Just got an iTouch...


I just got an iTouch and started importing my CD library onto my MacBook as AIFF. I will be using my iTouch when traveling, in the office through a Tivoli PAL and at home trough a Tivoli Model One Table Radio. I will continue to play CDs through my Aura Note, and maybe connect my MacBook on the rare occasion - more likely just to listen to potential purchases through Amazon/iTunes or live performances on XPN.

My question is, is it overkill to import/store these as AIFF if my main goal is to listen through my iPod?

I just started and already have 60G worth of AIFF files, I'll have 1T+ before they are all loaded and I hate the idea of getting into external hard drives and back up hard drives for this much storage. Am I getting ahead of myself if my only goal is to listen via iPod???
jh2os
If you're going to rip an entire collection, rip the full lossless version of your CDs. Memory is cheap (likely cheaper than the days and days you'd spend re-ripping down the road anyways). You'll be p#ssed if you decide later you'd rather have had the complete lossless version.
I prefer to use Apple Lossless as it is actually lossless, and it takes up half the space of an AIFF file.

For me, sound quality differences are even more noticeable through headphones, so I like to keep the files as high-res as possible. You have to strike a balance, of course, as the iPod Touch doesn't have much memory to begin with and it's not expandable.
Thanks for the responses!

Space, particularly on the iTouch, is the biggest issue. I can only fit 20 or so albums on my 16G Touch along with apps and movie/tv shows. I think I'll copy my AIFFs to AAC 256k and listen in all environments to see if i can hear a difference.

JoelV - good point with headphones, as I listen through my Audio Technica ATH-AD700's through all sources listed above.

If I can't hear the difference, I guess my dilemma goes to Mb9061's point - do I run the risk of re-ripping in the future? Of course, if I rip AIFF, move those to a portable HD and keep the AAC files on the macbook/iTouch I also run the risk of hooking up the HD in a few years to realize that the music is gone anyway....
huge overkill, Itouch dac does not have home hifi quality plus the uncompressed files you are recording are huge so you won't be able to put much on the device..I record at 320 just for the itouch and can put about 225 cds on the device, that's a lot of choice for in the car or on the go.
Just a bit off topic...some of my favorite apps for my iTouch:
Remote
Fieldrunners
Scrabble