Now when I finally have unlimited storage space  ... iMac + some external PetaByte drives ;-) ... what is better - to store CDs as Apple Lossless or as AIFF (or WAV)? The iMac is streaming to my AppleTV which in turn is connected to the BV7/BL5s. Will AIFF be to large to stream? (802.11n). Should I hardwire the system with ethernet cables instead? (iMac >> Airport Extreme >> AppleTV)

Thanx!

/Munin

The quality of Lossless and AIFF is identical, because Lossless uses a compression algorythm that does not degrades the quality at all compare to AIFF.

Lossless is half the size, so it is better.

When you stream to your Airport Express, the signal is converted to Lossless anyway, but as mentioned earlier nothing to worry about... Lossless is... Lossless!

p. 

Apple Lossless will produce an identical sound to AIFF.

AIFF isn't actually a codec/compression method (like Apple Lossless), it's simply a file container. This 'AIFF' container would then contain 'PCM' audio (what is found on CDs). An AIFF file could contain say, MP3 or even Apple Lossless.

OK ... thanks ... next question

Do you think it will be possible to access an iTunes Library (containing Apple Lossless files) with B&Os new audio flagship? Or should I encode the music differently to have the future possibility of accessing the library from a BS5? Are any of you considering buying the BS5? Myself - I'm not so sure for one particular reason ... I heard that the screen (not just the aluminium panel) will be touch sensitive. This means greasy - just like the Beo5

Hope I'm wrong on this.

/M

If you are a B&O convert then wait and see what the BS5 brings. Lossless is definitely the way to go - 2-3 times smaller than a straight WAV or AIFF file with no difference in file quality. However there are other formats, such a FLAC etc. IF you a B&Ofile wait and see which lossless formats the BS5 supports (unless folk out there know already).

Now is defintely not the time to encode your collection in MP3 or aac if you have enough drive space!

I am having the same thoughts. I have everything in 192 right now but want loss less as if you compare one next to the other there is a significant difference in sound.

For BS5, I would think it is more likely they do lossless over AIFF as this would also play on an Ipod and many would not want to double rip.

 

 

 

 

AIFF will play on an iPod.

Apple lossless would of course play well on an iPod. There is no chance at all that it is used by another brand, but because it is lossless, you will be able to convert from lossless to whatever format, and obtain the same exact quality as if you had converted from the original cd... And in the meantime you have saved some space on your hard drive and ipod. P.

wtlc2zpx:

... There is no chance at all that it is used by another brand, but because it is lossless, you will be able to convert from lossless to whatever format, and obtain the same exact quality as if you had converted from the original cd... And in the meantime you have saved some space on your hard drive and ipod. P.

 

 @wtlc2zpx ... OK, this was a clear message! ... "no chance at all" that BS5 will read Apple Lossless ... or did I misunderstand you? But - even if it is possible to convert afterwords (in a lossless way) ... this isn't something I'd like to do if I don't have to. What I'm after is info (if there is such info at the moment) about what formats BS5 will understand ... and of course the more fundamental question - will BS5 be able to read at all from an external drive (=my mediaserver)? Maybe no one (outside Struer) knows this at the moment. BTW should I post this question in the general forum as well? It's very Applish but maybe the insider info on BS5 are with the nonApple-guys?

>> @wtlc2zpx ... OK, this was a clear message! ... "no chance at all" that BS5 will read Apple Lossless<<

 Sonos does support lossless, so other brands can license it somehow. I think to the point where BS5  has been launched we will not know this.

 

Cheers

JK