How can I compare FLAC Vs WAV on my HDX?

I would . . .

Create a share on the nas, and put both in there.  Name them (tag them) differently so you know which is which.  Then use n-Serve to just play them a vs. b for comparison.

I do this all the time -- too much if you ask my wife. 

Me: "Honey which of these versions of xxxx do you think sounds better?"

Her: "Don't you have anything more productive to do?"

(not really . . . she is rather supportive of my hi fi hobby, and loves music a ton)

Take a ripped album rename it album name flac. Set ripping to wav. Rip the same album, and now you will have the album in both flac and wav on your internal disk.

One of my friends got a used hdx a few weeks ago with 500 gb disk. He much prefer the flac rips from the hdx.

One day I will have to sit Down and compare for myself. The last time I did not find the difference  was marked.

Claus

On nServe, you have to go to "Devices", then choose the folder that ends with "Downloads". Have you done this ?

Him : " I'm training my central auditory system to discern miniscule differences in timing, timbre and phase. This will be immensely useful later in life to help compensate for age-related hearing loss. You will thank me. "

As per my original post "I have also copied versions of both formats into the downloads folder on the HDX but once again, cannot find or play the WAV files."

So yes, I have done this!

I have on my HDX, in the "Downloads Folder" London Grammar "If You Wait" the whole album in WAV format, originally ripped by the HDX.
I have copied this entire folder, with all the HDX created files, from my NAS back-up into the downloads folder.
Also in the downloads folder I have copied a FLAC version of one track off the same album.
The HDX only "sees" the FLAC file and not the WAV files.
I have tried looking in n-Serve as well as on the HDX screen and also on my iPad.
"Finder" (on my Mac - same as Windows Explorer) shows all files.
Creating a new share on the NAS and copying both files is starting to get a bit complex for me I'm afraid!

Hi Charles, 

You've misread my question. I don't doubt that you have copied the files. 

For the nServe application to see the copied files, you have to tell it where to look.

To do this, using the nServe app, go to "Devices", then choose the folder that ends with "Downloads". Your copied files should now be visible to nServe.

Jan

As in the image above (from nServe on the iPad), click first on the Devices option on the left hand side, then on the folder that ends with Downloads.

Your copied files will now be visible.

Well, I've finally managed to create a new share on the NAS and added both versions (WAV & FLAC)  which I can now see!
Next, when I get a few spare minutes (I have to go out now) I will compare them and let you know my findings 

Sorry, I meant Martin.

Sorry, I think we have both misread each others posts - I could find the share - the HDX was looking in the correct place but I couldn't see the files. Only the FLAC version. Not sure why.
Now resolved, so thank you for everyone's suggestions.

No problem :-)
I answer to anything  :-)

You will now also be able to compare with the files played directly from the HDX's hard disk.

Have you tried clicking on the Devices option in nServe, as in the image posted above?

All now sorted and I've had a good listen to both the WAV & FLAC versions, as well as playing the original CD. 

I was unable to distinguish any real noticeable difference.

Having said that, if there was any slight difference, I felt it was not detrimental to the overall sound Or enjoyment.

Too close to call on my system.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions.

Martin.

I'm posting again as I've now compared more songs & in an A/B comparison.

Having reported that I couldn't detect any real difference, I now feel WAV is slightly better than FLAC but not by a huge margin.

I am now contemplating maintaining 2 libraries, one for "best quality" WAV stored on the HDX and one NAS store of FLAC for ease of use on other systems (Sonos etc).

A bit of a pain, but on my main system, I do prefer the WAV sound - slightly clearer, more detail, dynamic.

does anyone know if by changing the ripping process on the HDX back to WAV, will it convert my FLAC files back to WAV (as it did in reverse) or will I need to restore my WAV files from a NAS back-up I made?

If you change the ripping setting back to WAV that will only work on new rips. I can't see any way in nServe to convert the FLACs back to WAV. It looks like you'll have to restore from your NAS.

You can change from flac to wav and back no problem. On the dtc on Windows go to actions menu and Down to encode and select wav.

Thank you for your messages.

I use a Mac and on the DTC, I can't see or find any setting or "Actions" menu.

Does it exist on the Mac version?

On the DTC I can choose the format for new rips, either FLAC or WAV but nothing under encoding.