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To Wavelngth USB DAC users: Best ripping/playback?

I recently configured a computer music server using a Mac mini and a Wavelength Cosecant USB DAC. I use iTunes for ripping & playback. In iTunes I use Apple Lossless and select the error correction option.

I've read many posts on this site & Audioasylum about people jumping through hoops to use EAC to rip, then other software to compress and then playback with Foobar. I'm a bit skepitcal about these posts as most posters are using Windows and many of them are using the computer sound card instead of investing in a USB DAC.

So to all of you Wavelength users that have figured out that there are no shortcuts and you have to use a decent USB DAC for sound quality, has anyone done any A/B tests between Mac based iTunes (using Lossless & error correction) and a Windows based ripping/playback method?

I've read that we should expect a well configured computer music server to equal or better any CD transport/DAC combo. My results are very good, but my computer music server doesn't equal a world class CD transport such as the AMR CD-77 and I'm wondering if I need to consider my ripping/playback method.

Thanks in advance.
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Showing 1 response by jc51373

jc51373
517 posts
 
I personally could not hear the difference between FLAC and ALAC in my tests..But each is different.

One thing is for sure, there is no comparison between MAC and a windows machine for sound. MAC wins hands down. MAC drivers are written so well, and assert much better control over the hardware than any windows version could hope to. I didn't believe it till I heard it myself, side by side with a properly configured ASIO. MAC killed it. Quiet as a mouse, better software, better machine.
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