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Sound levels: Apple lossless vs. original CD

I have been following many threads on this as I try to set up my computer based server system. I have gone out and purchased a Mac in order to simplify all the issues vs. a PC based system.

I have been recording in Apple lossless format and I find there is a noticable difference with lower quality as compared with my inexpensive CD player that I am using (an inexpensive Panasonic).

I am playing both methods back through a DAC - Musical Fidelity X-Dac v8 (the latest model).

The data stream from the CD player is via optical output miniplug - through an optical converter to digital coax cable (there is no cable available directly from optical mini to coax). The data stream from the Mac is via USB output to the DAC USB input.

First - the music via the inexpensive CD player sounds better. There is a noticable difference in the voices being more forward from the music (less compressed?). The Mac sounds excellent - but the CD still sounds better.

Second - the sound level from the CD player is much louder (perhaps 25-35%% louder). If I am streaming digital bits from both sources, why is the CD player much louder than the Mac? This doesnt make sense to me??

Lastly - would there be any reason to copy in AIFF rather than Apple lossless? It seems now - but I just want to get the lastest view.

Any help is appreciated ! Thanks !
markny
elf73
104 posts
 
I don't have a CD player yet, so I'm not much help with a comparison. As well, I have an airport express optical out into a Monarch M24. Quite a different setup from you.

But for me, Apple lossless sounded the worst (it's still a lossy format). I found WAV the best (bit for bit), and I assume AIFF is the same.... I use itunes so I use AIFF. However, the strange part is (don't flame me), I found 320kbps MP3 format, which is the smallest file size of the ones mentioned, sounded better than lossless.. (vocals more forward, more detail, more robust sound)... FWIW.
4est
507 posts
 
Make sure that you turn off crossfade, sound enhancer and sound check. They are located in iTunes=>Preferences=>playback. Now that I've typed it, sound check may have been the reason for the attenuation compared to your cd player as that is what it is meant to do.
spiritualized
138 posts
 
Elf73 You claim that ALL is "lossy". Would you please explain what you mean? Everything I have read suggests that ALL is indeed lossless, bit for bit. I am using a MacBook into a Wavelength Brick USB DAC streaming ALL files to my system and it sounds superb. I also own an Audiomeca CD player which I will do some A/B testing with this afternoon.
elf73
104 posts
 
I meant Apple Lossless is "lossy". Aiff and WAV as far as I know is bit for bit... all formats sound pretty good to my ears. Just nit-picking.

A lot of people seem to like Apple Lossless (it's the worst on my system.. just curious if others had the same result), but I don't know why, if people have an external hard drive etc... they wouldn't just import in Aiff (itunes) or WAV. Especially after all the money they spent on actual store bought CDs.

Myself, personally, I don't have too many CDs and really like the uber-convenience of a computer based/digital source.
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,761 posts
 
Elf73, Apple lossless isn't lossy, it's lossless. It encodes the bits to save disk space but then decodes it on playback to be the same as the original file. People use it because it saves disk space. That may not be an issue if you have big hard drives connected to your computer but it is very useful when you want to put lossless files on an iPod.
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