Best file type for ulitmate quality (iTunes)

Posted by: Lewis on 29 November 2014

Sorry for the millions of posts recently just trying to get everything set up right.  I am in the middle of burning my entire CD collection (yawn) to this external HD to play through the UnitiQute.  I Googled it, and apple recommends that 'Apple Lossless' is the best format for ultimate quality rips.  Do we agree?

 

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Solid Air
Software such as DBPoweramp should mean you can convert those 40 without re-ripping them. You can set it up and leave it for an hour or two and all done. Also good for future rips.

JFYI most people on the forum with streamers use a NAS rather than USB. A good approach is to rip and store to the NAS in FLAC and then transcode to WAV using NAS software such as Asset or Minimserver.
Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Lewis

Ok thanks.  Really the USB input is just a temporary fix until I buy a NAS, although I need to sort my internet sockets out at home and get one downstairs.  Can there be any improvement in SQ streaming from a NAD opposed to a hard drive?  Can't be that much difference surely?

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by NickSeattle
In my experience, AIFF or WAV on a thumb drive (that works) sounds best into my Naim DAC.  It sets the benchmark for sound quality, but is not convenient compared to streaming files from a computer or NAS, which still sounds excellent when done correctly.

Nick
Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Jude2012

Lewis, 

 

Not sure whether you are ripping from a PC or a Mac and whether you you are using iTunes or something else to do so.  

 

As others have said, on a Mac XLD is widely used and on a PC DbPoweramp is.

 

Both XLD and Dbpoweramp allow you to change one format to another, which allows you to experiment (just make sure you have a backup) and decidec which format gives your ears the best SQ.

 

I can't comment on whether a NAS or direct USB connection to a Qute gives the best SQ.  I do know though that the USB connection on a Qute or Naim DAC is not the asynchronous USB Data transfer meh ic used in the V1.  

 

Jude 

 

 

Posted on: 01 December 2014 by Erich

Lewis,

 

When I made the decision I considered the following:

 

First  I discarded WAV because of tagging issues (after a comparison with AIFF I couldn't find any SQ difference).

Then I compared ALAC, FLAC and AIFF (I used Audirvana+, and iTunes (not for FLAC) in order to decide).

My testing was not statistically valid (only a few samples) and not very scientific, just ears, gut and closed eyes, but I concluded that, to my personal taste with my different kits and software, AIFF was better, subtle but better.

So I went AIFF for HD acquisitions (when FLAC I decode to AIFF using xACT) and also for  CD ripping (I use XLD).

 

Having said that, after a while, my wife asked me to rip some CDs for her (latin, pop, crooners), and store them in a 32GB pendrive for the UQ2. Due to space constrains I decided to test again FLAC and AIFF.

Being honest I couldn't find any difference.  She is so happy that is asking for more music, now I'm going to give her a copy of one of my 1TB HD with AIFF and FLAC.

 

Conclusion: If you use MAC-iTunes, and space is not an issue (in my experience FLAC or ALAC use 60% of space compared with AIFF), go AIFF. Also if you have HD,  iTunes can make a version for devices that can not manage HD, starting either from AIFF or ALAC. MAC-Audirvana+ with AIFF also very good (I prefer this against iTunes). UQ2 directly from a USB device, even 1TB HD, also fine with AIFF.

 

Regards. Erich

Posted on: 03 December 2014 by Lewis

Thanks for all the advice guys.  I have started to go through them and burn as AIFF files instead, as it seems to be general consensus that this is the best type.