View Full Version : Flac and Apple Lossless on iPod Touch
The development of media servers is growing apace. Just bought (£2.99) PlugPlayer for my ipod touch from the itunes app store.
I already had Null River and Twonky Media Servers which we used to stream movies to the Sony Playstation.
My ipod touch now picks up and plays not only all my FLAC files (in a seperate file on external hard drive), and the apple lossless files which I usually play through itunes.
I have to say the flac files sound much more 'analogue' than the Apple files I normally transfer onto the ipod, more sort of natural.
On top of all that. I've just discovered that all my movie files now play on the ipod as well...all accessed via Twonky Media - which cost a few bob, but now worth it. Lord...I've got 3 series of The Wire to get through.
Flac and Apple Lossless should sound the same.
Flac and Apple Lossless should sound the same.
in theory.. they are both lossless.
However, I have a feeling (not a theory by any stretch) especially every time I do an A/B comparison - that a CD ripped with EAC FLAC sounds better than Apple Lossless ripped with Max, itunes etc.
Its how I started the whole excercise of trying to make my own Linn DS player without spending mucho moola.
failed so far !!
The Vinyl Adventure
03-01-2010, 14:16
I have plugplayer on my iPhone and use it to control the majik, I have never managed to get it to stream music to the iPhone it's self... Is that what you are saying you have done? If so would it play the stream out through a digital iPod dock? Sorry, I'm a bit lost here?
The Vinyl Adventure
03-01-2010, 14:19
Ok scratch that I just managed to stream music on to the iPhone... It wouldn't work before!
.. That's quite cool! Does this mean with a digital dock I would get flac quality playback? Surly this could negate the need for a linn ds?
Stratmangler
03-01-2010, 14:33
I've used Foobar2000 to compare WAV against FLAC against ALAC, and to be honest I could hear bugger all in the way of sound differences.
I did however only use the headphone output on my laptop; the 'phones were a cheap set of earbuds. A decent headamp and cans might reveal differences, but I can't imagine that any differences would be that great.
One thing I did notice is that WAV and FLAC are CBR, while ALAC is VBR.
The ALAC file was ripped using iTunes with "use error correction when reading Audio CD's" selected.
The WAV file was ripped using EAC. The FLAC file was obtained by using FLAC Frontend to compress the WAV file.
Chris:)
Stratmangler
03-01-2010, 14:36
Ok scratch that I just managed to stream music on to the iPhone... It wouldn't work before!
.. That's quite cool! Does this mean with a digital dock I would get flac quality playback? Surly this could negate the need for a linn ds?
It depends on how well the digital out is implemented in the iPhone.
Chris:)
The Vinyl Adventure
03-01-2010, 14:55
It depends on how well the digital out is implemented in the iPhone.
Chris:)
Of course it does... My brain is proper shit today...
As has been said, they're both lossless so should sound the same, but I guess it depends on what's used to rip and decode them in the first place.
Ultimately, they ought to unpack to the original file in each instance. As long as the rips had no errors (and iTunes doesn't reveal any errors that may have occurred) then they should be the same. Try XLD if you have a mac, it rips, sorry decodes to both ALAC and FLAC amongst others.
Ok scratch that I just managed to stream music on to the iPhone... It wouldn't work before!
.. That's quite cool! Does this mean with a digital dock I would get flac quality playback? Surly this could negate the need for a linn ds?
I;ve got a ton of US tv programs (Breaking Bad, Chuck, Arrested Development etc ) that I can now watch on the ipod.. which is nice. Gone like the bloke on the Fast Show. :rolleyes:
The Vinyl Adventure
06-01-2010, 22:41
Just borrowed a onkyo digi dock today, wired it into the copper dac, streamed flac via iPod .... Not a patch on the majik by a long long way... Shame really!
Stratmangler
06-01-2010, 23:06
Just borrowed a onkyo digi dock today, wired it into the copper dac, streamed flac via iPod .... Not a patch on the majik by a long long way... Shame really!
I suspected that this might well be the case.
Chris:)
In theory they should be same, however in practice it is a different story.
Not a patch on the majik by a long long way... Shame really!
Sorry hamish, but... google can't translate this.... :scratch:
Beechwoods
07-01-2010, 18:23
Something like
"Not half as good as my Majik CD transport, by a good margin...!"
Welcome back Dimitri :)
Thanks Nick ! ;)
Just borrowed a onkyo digi dock today, wired it into the copper dac, streamed flac via iPod .... Not a patch on the majik by a long long way... Shame really!
Hamish, I suspect that the streaming software limits the bandwidth. At least, that's what others (Simplify, for instance) do.
Could you please put an Apple Lossless (or WAF or AIFF) in your iPod and try again ? :)
Thanks Nick ! ;)
Hamish, I suspect that the streaming software limits the bandwidth. At least, that's what others (Simplify, for instance) do.
Could you please put an Apple Lossless (or WAF or AIFF) in your iPod and try again ? :)
What will that do?
What will that do?
Streaming of lossless files is about @ 1000kb/s.
Streaming through emulator software (I don't know about the one hamish used but I know others) often stream at 170kb/s. In other words, it is not necessarily lossless.
That's why I want hamish to test again. To see whether the difference comes from the software or from the Onkyo dock. ;)
The Vinyl Adventure
07-01-2010, 19:20
I guess that would explain it...
Welcome back dimitri!! Good to see you still not following my nonsence :)
I will have a go at some point with a lossless file on the iPhone, I gotta return the onkyo tomo though and I don't have the time tonight, when I got a bit of spare cash il prob get a onkyo thingy though. It's got a pc input and a vido out for the iPhone so in combo with the copper dac will be v usefull in here!
No problem hamish, take your time. I can also gat a dock one of these days and do the test myself. I just take advantage of the fact you can do it too ! :)
I got an Onkyo ND-S1 for Xmas to play with,I havent a clue about Ipods other than my daughters have them what is the best way of of getting a CD losslessy onto one?My daughters have lots on their Ipods but I presume it is of lesser quality.
purite audio
07-01-2010, 21:37
When you rip a cd make sure that you 'import' it in a lossless format Apple lossless or AIFF, then when you sync with the ipod make sure the uncompresed file is transferred, and that is it an uncompressed file on your ipod.
Keith.
what is the best way of of getting a CD losslessy onto one?
First, ask your daughter on which PC/MAC she synchronizes her iPod.
Then, you open iTunes on this machine, you put a CD and you rip it using the format "Apple Lossless" (ask daughter for advice how-to).
Then you synchronize the iPod.
When it's over, you go and put the iPod on the ND-S1 and listen. :)
PS: Keith was faster. ;)
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