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Topic: Do only iPods support ALAC? (Read 12475 times) previous topic - next topic
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Do only iPods support ALAC?

Hi,

I have a huge collection of ALAC/apple lossless files, which I use via iTunes on my MacBook. Great setup, but I'm starting to get seriously fed up with the sound quality of the iPod nano I use.
I SQ in itself is rather dull and cold, but the worst problem is that it distorts the sound (digitally) when playing a song with high loudness (loud sound).
As a musician, I prefer good sound quality - and buying the ipod was obviously a mistake...
I'm so fed up with the crappy quality of the iPod nano, but I can't find any other mp3 player with alac support.
Are there any other alternatives?

Thanks!

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #1 –
Rockbox supports ALAC so any of the players here will do.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #2 –
music251, what headphones do you use? Do you also use the iPod EQ?
daefeatures.co.uk

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #3 –
Quote
I SQ in itself is rather dull and cold, but the worst problem is that it distorts the sound (digitally) when playing a song with high loudness (loud sound).


Before you get hit with a TOS #8 don't make any claims regarding the sound quality of a DAP without any substantial evidence to back up those claims. You sound like an audiophile.    The Rockbox open-source firmware supports ALAC (If you are willing to install on it on your IPod). Don't forget not all models are supported a good number of them are though. 
budding I.T professional

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #4 –
Did you ever try to listen to an older model ipod. Maybe you can test one from a friend.
I have the ipod photo, I personanly like the sound more, then the newer models (classic, nano etc).
I'am not making any claims of wich one is better. Check it out for yourself.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #5 –
Lossless on a portable player (with conditions != "Hearring room/high end gear")? Unnecessary overload. As you are probably willing to overload: You are free to convert to another lossless format which is widely supported, like FLAC. Your Mac may be a bit poor in audio conversion tasks. fb2k + flac would help you on windows.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #7 –
Bad choice, music251. What were you thinking having a 'huge collection' of ALAC? Re-encode to Flac or Wavpack and sleep easily once again.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #8 –
Not everyone wants FLAC or WavPack lossless files.  I have a large library of ALAC files simply because I live in an iTunes/iPod universe.  FLAC files would be useless to me as iTunes can't play them and I don't have the possibility to carry the files around unless I install RockBox on my iPod (that isn't going to happen on my iPod touch).

I think that music251 has realized the errors in their statement.  One cannot openly make statements regarding audio quality of portable players since it is something that is so hard to quantify.  That and there really is no need to carry around lossless files.  Portable environments really don't allow you to take "advantage" of lossless files.  You have all sorts of outside noise influences when you are walking down the street, sitting in a library, and sitting in a car.  Recent tests have also shown that the Lame mp3 encoder (among other lossy encoders) can perform just fine even when using -V 5 (130kbps VBR).

The many reviews on the internet aren't hammering the latest iPod nano (or even the 3G one) for having bad audio quality.  They all say that its audio quality is just fine.  Have you ever listened to an iPod before you purchased your nano?

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: simonh on
Bad choice, music251. What were you thinking having a 'huge collection' of ALAC? Re-encode to Flac or Wavpack and sleep easily once again.

What a load of crap.  What were you thinking, simonh?

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #10 –
Well, any computer with either iTunes or QuickTime can easily play ALAC files, and so can the iPhone and Apple TV. But other than iPod, iPhone, computers with iTunes/QuickTime, and Apple TV, then no nothing else supports it. But you can really easily convert your ALAC files into WAV or AIFF files in iTunes, thereby retaining every single bit of data from the original CD's and you will be able to play these files anywhere and on anything. Only downside is that AIFF and WAV files are about twice the size of ALAC files. But the convenience you sacrifice by the increased file size is negated by the convenience you gain by having all of your music playable on any device.

Just go to iTunes Preferences and change your CD import settings to your desired file format (I'd recommend AIFF), then right-click (or control click) on your ALAC files and select "Convert to AIFF." Or, if you chose WAV as your CD import setting it will say "Convert to WAV."

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #11 –
foobar2000 supports ALAC, as do many other players. Please do not spread misinformed nonsense, surfasap.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #12 –
Quote
Lossless on a portable player (with conditions != "Hearring room/high end gear")? Unnecessary overload. As you are probably willing to overload: You are free to convert to another lossless format which is widely supported, like FLAC. Your Mac may be a bit poor in audio conversion tasks. fb2k + flac would help you on windows.


Just to add insult to injury this is also a load of crap. Why should he have to switch to Windows just to do the conversion process? There are plenty of good tools on Mac OS/X for this. The first one that comes to mind is the Max + Cog  combination. This is one combination I can think of. I am sure there are other tools that exist though that are even better.
budding I.T professional

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #13 –
Hi,
Thanks for knowledgable and useful comments!
The Cowon A3 looks great, but I don't need the video capabilities. What about cheaper Cowon models? Do they have the same audio quality and ALAC support?

