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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
rdc2000
27 posts
 
On my XP playing apple lossless through a Sonos the gain from the Sonos was definitely lower than from the cd player. Once the levels were matched (I can do this permanently on the preamp) the sound quality from both sources was as close to identical as I could tell.

ALL is not the issue...
gonzalo's avatar
gonzalo
38 posts
 
I have heard in audio buddy's home his Mac absed system with lossless conectded uSb to a home brewed single chip DAC, and man is sounded better than the Bechmak Media DAC I have we did compare 1 on 1 and indeed his project looking DAC based on a german bard and and NOS sngle chipset, no oversampling straight 16 bits has beaten hands down avery DAC we compared it against (on USB).
now 24 bit 192 KHz is another story.

Hope this helps.

Gonzalo
silverarrows
25 posts
 
I haven't tried Apple lossless but I did try FLAC and WAV. I then streamed the music to my Squeezebox 3 which is connected into a DAC. Sound was very good but not like the original CD to me. I have read how computers make better transport but the Audiogon site is a testament to how many different preferences and tastes there are for the same thing, that is to listen to music. For me listening the original CD through my Micromega Drive 1 and DAC 1 simply has that Micromega sweetness that couldn't be captured by ripping the music and playing it through the Micromega DAC on its own.
etep29
20 posts
 
I know this probably isn't the point anymore, but have you tried ripping into different formats? AIFF, WAV, etc. My guess is that the difference in volume is a product of your DAC or Mac, not the format you rip your CDs into. One simple fix, and I will get smacked for this here, but its just an experiment right? Open your EQ in Itunes, set it to flat and use the preamp feature to match the volume to your CD, compare.
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