iTunes rip (Apple lossless) - any gain in SQ using error correction?

[Peter Larsen]

Well the headline says it all.

I saw the recent interview from WH with Naim, where the interviewer says their is a benefit playing digital via harddrive because of all the error correction that was done during the rip, whereas playing a cd normally would decrease the sound quality because the error correction is done while playing.

My question is therefore: when ripping via iTunes to Apple Lossless. Will it improve the sound quality of the rip to check the option 'Use error correction when playing audio cd's'? Or does it already error correct to some extent?

 

[John Duncan]

I always have it turned on. With a pristine disc it shouldn't matter, but it helps with scabby ones. It doesn't ensure bit-perfection, but it's the closest you can get on a Mac I think.

 

[Clare Newsome]

I agree with JD.

And for those who want to watch the Naim interview, here's a direct link

 

[Peter Larsen]

Great. Thanks.

Checked...

 

[JonnyD]

JohnDuncan:It doesn't ensure bit-perfection, but it's the closest you can get on a Mac I think.

Hi, just to point out, there might be better options to iTunes rips.

I always use XLD to rip CD's on my Mac. It's a little more
complicated that iTunes, but has a whole range of ripping options, can use "CD Paranoia" mode and
can add directly to iTunes as well. It also checks with AccurateRip
database to check the integrity of the rip.

I think XLD is a much
better way to rip than itunes, and I've heard good things about MAX as
well, but haven't used it.

jon