2. digital
  3. 138230-115924

CD ripping for the lower end.

I have a decent hifi system. I listen to CDs mostly. Thinking about going modestly digital just to test the waters. Right now I have an old iMac that will be my server. It is too old for all current ripping and cataloging software so it will probably be iTunes for ripping and playing. I will use Apple Remote on my cell phone which is a fairly capable remote at this level and works with the older version of iTunes on this old iMac.This is all probably commensurate with the entry level DAC I just got used off eBay, a Schiit Modi 2 Uber. I’ll get a Monoprice USB cable for it. I’ve got some high end RCA cables for DAC to Pre-amp.

If this works out okay and the SQ is tolerable I might step things up and use my MacBook Pro in which case I could get dBpoweramp for ripping and something to bypass iTunes for playback. Might even upgrade the DAC.

The first question I have is that for right now, what format should I rip the CDs to? Space is not a big concern. I’ve only got about 150 CDs and won’t rip them all. The primary consideration would be sound quality and future ’portability’ if I move up to higher end DAC and all that.

The second question is should I use my MacBook or new iMac to rip using dBpoweramp and then move the files to the old iMac?

Thanks for your help.

George
n80

Showing 2 responses by mahler123

mahler123
3,479 posts
 
Hey n80
CDs are digital.  The digits are stored on a disc, are read by a scanning laser, and then fed to a DAC contained within the player.
That is what Clearthink was getting at.  You are interested in moving the digits from your CDs to have them reside in one place, on a Hard Drive.
   WAVis total uncompression.  FLAC compresses the digits a bit, but nothing like MP3 or it’s equivalents.  The digits are then mostly uncompressed on playback.  Think of it as jamming socks into a drawer.  When you pull out the smooshed item, it will probably look just fine when you put them on your feet.  A real nit picker, like your wife or mother, may notice a slight inconsequential wrinkle.  Most people can’t hear a difference between FLAC and WAV, or Apple Lossless, but perhaps an Audio Professional like audioenginr can.
Where FLAC really shines is in the handling of metadata 
mahler123
3,479 posts
 
Computer Audio is a Generic Term that encompasses using a PC or a modified Linux Computer as a server.
i am currently ripping files to a NAS.  I use dbpoweramp to rip, as I could detect an audible difference between it and iTunes.  Ymmv
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