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I have a PC, and I love iTunes. What next?

As I read through these threads, I see a lot of folks who think iTunes from a PC into a DAC with a USB cable is mid-fi at best. I've looked at some other formats (foobar and others), and they just can't beat iTunes for convenience and play options. I will have my PS Audio Digital Link iii next week. Am I going to be disappointed? Will a better sound card make a difference?
paul_graham
alexs's avatar
alexs
46 posts
 
I use the same setup in my system running iTunes via USB into my PS Audio DAC. All the music files are in Apple Lossless format NOT MP3. Remarkably close in performance to my Esoteric CD/SACD player at a fraction of the cost. Go for it. Forget the sound card as it will make no difference at all.
paul_graham OP
197 posts
 
Alexs

I called iTunes and changed my import setting to Apple Lossless...I bought a song and it appears as an AAC Audio File..it has a bit rate of 256...is this what you get? The 650 cd's I loaded (3 full days!) appear with a bit rate of 128 kbps and the purchased mucic from iTunes has a bit rate of 256. Both have a sample rate of 44.100 kHz
hotmailjbc
571 posts
 
possibly some bad news for you. did you check the import settings? the cds you imported should have a bit rate of 600 to 900 kbps. also most people recommend having "error correction" box checked on. look at your settings in preferences and double check or you may be in for another 3 days of cd importing to get the sound quality you desire.
paul_graham OP
197 posts
 
OK....I readed a CD, and now I have between 844 and 1012 kbps....Thank you very much for the help...

Hey, it's my music. I can reload over the next several weeks and still be very happy. It's worth it to do it right.
ml8764ag's avatar
ml8764ag
199 posts
 
I think you are there...I've been using apple lossless, an IMAC, a PS Dlink 3, and the USB for a while now. In my system...the USB connection actually sounded much better...I'm not talking subtleties ...the Optical sounded washed out in comparison. Besides the better sound (for me)...you don't have to disconnect the cable (the dual purpose Optical/Headphone jack) every time you want to (instead) hear the computer's speakers.

USB and ITUNES (apple lossless) will match the performance of MEGABUCK stand-alones.

BTW, (IMO) that PS Audio DAC DL3 cannot be touched at anywhere near that price, it outperformed every similar or near priced DAC I've had in my systems... Multiple MFs, Bel Canto, etc.

It's only now that I've even considered getting a different one.... the ARC DAC7 (Used to have a DAC5 but it didn't do USB).

I bet you'll never look back to CD players.

(Make sure you back up your library though!)
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