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Topic: Advice needed (Read 3031 times) previous topic - next topic
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Advice needed

Hi.

New here! Need some advice on player, encoding etc. A bit overwhelmed by the amount of information on the site, so I hope its ok just to ask!

Here is my current setup
Input: My CD collection + The occasional "iTunes+" album or song.
Player: iTunes 7.2/Foobar2000/iPod classic 80g
Output: RME Multiface
Speakers: Koss PortaPro / B&W 601

Player question:
I have listened to the same music in Foobar2000 and in iTunes. Calibrated at the same level, Foobar2000 seems to sound better. Can this be.. or am I fooling myself?

Rip / Encoding question:
For backing up I currently use EAC to rip to lossless WMA (Full quality "store", that includes tags + makes is easy to convert to AAC, by just dragging and dropping into iTunes). I listen to iTunes AAC encoded files, 256kbps and VBR setting.

* Is AAC 256 VBR a good choice? (Don't want to lose audible fidelity)
* Is the iTunes converter VBR setting really VBR?
* Is there a better AAC converter out there than iTunes/QuickTime?

Thank you for your attention!
 

Advice needed

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Nenox on
* Is AAC 256 VBR a good choice? (Don't want to lose audible fidelity)

YMMV, but iTunes 256 VBR is generally regarded as transparent by many listeners.

Quote
* Is the iTunes converter VBR setting really VBR?

Yes, it is 

Quote
* Is there a better AAC converter out there than iTunes/QuickTime?

IIRC, there is no listening test available for such high bitrates. You may consider Nero Digital Audio codec worth a try.