Best Audio Format for Apple I-Pod

Apple Lossless - no doubt! By the way: I just bought my first AND LAST CD (Brian Wilson "SMiLE") in iTunes store: the music is ACC encoded (!) and when I compared the download with the original CD - GEE was I shocked! ACC (or mp4 as they call it) might be OK for the car, or for listening while doing home chores but not for serious listening.

Thanks a lot guys, I will then use the Apple Lossless format. Happy Holidays, Hector

What's the difference in file size between a CD encoded in AIFF versus Apple lossless?

AAC reduces the .wav file by 1/10. Apple lossless reduces it by 1/2.

AAC is a general codec like MP3. It can compress the file size as much or as little as you like. At 320kbps, you are compressing at 4.4:1. At 256kbps, it's 5.5:1. At 128kbps, it's 11:1. It's your choice, if you're the one doing the encoding (e.g., if you're ripping from CDs with iTunes). If you download from the iTunes Music Store, you're getting 128kbps.

There will be a clear difference between CD and 128kbps AAC. You'd be hard-pressed to tell CD and 256kbps apart without knowing which was which unless you know exactly what to listen for.

As for Apple Lossless, Apple claims 2:1 compression, but the tests I've seen suggest that, on average, you don't get quite that much. A typical Apple Lossless file will be somewhat more than half the size of the original WAV or AIFF file.