I have a MacBook and about 650gb of lossless music, and iTunes is a great music library. I do miss FLAC and >16bit/44.1khz support though. 
Believe me, the SQ on the iPod nano is not impressive. The nano adds plenty of digital distortion on newer CD recordings without EQ enabled (the iPod EQ is useless).
I'll give it a rest with the "cold" and "clinical" SQ comments though..

btw, I use an AKG 414P headset w/my iPod (so I'm no audiophile LOL).
I know ALAC is overkill for a portable, but I can't be bothered with converting 22500 ALAC files to mp3/aac. I spend too much time as it is on expanding my music library...

Otherwise, a MacBook w/iTunes & an external HD (full of lossless music) connected digitally to a stereo system is absolutely brilliant. I have about 800 CDs, but never use them anymore.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #14 –
Quote from: music251 on
Hi,
Thanks for knowledgable and useful comments!
The Cowon A3 looks great, but I don't need the video capabilities. What about cheaper Cowon models? Do they have the same audio quality and ALAC support?


There is a program for Windows Mobile phones or PPCs that support ALAC: PhantasmX. But it is only available to people living in the US and that have access to the website at http://40th.com. This player is highly recommended as it also has xfeed, high quality parametric EQ and reverb effects. Plus it is small, fast etc.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #15 –
Thanks for the tip, but I live in Norway. Good advice though..


Quote from: Trondis on
There is a program for Windows Mobile phones or PPCs that support ALAC: PhantasmX. But it is only available to people living in the US and that have access to the website at http://40th.com. This player is highly recommended as it also has xfeed, high quality parametric EQ and reverb effects. Plus it is small, fast etc.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #16 –
Quote from: ffooky on
Quote from: Squeller on
Your Mac may be a bit poor in audio conversion tasks.


Why might that be ?

Oh, and the Cowon A3 supports ALAC but it ain't cheap.


Because the iMacs use notebook components. It could be, it doesn't have to be poorer than a desktop PC or the Mac Pro.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #17 –
Sebastian, conversion from ALAC->FLAC is hardly in the same league as compressing MPEG-2 to H.264 or something...we're talking seconds per track, even on the OP's lowly MacBook. I assumed Squeller's comment was based on ignorance of the available software but what do I know ?

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #18 –
Quote from: music251 on
I know ALAC is overkill for a portable, but I can't be bothered with converting 22500 ALAC files to mp3/aac. I spend too much time as it is on expanding my music library...


What was the point of purchasing an iPod then, if you don't have the time to convert to AAC?  I wonder if you are using everything correctly as most people find the SQ acceptable at some bit rate on most, if not all, iPods.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #19 –
Quote
What was the point of purchasing an iPod then, if you don't have the time to convert to AAC? I wonder if you are using everything correctly as most people find the SQ acceptable at some bit rate on most, if not all, iPods.


The thing that amazes me is he has the time to encode 600 CD's to ALAC, but your right as he states he doesn't have the time to convert them to "AAC" if he decided to go that route  . He was referring to the SQ on the actual DAP, which is moot. I don't know about various models of the IPod, but the output playback is usually of good quality according to most RMAA tests. He mentioned a problem with distortion in the output, which sounds like it's a unrelated problem.
budding I.T professional

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #20 –
Quote from: Livy on
Quote from: music251 on

I know ALAC is overkill for a portable, but I can't be bothered with converting 22500 ALAC files to mp3/aac. I spend too much time as it is on expanding my music library...


What was the point of purchasing an iPod then, if you don't have the time to convert to AAC?  I wonder if you are using everything correctly as most people find the SQ acceptable at some bit rate on most, if not all, iPods.


OK, I can't overlook the moronic comments anymore. I bought the iPod so that I can listen to music when not at home or school with my MacBook. What else??
Who gives a f??? whether I use ALAC or AAC. As long as I can find a player that supports both formats and has a decent SQ (something the nano doesn not have), who cares.
Yes, it is a question of time. If I can find a player that supports ALAC, then I don't have to do all the extra converting.

Anyway, many thanks to the guys who supplied me with some good advice, ala the cowon A3. I will look further into that. Thanks.

Do only iPods support ALAC?

Reply #21 –
Quote
The many reviews on the internet aren't hammering the latest iPod nano (or even the 3G one) for having bad audio quality. They all say that its audio quality is just fine. Have you ever listened to an iPod before you purchased your nano?


After doing some research that was the general consensus I came to as well. There have been several RMAA tests performed on the IPod Nano. They all seem to be pretty good from my understanding at least.



Quote
As long as I can find a player that supports both formats and has a decent SQ (something the nano doesn not have), who cares.
Yes, it is a question of time. If I can find a player that supports ALAC, then I don't have to do all the extra converting


Again please provide us with some emperical evidence that show's us that the Nano's Sound Quality is dubious otherwise the comments you keep making are moot. The distortion you mentioned could be entirely unrelated to the actual player (We don't know for certain what's causing it which is a topic in and of itself).
budding I.T professional