Flac to iPhone

[Lee H]

Hi all,

I'm about to take the plunge and swap out the Android for an iPhone 4. All my tunes are currently in FLAC and I use MediaMonkey. I'm pretty sure MM doesn't support Apple Lossless, so what is the best format I can use? I've got a Fiio E5, Goldring NS1000's on the way (dispatched from Play today!) and will get a LOD cable once I've got the phone.

 

[professorhat]

If you're getting the iPhone, you're really going to be best off using iTunes to sync everything, so I'd think the easiest would be to convert to ALAC and then import into iTunes.

If you really can't stand iTunes, it looks like AIFF format is supported by both iTunes and MM.

 

[Lee H]

Thanks. I'm not sure I want to convert them over to ALAC for iTunes to manage as I don't really have the storage. AIFF it is then.

 

[The_Lhc]

Errm, dude, two things, you're already storing in FLAC, so the difference in filesize between that and ALAC is minimal and b) AIFF is an uncompressed format so will take up far more space than FLAC!

 

[Lee H]

It's about the storage on my PC rather than the device. I don't want to maintain 2 libraries. So as MM can convert on the fly, I'm not using up oodles of HDD space to do it. I'm pretty sure MM can't convert to ALAC so I'd have to create a WMA version, then have iTunes convert that.

 

[Anonymous]

Why would u move from Android to Iphone - that seems a little strange?

Going from a platform that will support virtually any format to one that doesnt. A HTC Desire/HD or Samsung Galaxy S might be a better option. As good the iphone was, there are better droids around.

Make sure u hold that Iphone properly.

 

[Lee H]

I've got a desire now. Had the 3GS before that and a variety of BlackBerry devices (did you know there is officially no plural for BlackBerry?). I do like the Droids customisable nature, but for music I'm finding it quite poor. I know I could get an iTouch or a Cowon, but I like the convergence. The apps are better on the iPhone too. Resistance is futile!

 

[Anonymous]

how is it poor for music?

 

[Lee H]

It doesn't sound very good to me and you can't use the USB to bypass the internal DAC. Don't get me wrong, it's a cracking phone, maybe it's just not the one for me. At new year, a friend of mine had his iPod plugged in to his AVR, "Try mine," I said, "I've got my files in FLAC". Honestly, it was quite poor.

I'm not Apple's biggest fan, but it does what it does really quite well.

 

[professorhat]

Lee H:I'm not Apple's biggest fan, but it does what it does really quite well.

edsib1 is probably about as polar opposite to Apple's biggest fan as you can get, so you may well find your current plan to him is akin to a billionaire deciding to live on the streets...

 

[Lee H]

professorhat:
Lee H:I'm not Apple's biggest fan, but it does what it does really quite well.

edsib1 is probably about as polar opposite to Apple's biggest fan as you can get, so you may well find your current plan to him is akin to a billionaire deciding to live on the streets...

Noted

 

[The_Lhc]

Lee H:It doesn't sound very good to me and you can't use the USB to bypass the internal DAC. Don't get me wrong, it's a cracking phone, maybe it's just not the one for me. At new year, a friend of mine had his iPod plugged in to his AVR, "Try mine," I said, "I've got my files in FLAC". Honestly, it was quite poor

Using the headphone output it probably will be, as I'd expect the iPod to if you used its headphone output plugged into an AVR. If the AVR can mount the desire as storage (some can read files off of USB storage) it shouldn't then sound any different to the iPhone, in theory. I don't know if it's possible though.

 

[Lee H]

Not sure it can, as it's down to folder format. Also, most of the use will be in the car or at work, so using the USB is useful

 

[Anonymous]

U connect the desire to the device u want to play on via the usb, and then on the desire u select use as diskdrive when the popup appears.

U can also bypass the dac using wifi/dlna to a client (AVR/TV/Mediaplayer) - without the need for any extra stuff like an appletv or airport express.

I note ur point about the usb for bypassing the internal dac- that might be a problem if u have older kit, and nothing in your house has dlna, and u cant navigate the folders.

 

[The_Lhc]

edsib1:U connect the desire to the device u want to play on via the usb, and then on the desire u select use as diskdrive when the popup appears.

Yes I've done that connecting it to the PC but I can't remember if I've ever tried it with anything else. My TV supposedly can read stuff off of USB, so I might try that, if I can be bothered one day.

 

[Lee H]

At home the Sonos takes care of all that. but my car kit won't see it (Bluetooth only). At work, only real option is headphones, so again, the USB won't cut it.

 

[The_Lhc]

Lee H:At work, only real option is headphones, so again, the USB won't cut it.

Err, that's why it has a headphone socket though?

 

[Lee H]

the_lhc:Lee H:At work, only real option is headphones, so again, the USB won't cut it. Err, that's why it has a headphone socket though?

Which is what sounds poor. I think it's the general SQ of the desire that lets it down.

I don't want to turn this in to a which phone is better debate though. As with many things, a lot of it is down to personal preference. I've had an iPhone, I've got a Desire, and I've had one of every model of BlackBerry released in the last 3 years. after having used all of these my view is that I prefer the iPhone. There's the Sonos app, (the third party android one isn't as good), the battery life and screen is better, the fact that it will connect via USB to my car kit for music (plus having neater wiring as the iPhone connector runs through the dash.

 

[The_Lhc]

Lee H:
the_lhc:Lee H:At work, only real option is headphones, so again, the USB won't cut it. Err, that's why it has a headphone socket though?
Which is what sounds poor. I think it's the general SQ of the desire that lets it down.

Curious, mine sounds pretty good with a half decent set of headphones but then I doubt I've ever heard a really good headphone setup, so I haven't got anything to compare it to.

I've had an iPhone, I've got a Desire, and I've had one of every model of BlackBerry released in the last 3 years. after having used all of these my view is that I prefer the iPhone. There's the Sonos app, (the third party android one isn't as good),

Well you wouldn't expect it to be, given that one is a official app and the other is one bloke doing it off his own back for no reward. I believe Sonos have an Android app in the works though.

 

[Lee H]

Although you can contribute (and I have) now. Had a play with the iPhone 4 this afternoon, and I'm not feeling all tingly. May have to change tack slightly and go against what I've tried to do and get a separate player! Looking at Cowon at the moment