRM or the fact that you cannot port stuff downloaded from iTunes. Neither should be an issue. An audiophile has no business buying mp3s, and DRM is the law.

Speaking of rope and hogtied, Windoz comes to mind faster than OSx. A stronger, more robust os with $30 updates vs the tiered licensing and $100 updates for windows. I run both btw...
Ahh .. I see (says the blind man) ..!
This makes more sense. I had thought that Apple Lossless was an uncompressed format.

I am looking into a Squeezebox Touch. Does a SB care if it's AIFF or Apple Lossless file?
I think the squeeze box likes FLAC to make matters more confusing. Jax2 uses SB IIRC. There are Mac players that do use FLAC. I use iTunes as a database only for the player AyreWave. I have no empirical evidence, but I question wireless transmission for listening. I use Firewire.

ALAC and FLAC compress about 40%.