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ALAC/iTunes on Mac vs ALAC/iTunes on PC vs FLAC/WASAPI/Foobar2k on PC

post #1 of 7
12/22/12 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 

My setup: Lossless files > desktop PC/rMBP > ODAC > O2 am > JH13

 

Comparing ALAC/iTunes on PC and FLAC/WASAPI/Foobar2k on PC, I found a discernable difference in SQ, in favour of the latter. 

 

My question pertains to the SQ performance of ALAC/iTunes on my Retina MacBook Pro compared to FLAC/WASAPI/Foodbar2k on my PC - would it perform as comparably bad as ALAC/iTunes on PC?

 

The question that could help me better understand the differences fundamentally - why is it that Foobar2k sounds better than iTunes on my desktop PC?


Edited by LouisLoh - 12/22/12 at 9:03am
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post #2 of 7
12/22/12 at 5:14pm
Are you testing with the same base file.? Depends on how good the recording is.
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post #3 of 7
12/23/12 at 8:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shroker View Post

Are you testing with the same base file.? Depends on how good the recording is.

 

Yes I am. I did include tests with higher rez FLACs too but that belongs to another discussion altogether.

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post #4 of 7
12/23/12 at 10:13am
First, Jriver is better than all of the above. WASAPI is foobar's advantage, but foobar is far from the best sounding, most transparent player. FLAC is just a better sounding format than ALAC. Always has been. I can't tell the difference between flac and wav but I could hear differences with ALAC.
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post #5 of 7
12/23/12 at 11:36am

I believe iTunes on mac can be bitperfect. Foobar with wasapi is bitperfect as well. They should sound the same.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackstoneJD View Post

First, Jriver is better than all of the above. WASAPI is foobar's advantage, but foobar is far from the best sounding, most transparent player. FLAC is just a better sounding format than ALAC. Always has been. I can't tell the difference between flac and wav but I could hear differences with ALAC.

FLAC and ALAC are identical once decoded. Bit for bit. They're both lossless.

 

If you're hearing a difference it would be the result of errors, either during compression or decompression. If you're hearing problems with ALAC across the board consider re-installing or getting a new media player since your current media player must not be properly decoding them.


Edited by chewy4 - 12/23/12 at 11:38am
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post #6 of 7
12/23/12 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackstoneJD View Post

 FLAC is just a better sounding format than ALAC. Always has been. 

 

Oh please. FLAC and ALAC are for all intents and purposes identical.

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post #7 of 7
12/25/12 at 5:23pm

I prefer musicbee to foobar personally.

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