Apple Lossless vs AAC Encoder?
Hello,
I am trying to get a little deeper into the differences between Apple Lossless and the AAC Encoder for importing my music. I use iTunes and a Windows 10 PC.
I import a lot of music and I used to import using mp3 encoder then I came across some info in the past that the AAC encoder was the way to go for better quality sound. I also learned that the m4a file created from the AAC encoder is compatible with much of the same software and apps that an mp3 file extension is.
I recently across some info that Apple Lossless is similar to FLAC and of the highest sound quality that is compatible with iTunes, where as FLAC is not. I use the Apple Music app to listen to music digitally so what is compatible with Apple Music first and foremost is key for me. I do also import my music locally to a WD drive which I can access on the go (as well as via Plex) so there are alternative ways for me to access my music.
With using Apple Music service and matching my imported music though, it's so much more convenient to just use the Apple Music app. However I've found in trying out this Apple Lossless that the file in turn is not compatible with a lot of other software, programs and apps.
With all that being said, although I listen to and consume a lot of music, I'm not a huge audiophile when it comes to sound quality. Although I've never really went out of my way to experiment with different files and quality difference. Ideally I would want to have the best sound quality files but to my ears no one has really made me hear the real nuances and differences between all the different file types.
So I feel like I'd want to find the best sound quality so I guess my question in all of this goes back to Apple Lossless vs AAC Encoder. Which should I use? Is there really that much difference in sound quality between Apple Lossless and AAC Encoder? While I'm using Apple Music almost exclusively as the medium for digital music... it would be nice to have a file that I can access across the board should I choose to use something else maybe in the future.
Thanks for any feedback in advance. Greatly appreciated!