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Re: Apple Lossless vs. AIFF

67.87.246.174

Response to Gordon Rankin - hope this helps clarify:

AIFFs are ripped from CD with iTunes. The error correction feature of iTunes is amazing, but does pose the question: HOW does it correct errors? One way is by creating new data to replace unreadable data. I love having tracks resurrected by iTunes' error correction, but I am also trying to make exact copies, which by definition cannot include new data.

My blind A/B listening tests -- lots of them, lots of ears -- have demonstrated a difference between AL and AIFF files in iTunes playback. Very subtle, and usually for the best. All that says is that the players alter the data in some way. The players are no doubt trying to optimize playback by tweaking EQ and levels. Not a crime, but with AL you don't even have a choice of players.

This is all rather academic, and perhaps most files are not affected at all by either error correction or a player's "optimization." But since a file can be affected by both, my DAC cannot be said to be receiving a copy of the source file, let alone an exact copy of the track on the original CD. A player that simply passes the data along to my DAC without weighing in on how it should sound would be ideal.

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