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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
4,477 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?
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
EAC is apparently one of the most accurate for ripping and critical for scratched/damaged CD's - iTunes with Error correction on is apparently identical to EAC on most normal undamaged CD's. (this has been garnered from Head.fi forums - I have no experience with EAC myself)
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,477 posts
 
"is "MAX" by the same folks who created EAC?"

I don't think so. Wasn't EAC written by the student in Germany?

I use MAX (http://sbooth.org/Max/) with Snow Leopard on Intel Mac Mini in Cdparanoia "don't allow skipping" error correction mode. One bad disk I have gets stuck on MAX while iTunes lets it go. You can also set any number of tries. Cdparanoia (check in Wikipedia) can be used with drives that don't cache music. It works on my Intel Mac Mini. If it doesn't - there are two other modes. Itunes has better Metadata library and Max has subprogram to transfer it. Max allows then to obtain CD cover picture (Itunes won't get cover of CDs ripped by other programs).
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