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AIFF vs Apple Lossless Ripping

I have a large music collection that I have ripped using Apple Lossless and error correction turned on. I have recently seen several postings saying that AIFF (with error correction turned on)is the way to go. Would anyone care to address the superiority of AIFF vs Lossless, and if possible, explain why one would potentially be better than the other? And, if AIFF results in a larger file, approximately how much larger (percentage). I'm trying to decide if it's worthwhile to re-rip a 1400 cd collection.
rabco
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,412 posts
 
Rabco - I had the same dilemma. FLAC is more popular open standard while ALC is Apple's own. I decided to stay with Mac (I love this thing - had PC before) and don't see disadvantage of using Itunes and ALC. Compression is about the same and there is always option to batch convert whole drive to FLAC if I need it in the future (no need to re-rip).
jimmywho
20 posts
 
In my system, mac mini -->benchmark usb --> ATC SCM-10 active monitors, AIFF has more slam than ALC. My wife heard it right away as well.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,412 posts
 
Jimmywho - are you sure it was lossless (extension mp4a and file size about 50% of original)? I compared again sound of ALC over Airport Express, this time to direct connection CD player to Benchmark and cannot hear the difference.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
Jimmywho, Which version of iTunes are you using? Apple Lossless did sound
different in older version. I could hear that too. But Apple has fixed that
probably in version 7 or 8. I can't be sure when because I don't have the old
version anymore. If you got that impression from version 6, try it again with
the latest version.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
One reason you may not hear a difference is that the Mac sends everything to the Airport as Apple Lossless. It converts the AIFF file to lossless and then the AE converts it back to SPDIF for your Dac.

Thanks for that - I did not know this. I don't use iTunes for playing files myself. I stream them via Squeeze software to a Modwright Transporter. I assume they are not converted going this route. Thanks also to Kijanki - is "MAX" by the same folks who created EAC? I'll look into it. I was really surprised by the differences i could hear in the EAC files I compared with a friend. There were certainly subtle improvements in bass, clarity and resolution overall. Have you compared using this "MAX" software? I must have missed some threads or is this brand new?
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