iPod to high-end stereo system

Your questions:

1. You won't get quality as good as the CD changer. Not at all. The latest iPod has a rubbish Digital-to-Analogue chip (DAC) - I'll point you here for a better description of the problems.

http://homepage.mac.com/marc.heijligers/audio/ipod/comparison/measurements/measu rements.html

Basically, they use these horrid Cirrus Audio ones now because they're cheap as chips. I recommend getting a Squeezebox or a similar wireless network player, as it'll have a much better and more dedicated DAC inside, and it'll be able to stream all the music from your computer wirelessly. This is great if you're not planning on using the iPod anywhere else. Also, if the stereo receiver has a digital input, you'll be able to hook the player up to this without having to remove your CD changer.

2. Nope, you'll need to re-import them again at Lossless. I have found that compression is quite noticeable when played over a decent sound system; you will begin to notice a gargly effect on some of the music, especially more complex pieces. Some debate this; I find that it's best to just give it the benefit of the doubt and import at lossless anyway, if storage space is not an issue.

3. "I have been told that I do not have to re-import all my CDs, but can simply tell iTunes to convert the already-downloaded data to the new format"

This is bollocks. When using lossy compression on anything, it's a one way street; iTunes discards the data it decides it does not need, making the track smaller. There is no way to reclaim this data, other than by taking it off the CD again.

Hey Knelland,

I just wanted to clarify something. I have converted a music file that was imported as an MP3 and then converted it to Apple Lossless. Now, the file was a meer 12MB at first and after converting it to AL, it became 32MB. Why is that?

192 is good enough unless you can hear more than any other humans
Get a headphone to RCA Phono cable and plum it into the back of your amplifier
I have my computer into my Technics 4x100watt RMS system and you just cant tell the difference
Your dog might , but humans wont

cypherism,

With all respect, you can use any format or ipod in the world - it will not sound better than a CD playing on a high end system (Naim, Linn, Rotel, Jolida, Meridian, Classe, Wadia, Theta, etc, etc).

This "oh, you cant tell the difference" rhetoric is pretty standard with individuals who have not had the opportunity to listen to a CD on decent setup. CD & Vinyl sound quality is irreplaceable.

All of the products you mention all retail for around the £800 and upwards market that the majority of people cant afford.
This is the range where you are paying £100 per metre of speaker cable and £200 for interconnects. Most people at this level would tend to have a good wireless system if they wished to stream their music around their home and would not connect their i-pod in this manner.
However I have listened to some £300 CD players and also some retailing around a £1000 and it is difficult to notice big differences, it sounds different a little but not at all times better.
I burn all my cd's at the level just below loseless and I cant tell the difference on my humble CD player (Onkyo) from a CD, both sound good with punchy base.
However dont get me started on Apple deliberately screwing up third party products for watching video content.

Rapoon wrote:
cypherism,

With all respect, you can use any format or ipod in the world - it will not sound better than a CD playing on a high end system (Naim, Linn, Rotel, Jolida, Meridian, Classe, Wadia, Theta, etc, etc).

This "oh, you cant tell the difference" rhetoric is pretty standard with individuals who have not had the opportunity to listen to a CD on decent setup. CD & Vinyl sound quality is irreplaceable.

Couldn't agree more. I have a high end Naim system and the iPod is nowhere near it it terms of sound quality, even with Lossless.

CEB_311 wrote:
Hey Knelland,

I just wanted to clarify something. I have converted a music file that was imported as an MP3 and then converted it to Apple Lossless. Now, the file was a meer 12MB at first and after converting it to AL, it became 32MB. Why is that?

Because the Lossless files are larger than the compressed mp3 files.

And not only that, you've wasted your time doing this. When a music file is compressed into (say) mp3 format, it discards certain amounts of info in order to make the file smaller (compress it).

That lost info can never be recovered unless you import the original cd again. Converting an mp3 file into Apple lossless simply uses up more strorage space for the files and gives no benefit in terms of sound quality whatsoever.

Now now, that is a true quote above tho
i dont remember gramophones
Alot of my early CDs stopped playing or stuttering years ago even tho there wasnt a mark on them and never touch the underside of the disc
I remember on tv being told you could butter them like bread and wipe it off and they would still play
I think I heard of early ones corroding inside cos of an ingredient in the layer being a bit dodgy

Try listening on a 25 grand system , like I do

Even music producers are on forums saying they can't tell with there own work

CDs will never sound as good as Vinyl , and that was quoted by the guy who invented CD

What is "Vinyl"?

I think I remember the CD.

Then what makes is bigger?