confused on audio file formats

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%.

SqueezeCenter supports both AIFF and Apple Lossless.

4est - As I said on the other thread, I uses MAXX to rip and Squeezeserver to catalogue and play. I started out many years ago using iTunes and still store most of my library in iTunes. I don't use iTunes to manage FLAC files. I did not suggest that either here, nor in the other thread. I made it very clear here that if the OP were using iTunes I'd suggest using AIFF. I agree with your here, as I did in the other thread: Stay away from WAV as it's more trouble than it's worth. FLAC is cross-platform, cross-device and very easy to batch convert. That is why I use it. Clear? I prefer Squeeze server because their streaming hardware (Touch and Squeezebox) are superior to the Apple alternatives (AE, Apple TV). That's my personal preference. I thought the SACD bit was interesting on face value because it refers to yet another more resolving digital format. I agree also with your suggestion to simply try the various options yourself and see what works best for you. I'd suggest that with anything in this hobby. Suggestions here or elsewhere are simply a point of departure (or not).

On a Mac I recommend Amarra 1.2 with iTunes playing AIFF file format. No reason to use lossless compression. Disk is cheap.

Also, dont use iTunes to rip CD's. Use XLD with Accurate-Rip enabled:

http://tmkk.pv.land.to/xld/index_e.html

I dont sell any of these BTW.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Lossless is OK.....since for the 2 i'm familiar with....ALAC and FLAC, you can reconstruct a bit-accurate copy of the original. And save maybe 30% in disk space.