21-Jan-2016, 13:36
I've used XLD because I like the idea of checking the rip against a db of rips, but I find that it makes more fatal errors than iTunes with error correction so after having ripped files fail to play too many times I no longer use XLD. Besides, iTunes is smarter about metadata and conveniences like replacing downloaded files with ripped files (I try free music as given away in MP3 but buy it on CD if I like it).
As for file format, I find that uncompressed lossless formats (AIFF, WAV, uncompressed FLAC, etc.) sound slightly but noticeably better than compressed lossless (ALAC, FLAC, etc.) which in turn sound better than compressed lossy (AAC, MP3, etc.) playing from SSDs on my Macs (using Amarra or other bit-perfect software). I assume this is because decompression takes processing power which creates electrical noise and more than offsets the power needed to transfer bigger uncompressed files. Therefore I store most of my music as ALAC to save space but keep my favorite music in AIFF if it is recorded well enough to care about the difference.
As for file format, I find that uncompressed lossless formats (AIFF, WAV, uncompressed FLAC, etc.) sound slightly but noticeably better than compressed lossless (ALAC, FLAC, etc.) which in turn sound better than compressed lossy (AAC, MP3, etc.) playing from SSDs on my Macs (using Amarra or other bit-perfect software). I assume this is because decompression takes processing power which creates electrical noise and more than offsets the power needed to transfer bigger uncompressed files. Therefore I store most of my music as ALAC to save space but keep my favorite music in AIFF if it is recorded well enough to care about the difference.
