Can I Rid Myself Of iTunes?

I am using Bluesound Vault 2 for CD rips and storage. 

I'm using XLD (free) on my MacMini for ripping.  I set output to ALAC, but you can pick any format.  I set output to Itunes directory and it creates automatically subdirectories with music. I also set number of attempts to 200 to be sure I will get bit-perfect rip, even on badly scratched CDs.  I use Itunes (now called Music), but I created Smart Playlist for each genre.  With playlists it shows all thumbnails on one page - much nicer than scrolling.

Check what was that Itunes created (get info).  Perhaps it was ALAC and not AAC (both have the same .m4a extension).  If that is the case you can easily batch convert all of them to AIFF using XLD.   It cannot be done for AAC, since it is lossy format. 

kijanki, it's ACC for certain. Those cd's are gone for good. I'll look into XLD. 
lactic, I will look Blue vault 2 but I have a DAC so I'd have to see using it the way you described.

@goofyfoot  When you rip again rip only what you intend to listen to at the moment.  Once XLD places first track in Itunes you can start listening.  Eventually you will get all your CDs that way and it won't be a big chore.

Thanks kijanki, I'll need a little time.

Well Goofyfoot,
I'm sort of in same place your in my huge CD collection is on my Mac Book Pro 2010
El Capitan imported AAC 320klb
I still pretty much have my collection of CDs for i like you sold a lot them off.

@goofyfoot  Can you share your opinion on the Twenty upgrade?

Looks like I-Tunes just rid itself of you




never part with your best cds

Looks like I-Tunes just rid itself of you




never part with your best cds

find a storage spot or mark them up and lend to a friend

bjesien, I just received my QB9 Twenty on Wednesday so it still has some burn in time. So far however it sounds more open, more natural. The ability for it to dig in deeper and reveal detail is considerable. The balance and separation have noticeably improved. String ensembles aren’t getting tangled and the lower registers have a greater presence.I’m listening through an ASR Emitter II Exclusive amp and Quad 2905 ESL speakers. 

bjesein, I’m listening to Debussy now. I can say the dynamic range is greater and the nuance, more refined.

yes, it's possible.  I got sick of iTunes a few years back.  I ripped all my CDs with iTunes using aiff file format and got Roon with Tidal.  Then I double checked all music (mostly mp3s) to check for rips versus down loads and bought some music to increase quality.  Then I bought Super Duper for ripping CDs and Metadatics for changing metadata (to keep all classical stuff organized).  Finally, after everything was somewhat finalized, I made an AAC copy of the high quality library and imported that into Itunes and my phone for bluetooth and the car.  I have yet to do an update of the low quality library, but I'm hoping that new material can be added and updated, and I don't have to have my MAcbook AIr and Mac Mini cranking away for hours.  I have all my cds in zip lock bags in the garage, should I need them (and to be legal).  I have a back up drive at a friends house and I have his back up at my house.  Yes, it's work, and it drives you crazy tracking down individual tracks you might have purchased years ago as mp3s, but it can be done.

good luck,

@goofyfoot Thanks for your feedback on the upgrade.  As far as Itunes goes, I purchased a Roon Nucleus a few years ago and stream with  Tidal.  I kept my Ayre player to test for a while and found the Nucleus to be better, plus the library of music is enormous.  I haven't spent the time to master Roon with things like importing holiday playlists, etc but the capabilities are there.  I have an external drive connected to it for the very few artists (like Metallica for ex.) that don't allow their music to be streamed.  Haven't thought about Itunes since.
Thanks again for your input on the Twenty!