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FLAC On A Mac

I know this topic appears here often but it seems to change every time I try to do a download.
I have a 7 year old MacBook Pro that i recently changed to OS to El Capitan after endless badgering from Apple to do so.  I previously had both XLD and Decibel on my OS for converting FLAC to Mac Compatible formats for the few downloads that I had ordered from HD Tracks.  
  I hadn't listenedto these downloads since the afore mentioned conversion.  i just ordered a new download (24 bit) from Presto Clasical and now I am getting messages that both programs will not work because they are from unknown developers.  Why these developers have become strangers to Apple after happily coexisting with them is another story but can someone tell me what the current best program for playing these files is>  My Internet search is unhelpful as everything seems to be recommending these two programs
mahler123
sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
Probably because top sound quality isn't Apple's goal. Selling you more stuff is. So they are always trying to lure you into their store, run multiple background processes that use more voltage, etc. & generate more noise.
All the other software sounds better. 
iTunes also frequently creates duplicate listings in its library and exhibits other quirky behavior like splitting songs from the same into two albums whenever a guest artist is "featured" on a track or two. Cheers,
Spencer
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
change the options settings to prevent that splitting


re: "why" above:
I am curious what process inside iTunes could be causing it to sound worse than other software...

If you have no idea why, then just describe the methodology in your comparison listening tests.
sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
@randy-11 

Randy, even with changed options in iTunes, album splitting still occurs on some albums and other software doesn't have this annoyance.

You'd have to ask Apple about all the processes running in their O/S and iTunes. If you read the hundreds of pages on CA written by Damien the author of Audirvana+ or by the HQ Player guy, Miska, they comment at length on some aspects of that. I am not going to repeat it all here for you. It's long, technical and some of it is over my head.

I have no interest in wasting my time detailing my listening protocol for you. It's pretty clear that you are skeptical of my claims and that's fine with me. Try the free demoes of the suggested software with your own ears, rig & listening protocol and decide what's best for you. I'm here to help people not get into a pissing match over Applelove or whatever. Cheers,

Spencer

  
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